Fulton Schools semiconductor packaging courses drew about 40 students each semester about five years ago. Today, with the continuing growth of the semiconductor industry, the numbers of students in those courses have jumped to more than 200 every semester. Kyle Squires, dean of the Fulton Schools, points to the schools’ effort to spark the interest of students in the field’s expanding career opportunities. That effort has now been bolstered by a $40 million grant from the federal government to ASU to fund creating a regional network for microelectronics education. With course content shaped in collaboration with industry, Squires says courses will prepare students to work in a range of roles in the fast-emerging industry.