Vacuum Tech, Statistical Process, Semiconductors

Vacuum Systems Technology at Normandale Community College

Vacuum systems play a key role as an enabling technology, supporting vital processes in the production of many everyday products, and are especially important in semiconductor manufacturing.  Normandale Community College (Bloomington, MN) offers a series of technician-level courses in vacuum technology.  These courses address vacuum science fundamentals, vacuum systems operations and maintenance, and the applications of vacuum systems in manufacturing and research.

Faculty are welcome to audit any of Normandale’s VACT classes as a way to learn about a curriculum in vacuum technology for technicians.

Fall semester 2023 classes at Normandale start on Monday, August 21st.  Please contact Nancy Louwagie (Nancy.Louwagie@normandale.edu) or Tim Lapanne (Timothy.Lapanne@normandale.edu) for more information about the classes being offered and how to register for them.

If you are interested in the Normandale Vacuum Technology course, or learning more about Vacuum Systems, you may also want to read more about the free ebook Normandale Community College’s Nancy Louwagie helped write: Free Ebook on Vacuum Technology


MNT-EC is offering to pay for educators this Fall 2023 semester who want to audit one or more of Normandale’s VACT courses.

Anyone may register to AUDIT Normandale’s VACT classes.  The cost to register for the VACT 1010 class is ~$475 including the cost of a workbook. The cost to register for a VACT 1293, VACT 1294, VACT 1295 class is $225 per class.  Other VACT courses being offered this fall are a series of 1-credit, 5-week classes addressing Thin Film Deposition using a vacuum system (VACT 2300, VACT 2301, VACT 2302) and a 1-credit, 5-week High Vacuum Equipment class (VACT 2290).  The cost for each 1-credit class is $225.

Contact Nancy Louwagie or Tim Lapanne listed above for more information or help with the VACT class registration process.


There’s still time to sign up for the online Introduction to Statistical Process Control workshop starting August 2 (yes, tomorrow!). Plus, there’s the Semiconductor Manufacturing Process Technology in-person workshop, Aug 14-16, as well. Head to the main MNT-EC calendar ASAP.