Sixteen computer information systems faculty from Arizona and Utah universities and several Arizona community colleges are taking advantage of a no-cost, Amazon Web Services Cloud Foundations training provided by Mesa Community College CIS faculty Dennis Kibbe.

“There are many who know computer networks and not many who know how to architect for the cloud. This was evident when the two inaugural classes for students filled last fall, during the pandemic,” Mr. Kibbe said in the release. “We realized, being the only system in the state with curriculum prepared for higher ed, we could help jump start the knowledge base best by aiding our (computer information systems) colleagues. This led to the development of a condensed AWS cloud foundations course for other CIS instructors.”

Mr. Kibbe and Andrea Schauer, a colleague from Glendale Community College, developed the foundations curriculum based on educational material made available by AWS; it is one of four eight-week for-credit courses preparing students to successfully earn AWS certifications, increasing the number of cloud architects in Arizona. MCC is the only college in the state teaching for-credit AWS courses. GCC is offering the courses in the summer and fall semesters.

John Bjerke, AWS Academy program manager, acknowledges the importance of instructor training to increase access to cloud computing education in institutions of higher education. In October 2020 the AWS Academy announced, along with the Arizona Commerce Authority, its commitment to increase access to cloud computing education in schools across Arizona. The initiative aims to train and certify 5,000 students for entry-level cloud computing careers by June 2022, with continued long-term investments in technical skills training for Arizonans.

Learn more about the IT programs and AWS courses offered by MCC at mesacc.edu.