Automotive & Transportation Technology Training Planning Session

Transcription

1 Institutional and Community Planning Automotive & Transportation Technology Training Planning Session September 13, 2007 R E P O R T Office of the Vice President of Research and Devel opment MyDocuments/Planning Sessions/Automotive Cover Page Pr inted: January, 2008

2 Table of Contents Executive Summary... 3 Group Questions and Notes... 5 Group Reports/Recommendations... 8 Participants... 9 Coordination Photos from the Automotive Shop at Valle Verde Campus

3 Executive Summary Purpose/Intent The Dean of Education and Occupational Programs at the Valle Verde campus, Dr. Jaime Farias, proposes to host an open dialogue session to invite formal discussion and further ideas to advance the transportation-related educational programs of the College. This session would involve all credit and non-credit workforce administrators and faculty as administrators are able to engage to assist in the effort. The ultimate goal is to establish short and long-term goals that the group can, by consensus, agree to advance in transportation industries and support with district-wide effort. It is recognized that the missions of various transportation-related industries may differ, but the ultimate aim will be to offer students the most diverse options related to their educations and build upon the synergy of existing programs and resources. In addition, it is hoped that the session will foster a spirit of collaboration and sense of shared intellectual capital and contacts in developing options for EPCC students interested in transportation industries and related skills, and to offer students a full complement of skills and training as appropriate. Long-term results may be that those who enter the College initially for certificate training later confer Associates degrees. Improvement of physical resources at EPCC and flexibility in the creation of classroom and facility space related to this type of industry training can perhaps be created through shared facility use via the College s diverse program offerings. This on-site addition of training would allow EPCC to market its infrastructure and to be less dependent on market fluctuations, or to offer students a full menu of worksite and College specific training. First Steps An introductory meeting was held on May 26, 2006 with the Associate Vice President of Workforce Development, the Director of the Advanced Technology Center, The Director of Continuing Education, Industry Training and Personal Enrichment, The Director of Planning and Planning Office staff, Instructional Coordinator for Automotive Technology, and the Dean of Educational and Occupational Programs. At this initial meeting, several strategies were discussed and various concerns expressed. Previous documentation centered on Transportation Training has been compiled, and it is believed that perhaps the timing in the industry is now ideal to act upon demand for industry standard training, as well as to capitalize on emerging technologies and industry applications. Such issues may include but are not limited to: Working with alternative fuel vehicles and hybrid vehicles Automotive body repair techniques, to include work with fiberglass and paint applications Cross-training opportunities that may exist to give EPCC students more employment options based on a diverse menu of training. Transportation Training Center The initial vision for a transportation training center is one of a centralized contact point to assist students in their many career option and choices, to include: shared faculty expertise; equipment; and facilities as desirable and appropriate; this may not be functional for all programs, but with specific discipline areas such as automotive service and repair, diesel repair, trailer repair, trailer refrigeration, hydraulics, forklift mechanic and potentially others. Shared equipment costs and state-of-the art facilities could be developed to attract ongoing industry support for EPCC transportation industries, without risk of displacement of programs due to short-term industry or market fluctuations. 3

4 Convenience for students based upon the accessibility of EPCC, the College s hours of operation, access via public transportation, and familiarity of potential students with EPCC s campuses. Attraction and renewal of previous corporate partnerships and strengthening of existing partnerships by evidencing institutional commitment on the part of EPCC to these programs. Previous national partnerships with General Motors, Ford Motor Co., and Toyota may be renewed, along with local community partnerships that would be attracted to an on-site facility or centralized coordinating point to work toward skills training for employees. Local new car dealers and other local shops may be attracted to EPCC, both for initial employee training, as well as for advanced skills building in specific job-related areas. Providing training, both short and long-term options for troops and families of new troops entering the El Paso job market via Base Realignment (BRAC) will be advantageous, as will the ability of EPCC to offer more affordable, and in many cases more accessible options than proprietary schools. Classroom, lab and shop facilities would provide a strong selling-point to students interested in any form of EPCC transportation-related training. EPCC offers a strong menu of non-credit and credit options for students; however, navigating choices and understanding the full array of choices that the College offers may be confusing for students, and many may make decisions based on whatever programs they first encounter. Offering students a full complement of choices and options that are clearly understandable may result in a better-informed student population, as well as new options with employers who would support advanced and continuing training for their employees. 4

5 Group Questions and Notes TOPIC I: Training and Partnerships Questions: Do EPCC graduates meet automotive employer s needs? What types of specialized skill sets are needed in these industries? How will growth at Ft. Bliss affect the need for automotive students? How specialized are Automotive positions in your industry? Would your industry be interested in an internship program? What types of cross training opportunities can your industry provide to automotive students? What kind of jobs can students get with this training> What is the difference between Continuing Education and Credit Training? What percentages of student are enrolling in Automotive Training? Group I - Notes 85% placement graduates do meet automotive employer s needs Employers not meeting needs of the students Dealerships not offering low benefits Pep boys have better benefits Independence shops do not offer benefits Employers not training for their own needs Dealerships have to get involved with Educational Programs Toyota has their own school Snap-On Tools works with the Automotive Industry o works with schools o with Automotive Industry El Paso Community College are unable to teach specifics on dealerships Graduates prefer to work with other industries US Border Patrol growing in need of technology Automotive field requires Continuing Education Auto field has many different openings in fields ex. trailer repair Dealerships need to know what the program will benefit them Interview skills are needed in these types of industries o students need to keep a skills journal EPCC providing Job Placement to students 75% of students take ACS certification test while still in school ACS certification opens job opportunities o requires 2 yrs. of experience Can EPCC students intern on College fleet vehicles? Keep EPCC shops separate from training EPCC wants to train beyond intern level positions EPCC wants students to shoot for a goal 5

