Automotive Technology program gets high praise during review
Palm Beach Community College Automotive Service Technology program recently underwent initial review by the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF), a division of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and, based upon the review, will soon be recommended to receive NATEF accreditation and designation as ASE certified.
The NATEF evaluation team conducted the on-site inspection to review curriculum, teaching techniques, facilities, equipment and training aids, task sheets, tools, budget and safety measures as well as student and employer satisfaction.
In the eight areas examined and scored, on the scale from ‘1-5’, the automotive program received no score under ‘4’. The program’s 83% student placement received acknowledgement as "phenomenal." Administrators' support, marketing and press releases and the annual Car & Motorcyle Show/Career Fair were noted as "outstanding."
The examiners were also impressed with the level of involvement instructors have in the budget process and positively commented that the use of college "P-cards" for emergency purchasing is considered unique and of great value to the educational process.
The NATEF accreditation and ASE certification is of great benefit to students in the automotive program. ASE certification requires two years of work experience and passing the ASE certification examinations. Graduates from ASE Master Certified educational programs are able to substitute their training for one year of work experience toward the ASE two-year work requirement. In addition, competencies covered in the College’s curriculum help prepare students for the ASE examinations.
This designation will also help in obtaining scholarships to recruit new students as well as enhance program donations, both monetary and with newer model vehicle donations. As automotive service technology advances, our students must be able to service, diagnose, and repair the newest vehicles on the market. Having this certification will provide those opportunities through industry donations.
With the hard work and dedication of program manager Luis Tamayo, program instructors Jay Safford and Michael Dennis, lab specialist Tom Lewis and occupational skills evaluator Diane Klein along with the adjunct instructors, students, Automotive Business Partnership Council members and guidance provided by associate dean Sal Manuele and dean Jacqueline Rogers, the program earned not only the valuable certification but also the rating by peer evaluators as being "the best" they have ever seen.
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