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“When I was meeting with these companies and asking this very simple question, \u2018What are you looking for in grads coming out in the next couple of years,\u2019 the big companies, Eaton, Waukesha Tool, Generac, Northwestern Mutual, and companies like that, they were all using the language artificial intelligence,” he said.<\/p>\n
Barnhouse said smaller employers often were not using the term AI but were describing the same technologies and capabilities.<\/p>\n
“When I put those two together, the big guys were talking about it, and the small and medium sized companies were describing it. That\u2019s when I thought we\u2019ve got to get serious about this, because this is where business and industry is going,” Barnhouse said. To develop the program, WCTC partnered with industry leaders and educational institutions, including Intel and Milwaukee School of Engineering. Barnhouse said the goal was to create a program tailored to Wisconsin employers.<\/p>\n
“We built it for Wisconsin. We built it for the Midwest. We made very sure that we were building it for employers that were going to use it in Wisconsin,” Barnhouse said.<\/p>\n
The college launched what Barnhouse said was Wisconsin\u2019s first full undergraduate degree program in artificial intelligence. Student interest quickly surpassed expectations.<\/p>\n
“That program filled very quickly, and so we thought we might start with 10 or 12 students. I think we started with about 40, and there are over 60 in it now,” he said.<\/p>\n
Barnhouse said the rapid growth reflects increasing demand from employers as AI becomes more integrated into manufacturing, business and industry throughout the state.<\/p>\n
In addition to certificates and associate degree options, WCTC is expanding the program this fall by adding a third year of advanced coursework.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s AI, it\u2019s adding senior level coursework that really bumps up against master\u2019s level coursework,\u201d Barnhouse said.<\/p>\n
The additional year will allow students to continue beyond the traditional two-year associate degree curriculum.<\/p>\n
Barnhouse said students already are enrolling in the new third-year option, including some who have completed bachelor\u2019s degrees in computer science and are seeking advanced AI training.<\/p>\n
The college recently graduated its first cohort of AI students, two years after launching the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just graduated our first graduates of the AI program, because we started it two years ago, and those that went full time are now graduating, and that\u2019s really exciting. They\u2019re the first AI grads in Wisconsin.\u201d Barnhouse said.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest challenges, Barnhouse said, is keeping pace with the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence technology.<\/p>\n
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