New Pathways and Partnerships to Prepare Highly Skilled Automotive Technicians

汽车行业的技术进步速度每年都在增加，因为每个汽车制造商都发布了采用新技术的新车型。为了帮助跟上这些进步的步伐，该项目计划开发一个从高中到大学的管道，并进入汽车技术人员的劳动力。 在管道中的学生将能够获得证书或汽车技术科学学位的副学士学位。 此外，教师们将更新有关汽车设计和功能创新的知识，以便改进他们的课程。该项目包括与当地行业合作，以扩大学生的机会，并满足当地企业的需求。 通过教育当前和未来的汽车技术人员，该项目将提供获得高薪职业的机会。 因此，该项目有可能对项目所在的农村高度贫困社区产生强有力的积极影响。 这个项目是在学生，教师和汽车经销商技术人员之间的专业学习交流接地。该项目将使参与者能够作为一个群体通过课程途径与综合支持服务，以提高保留率和完成率。这种支持的方面包括量身定制的第一年体验课程，专门的学术顾问，以及以汽车为主题的通识教育课程。学生将获得理学学士学位和/或汽车技术证书，满足行业准备标准和当地雇主的需求。作为教育的一部分，学生将在当地经销商完成18个月的在职学习，并有机会获得行业认可的认证。 该教育计划将为学生准备行业公认的汽车服务卓越认证测试的技术大师。当地经销商是汽车技术人员的主要雇主，拟议的项目将正式建立学院和这些企业之间的新伙伴关系。例如，汽车技术教师将与经销商技术人员一起进行实习，从而使教师能够增加他们的知识和能力，将技术进步融入他们的课程。当地汽车经销商的代表将担任咨询委员会和专业专家在大学课堂上。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The rate of technological advancement in the automotive industry increases every year, as each automobile manufacturer releases new models that incorporate new technology. To help keep pace with these advances, this project plans to develop a pipeline from high school through college and into the automotive technician workforce. Students in the pipeline will be able to earn certificates or an Associate of Science degree in Automotive Technology. In addition, faculty will update their knowledge about innovations in automobile design and function, so they can improve their courses. The project includes collaborations with local industry to expand student opportunities and meet the needs of local businesses. By educating current and future automotive technicians, the project will provide access to a well-paying profession. As a result, this project has the potential to have strong, positive impacts for the rural, high poverty community in which the project is situated. This project is grounded in a professional learning exchange among students, faculty, and master automotive dealership technicians. The project will enable participants to move as a cohort through a curricular pathway with integrated support services to boost retention and completion rates. Aspects of this support include a tailored First Year Experience course, a dedicated academic counselor, and general education classes with automotive themes. Students will earn an Associate of Science degree and/or certificates in automotive technology that meet both industry preparation standards and the needs of local employers. As part of their education, students will complete eighteen months of on-the-job learning in local dealerships and have opportunities to earn industry recognized certifications. The education program will prepare students for the industry-recognized Automotive Service Excellence certification test for master technicians. Local dealerships are the leading employer of automotive technicians and the proposed project will formalize newly created partnerships between the college and these businesses. For example, automotive technology faculty members will perform externships alongside dealership technicians, thus allowing faculty to increase their knowledge of and their ability to incorporate technical advances into their courses. Representatives of local automotive dealerships will serve on an advisory committee and as professional experts in the college classroom. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.