MONROE, Mich. – Monroe County Community College will officially launch a new automotive service program this Fall Semester, which begins Aug. 23.
In fall 2016, the college received formal approval from its accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, to begin offering an associate degree and credit certificate in automotive service technology.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the automotive service technology employment outlook in Michigan will grow by about 11 percent by the early 2020s.
“There are more than 100 licensed automotive repair facilities in Monroe County, and MCCC will become the first institution of higher learning within a 25-mile radius to provide training to the potential employees of these facilities,” said Parmeshwar (Peter) Coomar, dean of MCCC’s Applied Science and Engineering Division.
MCCC expects to enroll up to 20 students in the new program this Fall Semester and about 35 students annually.
The automotive service program will be housed in the Career Technology Center, a $17 million, 60,000-square foot facility that opened in 2013 to deliver instruction and skills necessary to secure high-growth, high-demand and high-paying jobs. An automotive lab was built as part of the CTC to accommodate the planned new program, and nearly $200,000 worth of equipment was installed, such as tire service equipment, an alignment machine and hoists.
The automotive service technology curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to perform duties concerned with diagnosis, repair and maintenance of motor vehicles. The curriculum for the program conforms to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence/National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (ASE/NATEF) standards, and the goal is for the program to be formally accredited by ASE/NATEF by the time the first students graduate in 2-3 years, Coomar said. Graduates of the program can seek entry-level employment as independent and dealership service technicians, service writers, factory technical representatives, research and development technicians, and service engineers.
Automotive service technicians work on hydraulic systems (brakes and transmissions), mechanical systems (engines and steering), computer systems (modules and networks) and electrical systems (entertainment and lighting). They use various mechanical and electrical test instruments and gauges, including scan tools, oscilloscopes, pressure gauges, pneumatic tools and hand tools.
The associate of applied science degree with specialization in automotive service technology is structured to provide the technical knowledge and mechanical abilities necessary to work on the vehicles of yesterday, today and the future. The certificate program in automotive service technology covers the basic core subjects of automotive repair. Skill development and job procurement are the primary objectives of the certificate program, and all courses taken are applicable toward the associate of applied science degree.
According to Coomar, the program will offer a good segue into another level of automotive training currently offered by MCCC within the same lab space – automotive engineering technology.
“Graduates of the automotive engineering technology program are prepared to perform duties concerned with design, testing and development activities in direct support of an automotive engineer,” he said. “They are trained in the use of various mechanical and electrical test instruments and gauges, including engine and chassis dynamometers, road simulators, flow benches and computer-controlled data gathering devices.”
The new automotive service program is coordinated by Jack Larmor, who is ASE-certified in 13 areas of competency and meets all qualifications prescribed by the NATEF. Larmor holds a master of business administration degree from Baker College, a bachelor of arts degree from Spring Arbor University and an associate of applied science degree from Mott Community College.
For more information, prospective students can contact the Admissions and Guidance Office at (734) 384-4104 or the ASET Division at (734) 384-4112.
Visit the Automotive Service Technology Web page at http://www.monroeccc.edu/aset/automotive_service.htm
A Chevy Volt is charged in the MCCC auto lab, which is located in the college's Career Technology Center.
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition.
The college’s mission is to enrich and transform lives by providing opportunities and excellence in higher education. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located at 7777 Lewis Ave.,Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.