About Our Innovation…

Data Center Institute• Focused on technical requirements for an entry-level

data center employee.• Delivered in a hands-on active-learning environment.• Developed by Isothermal Community College faculty

and Facebook employees.

Isothermal Community College Facilitators

• Chester Peeler - Instructor of Computer Engineering Technology.

• Steve Hollifield - Instructor of Computer Engineering.

• Jo James - Instructor of Web Technology and Computer programming.

• Tim Greene - Instructor of Networking and Information Systems Security.

From left to right

Facebook Facilitators

George Henry - Data Center Operations Manager.

Duane Gowan - Data Center Technician.

Prerequisite for Data Center Institute

• Achievement of Career Readiness Certification Gold Level. – Gold Level matches 85% of

ACT Inc. job profile requirements.

• Experience in either Linux, networking, or computer electronics preferred.

Data Center Institute Development

• Facilitators identified content cooperatively.

• Content delivered via six modules.

• Modules developed based on individual expertise of facilitators.

• Certification exam developed from content.

• Content housed and delivered via Moodle content management system.

Module I

• Human Resource Development. – Content addresses the

soft-skills needed to work in an on-line environment.

– Topics include team building and resume writing.

Module II

• Data Center Hardware & Systems. – Content addresses the

foundations of electricity.

– Topics include DC/AC fundamentals, networking basics, and data center specific hardware.

Module III

• Linux. – Content addresses the

foundation of the Linux operating system.

– Topics include single user and system administrator skills, as well as data center specific operations.

Module IV

• Simulation and Trouble Shooting. – Students face controlled

failure of systems on a Freedom server.

– Content covered in prior modules is applied in hands-on module.

Module V

• Data Center Architecture. – Content provided an

overview of data centers, following the evolution of data center technologies.

– Conducted on site at Facebook.

Certification Exam

• Isothermal Community College Certification Exam conducted upon completion.

• Timed exam with 106 questions. • 80% or higher score assured participants an

interview with Facebook and Milestone.

Data Center Institute Session One

• Participants– 12 Isothermal

Community College students.

– 1 Facebook employee.– 1 Milestone employee.

• Facebook provided scholarships for three students.

Session One Results

• 100% of the students passed the certification exam.

• Students interviewed onsite at Facebook following the exam.

Data Center Institute Session One

• Five students hired as Milestone interns to work at Facebook.

• One student hired as a full-time Siemens employee to work at Facebook.

Data Center Institute Session Two • Additional session offered

– Second Facebook building to open in upcoming year.

– Limited Faculty availability during academic year.

• Participants– 2 students from Isothermal

Community College.– 5 students from the

community.

Session Two Results

• 100% of the students passed the certification exam.

• Students will be interviewed in the upcoming year as positions become available.

Looking Forward….

More time on…• Linux• PXE booting• Networking• Numbering systems• Power distribution

Less time on….• Electrical theory• Soft skills• Team building• Resume writing

Student suggestions to improve sessions:

Facebook Feedback"The Business Sciences and Applied Sciences departments at Isothermal worked hand in hand with Facebook to put together an intensive two week seminar in Data Center technologies that rivals some of the best private courses money could buy. We hired our first set of entry level interns straight out of this class and look forward to an ongoing flow of excited students gaining valuable work experience through Facebook and Isothermal's close relationship."

George Henry Manager, Facebook Data Center

Milestone Feedback

“The results of the DCI class surpassed my expectations. The class is fast paced, but with the skilled instructors and hands-on modules it is easily learned. The interns selected are doing a fabulous job. It is amazing to learn so much in so little time about data center processes and have successful data technicians within about 4 weeks .”

Lisa HamrickData Center Technician

Isothermal Feedback“When Facebook announced they were coming to our community to build a world-class data center and wanted Isothermal Community College to partner with them to build a training-program, we could not have been more surprised and excited. We found Facebook to be a generous and innovative partner willing to donate resources and provide industry-specific knowledge. As a result of our collective efforts translated into success for our students. Students now working in highly technical jobs at Facebook could not have dreamed of that opportunity just two years earlier when they began their education. “

Steve HollifieldData Center Institute Facilitator

Questions?