Keene State's Owl-Eyed Focus: A 1-Year Precision Optics Certificate

Not every student sees college as the right path—but that shouldn’t limit their access to high-paying, high-demand careers. Many students want a direct route into the workforce, bypassing traditional degrees for hands-on, job-ready training. At Keene State College in New Hampshire, the Precision Optics Certificate was designed for these individuals, offering a one-year, skills-focused program that leads straight to employment in the rapidly growing optics industry. The demand for skilled optics technicians has never been greater. Local companies are struggling to fill positions—so much so that they are hiring workers from grocery stores and machine shops with no prior experience. But they don’t just need workers; they need workers with the right skills. Developed in direct collaboration with local optics employers (in the New England region), this program ensures students gain precise, industry-driven expertise in optics manufacturing, metrology, lens fabrication, thin film coatings, laser technology, and precision machining.

The Precision Optics Certificate is more than a new program—it represents a new way for education and industry to work together, creating opportunities for students who may have never considered college while supplying businesses with the talent they desperately need. This effort marks a fundamental shift in how academia and industry collaborate, moving beyond traditional academic silos to build a truly responsive workforce pipeline. In this presentation, we will share how we worked with industry to create this certificate, the challenges and successes we encountered along the way, and how our continued partnership ensures that the program remains relevant and effective. By rethinking the relationship between education and workforce development, we are setting a precedent for how institutions can evolve to meet industry needs while opening new doors for students seeking direct entry into high-demand careers.