• How to Join

• Current Members

• Member Benefits

• Partnership Impact

• Annual Workshop

Welcome to the Industrial Affiliates Web page and thanks for taking a moment to review a program that has helped bridge the gap between education and the specific needs of industry and other organizations that require employees with comprehensive skills and abilities in optical sciences.

Since the founding of this college, formerly known as the Optical Sciences Center, the need for close collaborations with various public and private organizations has been central to our mission.  In fact, our very existence was born from a need by the United States Air Force in the early 1960's for more and better personnel trained in optics.  That circumstance began our close relationship with the defense industry and made this world-renowned college a reality.  Ultimately, the need for more optics-educated employees grew and industry looked to this college to hire graduating students to support the public and private needs of the optics industry.

Today we enjoy the active participation of more than 40 corporations and organizations in our Industrial Affiliates program and we have, at one time or another, served hundred of individuals and corporations with their optics-related challenges.

The mission of this program is to provide a venue for today's optics corporations and organizations to partner with this college in educating the next generation of optical scientists and optical engineers.  Similarly, we want to provide an environment in which all can enjoy our rich history while also tapping into the vast knowledge contained within the minds of all who reside within this college and of those who will soon possibly work for you.