New associates degree curriculum to provide higher level of job readiness

Dec. 2, 2014
A new associates degree curriculum, spearheaded by Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville, NC, aims to provide state of the art and hands-on training for the technologically advancing car repair.
In the auto body business, it’s no secret that cars coming off today’s assembly line are increasingly technologically sophisticated, while the collision repair industry has lagged far behind. But a new Associates Degree curriculum, spearheaded by Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) in Fayetteville, NC, is promising to address this essential need for state-of-the-art professional car repair. The two year program will train students in non-structural cosmetic repairs, steel and aluminum structural repair and the latest technologies in automobile refinishing. The curriculum also includes training in estimating and body shop operations with ongoing opportunities for hands-on practice with late model cars. The first class of students started the program in August. 

Clark Plucinski, executive director for the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), says it’s no less than “a true paradigm shift. We have worked at a collaborative level to address the entire collision industry’s needs. This true industry partnership will assure that graduates of the program have a higher level of job readiness. FTCC’s curriculum will shape the future of education in the collision space.” 

A collaboration of state government, industry and educational leadership 
The program has support from the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), which facilitated collaboration between the industry and FTCC, providing a forum for collision repair experts to drive the curriculum. NCBCE Executive Director Sue Breckenridge credits FTCC for engaging with the industry with an open mind. “FTCC’s President Keen and his administration approached the table and simply said, ‘Tell us what you need.’ The result is a program that offers students guaranteed job readiness,” she said. In fact, Gerber Collision has already committed to hiring the program’s first graduates. 

Ms. Breckenridge said the ground breaking FTCC program reflects the high priority the governor and his administration place on training that will result in good paying careers for North Carolina citizens. Governor McCrory and his team actively participate in ‘listening tours’ across the state,” Breckenridge said. “We hear about the skills gaps from employers and this is a true example of industry and education working together to develop the workforce our economy needs. FTCC’s graduates will not only find work in North Carolina, but are qualified for jobs anywhere in the United States. " 

“FTCC is in the business of preparing students for available jobs and the collision repair industry is rumored to have some 180,000 open positions with a recognized skills gap in those applying,” said Dr. Larry Keen, President of FTCC, adding, “FTCC is proud to be addressing what is, by all accounts, a critical need in a critical industry.” The program is led by Paul Gage, a 22 year technical training consultant who has used his knowledge of the industry and connections among CREF, insurers, collision shop operators and manufacturers to develop a program that assures a workforce with skills that never become obsolete. “When introducing students to the space-age technology and computer engineering intrinsic to today’s models, I tell them, ‘I need you to fix that!’” Gage says with the confidence that his students will deliver. Indeed, Mr. Gage refers to the program as “post collision re-manufacturing. Because that’s what it is!” 

Curriculum reflects industry partnership and required job skills 
The five semester curriculum offers stackable credentials including six I-CAR platinum training designations and three I-CAR welding certifications and additional certifications and training covering Auto Service Excellence (ASE) B2 through B5 certifications, and equipment-specific training with industry partners. Non-structural cosmetic repair training will cover plastics, composites, steel and aluminum; structural repair will cover steel and aluminum. Students will also be trained in estimating and repair planning, body shop operations, lean processes (Six Sigma), and advanced automotive computer technologies. An 8-week final exam will be completed in the on-site production body shop, administered by collision repair specialists. Enterprise Rent-A-Car is providing late model cars for the up-to-date training. Graduates will be job-ready for positions in estimating, refinishing and non-structural repairs. 

Providing the necessary hands-on experience with current technologies required significant investment and support from industry partners. The state-of-the-art (25,000 sq. ft.) body shop and classroom building provide a real-world work environment that includes a waterborne refinish system; waterborne-ready spray equipment, and an aluminum clean room; squeeze type resistance welders (STRSW), smart MIG systems capable of steel, aluminum and silicon bronze welding, resistance dent pullers, plasma cutters, and nitrogen plastic welders; and two state of the art frame alignment systems. All manufacturers are dedicating their own personnel to specific equipment training. Cumberland County Commissioners, where FTCC is located, is also supporting the program with a $3 million investment in the property where the I-CAR program will be housed; FTCC is spending some $450,000 in building up-fit. 

The first class of 17 students will graduate in 2016 and includes soldiers from the National Guard, recent high school graduates, men looking for a career change and a single mother. As a group, they call themselves Team One and know they’re part of something big. On the first day of class, Mr. Gage handed out business cards from various industry partners and asked each student to read the name, title and company from the card they were given. He explained how each was personally committed to the program and to this graduating class. “It was impactful,” Gage said, “everyone recognized how much is riding on the success of this program. I tell them, ‘When you graduate, you’re going to feel like you’re a part of the NFL draft!’” 

New classes begin every eight weeks. The rolling enrollment supports transitioning military personnel throughout the year. Likewise, a rolling graduation provides employers job-ready candidates on an ongoing basis. 

About Fayetteville Technical Community College 
Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville, North Carolina, was established in 1961 and serves over 42,000 students annually by providing over 190 occupational, technical, general education, college transfer, and continuing education programs to meet students’ needs and desires as well as those of the community. 

For more information about the Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology Curriculum, visit http://www.faytechcc.edu/public_service/icar.aspx

https://advanstar.replycentral.com/ABRN/ABRN.aspx?SID=0&PC= WTXTC

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