College of Western Idaho (CWI) joined Micron Technology. to celebrate the opening of the new Micron Training Center in Boise and welcome 27 new apprentices as the company's sixth Registered Apprenticeship cohort officially signed on.
The event marked another milestone in CWI and Micron's continued partnership, expanding access to hands-on semiconductor education and training while creating pathways for students to move from the classroom into high-demand careers.
The new Micron Training Center is a 60,000-square-foot workforce development facility located less than half a mile from Micron's Boise campus and corporate headquarters. The facility was built to train Micron employees, apprentices, and college students in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and will serve as a training hub for Micron's continued expansion in Idaho and across the U.S.
"A strong semiconductor industry depends on a strong talent pipeline," said April Arnzen, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Micron Technology. "By combining state-of-the-art facilities with degree programs, certifications, apprenticeships and clear career pathways, we are creating opportunities for Idahoans while strengthening the workforce that will power Micron's growth and the future of the industry."
A core part of the new facility is dedicated to hands-on technical training.
The Training Center includes approximately 30,000 square feet of classroom space and 30,000 square feet of lab and tool space. Its Semiconductor Tool Learning Lab will house up to 20 industry-grade semiconductor process tools designed to replicate a fab environment and provide hands-on technical training.
The equipment will support training across several areas of semiconductor manufacturing, including diffusion, chemical vapor deposition, dry etch, implant, chemical mechanical planarization, physical vapor deposition, and wet processing.
The facility also includes five collaborative training rooms for semiconductor equipment partners, two large classrooms for new employee orientation and introductory technician courses, and a dedicated CWI classroom and lab for mechanical, electronics, wiring, and semiconductor manufacturing instruction.
Through CWI and Micron's partnership, CWI will begin offering its Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology (AMET) and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (SMT) programs directly at the Training Center this fall, alongside its Nampa campus offerings. This new opportunity will place students alongside industry professionals while they build skills for careers in advanced manufacturing.
Micron and the U.S. Department of Commerce have also provided $3 million to CWI to support educator pay, equipment, and classroom space associated with the partnership.
"CWI and Micron have built a training environment where students learn on the same equipment they'll operate in a world-class fab," said CWI President Gordon Jones. "This is what a decade of partnership looks like — a shared facility, tools, and commitment to building careers that matter for Idaho."
The new space builds on more than a decade of collaboration between CWI and Micron to strengthen Idaho's semiconductor workforce.
That partnership has helped expand CWI's Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology program, launch the Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology program, develop pathways for adult learners, and increase faculty, equipment, and program capacity to meet growing workforce needs.
During the event, Jones pointed to the growth of CWI's Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology program as one example. In 2022, the program had about nine graduates. Today, more than 140 students are enrolled, and the new classroom at the Micron Training Center will allow CWI to quadruple its capacity to enroll new mechatronics students compared with 2022.
CWI has also created a new certificate program to prepare process technicians.
"Thanks to the engagement of employers like Micron, our curriculum is able to meet industry needs, and students graduate workforce ready," Jones said.
The opening celebration also marked the beginning of a new journey for 27 apprentices who signed on as Micron's sixth Registered Apprenticeship cohort, the company's largest Boise cohort to date.
Micron's Registered Apprenticeship Program follows an earn-and-learn model, allowing apprentices to work as full-time Micron employees while completing structured on-the-job training and technical coursework through CWI. The program was developed through collaboration between Micron, CWI, and the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance (IMA).
Cohort 6 apprentices will train for equipment technician and process technician roles.
For CWI Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology graduate and Micron Technician, Bailey Guthrie, the apprenticeship provided a path forward at a time when she wasn't sure what came next.
Guthrie grew up in the Treasure Valley and went directly to college after high school but found herself changing majors before eventually stepping away from school. After learning about Micron's expansion and CWI's Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology program, she joined Micron's first registered apprenticeship cohort in March 2023.
"During my apprenticeship, I was able to learn in the classroom CWI while also getting hands-on experience in a real semiconductor manufacturing environment," Guthrie said. "That made a huge difference for me. I wasn't just sitting in a class hoping that it would make sense at the end of the day. I was learning things and then seeing how they applied at work."
Today, Guthrie works as a technician in yield enhancement operations at Micron. Since completing the apprenticeship and graduating from CWI, she has trained new hires, traveled internationally for training, and is completing her studies at Boise State University to earn her bachelor's degree.
"Looking back, this program gave me more than just training," she said. "It gave me confidence, a career path, and a future I'm excited about."
Guthrie also had a message for the new apprentices beginning the program.
"You don't have to have everything figured out to start a future you're proud of," she said.
With the addition of Cohort 6, Micron now has 54 active registered apprentices at its Boise campus. Since the program launched in 2022, 18 apprentices have graduated and moved into technician roles.
Micron is working toward triple-digit enrollment in its Registered Apprenticeship Program by the end of fiscal year 2027. The program also supports Idaho Governor Brad Little's goal to double the number of registered apprenticeships statewide by 2029.
The Micron Training Center adds another piece to that effort by bringing education and industry training together in one location and providing CWI students with access to equipment, instruction, and hands-on experience as they prepare for technician-level careers.
As Micron continues to expand its presence in Idaho, CWI's partnership with the company will continue to connect students with education, training, and career opportunities in semiconductor manufacturing.
To explore these opportunities, learn more about CWI's Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology programs.
