Lincoln University will expand its workforce training to support careers in the critical materials industry.
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is investing in the university's Employment Academy, a two-semester online certificate program aimed to equip nontraditional students with education and certificates that can help them better enter the work force.
The NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine project -- which has received an initial $15 million for the first two years -- is a regional initiative pioneered by UMKC to lessen U.S. foreign reliance for critical minerals and materials.
This particular initiative is focused in the Kansas City area and Missouri and Kansas border. It is one of 12 "innovation engines" across the country, according to a Monday news release from Lincoln.
According to the release, the project will focus on producing metals and advanced materials typically used in batteries, medical devices, aircraft engine parts, semiconductors and other advanced technologies.
Lincoln is one of more than 260 partners -- including the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and University of Missouri -- that is working on the NSF project to shift production and supply chain of critical minerals back to the U.S.
Darius Watson -- who pioneered the creation of the Employment Academy and is Lincoln's dean of the College of Professional Studies and assistant provost for academic innovation, outreach and research -- said the Employment Academy will soon receive about $250,000 in NSF funds for curriculum and student support.
As the project develops during the next five years, the Employment Academy could receive up to $500,000 total.
The Employment Academy will "help develop education and workforce pathways that prepare students and workers for careers supporting the region's growing critical materials ecosystem," the release said.
To make this possible, the academy will work with a variety of industry, community and higher education partners to create training programs for the academy that align with the workforce needs and roles across critical materials-related fields, such as manufacturing, logistics, research, engineering and more.
Watson said the academy is specifically looking to develop an advanced manufacturing track, which will help train students for manufacturing roles within the critical materials industry.
He doesn't anticipate students to begin that track until fall 2027 at the earliest, particularly because internship and workforce opportunities still need to be coordinated among the project's other partners.
Watson said in the release collaborating on the project also helps the academy further expand into the Kansas City region.
"This collaboration with UMKC allows us to accelerate that vision," Watson said in the release. "By connecting more learners with workforce training that leads to high-demand careers, we'll be helping employers build the skilled talent pipeline needed to support one of the nation's fastest-growing industries."