This project aims to serve the national interest by improving curricula in mining technician education to align training with innovations in the mining industry. The College of Western Idaho will establish a mining technician Associate of Science (MINE A.S.) degree program to prepare graduates to fill technical career openings in the high-demand mining and geosciences industries. With the re-emergence of domestic critical mineral mining to support the nation’s shifting industrial landscape, there is a growing need to train students to use state-of-the art mining and surveying tools and equipment, such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), lidar, UAVs (uncrewed aerial vehicles), and various surveying, drilling, and water testing tools. The project will serve the NSF mission and public interest by advancing understanding about how to effectively prepare community college students for the technical demands of the mining industry through coursework, fieldwork, and faculty development. The project will support regional economic development by re-introducing mining technician training in partnership with local and regional employers, nurturing relationships between academia and industry to equip A.S. graduates with the scientific, technical, and professional skills mining employers seek. The industry-aligned project will offer direct pathways into mining industry technician-level jobs leading to industry certifications that prepare all students to enter well-paying jobs. The projec