6 Group I Notes (Continued) Internships did not work in the past Training dealerships cannot control learning components o cannot control lab environment EPCC Credit Program familiarize students with similar experience as they would get interning There is an impact on Ft. Bliss EPCC keeps up with current technologies and software o keeps up with latest technology diagnostic Training information for instructors Ft. Bliss will increase auto jobs and need for technicians and more students There is a lot of demand and less facilities HOBBS facilities were ready to handle GM and Ford plants Current technicians in Continuing Education need information packages on upgrades There is specialty training available for Continuing Education Computer base courses are available o with course completion certificates High turnover rates at dealerships Group II - Notes EPCC Schools Coop Outreach o education o requirements o marketing o dealers o stereo types o English skills o computer skills o high Tech o academic skills 6

7 TOPIC II: Technologies/Facilities Questions: Is current number of graduates from EPCC Automotive meeting locals industry s demands and needs? What kind of specialized training is available for automotive students? What are the emerging technologies that future technicians will need to be successful? Will the students be able to obtain employable skills with this kind of training? What industry changes or technology advancements are currently not being met? Will the students be provided the appropriate technology to meet current industry requirements? Will advance technology and the expansion of a facility increase student enrollment? Group I - Notes At EPCC o certified in areas they teach o do quite well with the facility they have o need for Diesel repair o if need to grow the facility needs to get larger o facilities are going to need to grow in order to teach technology o several million dollars are in need to expand o interested in 4 yr. programs o needs to keep Automotive programs in Valle Verde Area o facility making current training difficult e.g. engine repair EPCC needs to enlist the help of their vendor partners Current facility has maxed out Auto program needs to be close to campus so students can take regular courses like: English, Math, etc. EPCC has no credit Diesel program o Outsource diesel program has no lab or way to control the curriculum No motorcycle program in the area EPCC has to get bigger to do more things Instructors currently overloaded at EPCC Western Tech has nicer facilities According to Snap-On Tools representative, there is grant money available for the facility o offers advise on facilities More resources are needed to expand facilities With better facilities more students will come o EPCC can be competitive with tuition EPCC Associates Program will open more programs than Western Tech EPCC administration needs to support/allocate funds 7

8 Group Reports/Recommendations Group I Group II If you build it they will come A new facility at EPCC would be competitive with schools like Western Tech, our program offers students an Associates Degree Partnerships o Linkages will come when we have the facilities o New larger facilities will increase partnerships o New facility will pay for itself in the long fun Support at the Administrative o College needs to make facility as a focus o EPCC markets itself as a transfer school needs more emphasis on programs that are an end and employ students well Opportunities o Auto-body repair o Certified Diesel technician o Motorcycle training o The opportunities are there, current facilities are not adequate to take advantage of them Partnerships/Training Options o Partnerships with Schools Districts o Marketing Plan o Dual Credit Opportunities in High Schools o Auto Collision Implementation of auto collision programs Technologies/Facilities o Device a plan similar to partners in Education o Challenges of emerging Technologies o Resources $$$$ Facilities Acquisition of new technologies 8

9 Participants Name Verne Alkire Joe Barraza Luis Chaparro Dr. Jaime Farias Christopher Gomez Jerry Graham Bill Grimm Kathy Lopez Jesus Martinez Don Mellado Delfina Najera Leo Pineda Jose Sanchez Luz Taboada Dr. Olga Valerio Elaviano Willars Agency Automotive Technology Instructor at El Paso Community College Ysleta Independent School District Director, Library Technical Services at El Paso Community College Dean, Education and Occupational Programs at El Paso Community College Institutional and Community Planning Administrative Office Assistant at El Paso Community College SNAP-On Tools San Elizario High School Director, Industry Training, Personal Enrichment at El Paso Community College El Paso Independent School District Hunter Engineering ITSC Instructor at El Paso Community College Automotive Technology Instructor at El Paso Community College Automotive Technology Lecturer at El Paso Community College Director, Workforce Development at El Paso Community College Director, Advanced Technology Center at EPCC Automotive Technology Instructor at El Paso Community College 9

10 Coordination El Paso Community College s Office of Institutional and Community Planning facilitated the Automotive and Transportation Technology Training planning session on September 13, We had a total of 17 participants. We would like to thank the following individuals who lent their talents, patience, and hard work to make this planning session a success. *Overall Coordination Dr. Dolores Gross Director, Institutional and Community Planning Christopher Gomez Administrative Office Assistant Institutional and Community Planning Sandra Mejia Administrative Assistant Institutional and Community Planning Dr. Jaime Farias Dean, Education and Occupational Programs *Facilitators Christopher Gomez Institutional and Community Planning Administrative Office Assistant Luis Chaparro Director, Library Technical Services 10

11 Photos from the Automotive Shop At Valle Verde Campus 11