I nstitutional a nd C om munity Planning
Automotive &
Transportation
Technology Training
Planning Session
September 13, 2007
REPORT
Office of the Vice President of Research and Devel opment
MyDocuments/Planning Sessions/Automotive Cover Page
Printed: January, 2008
Table of Contents
Executive Summary .............................................................................................. 3
Group Questions and Notes ................................................................................. 5
Group Reports/Recommendations........................................................................ 8
Participants ........................................................................................................... 9
Coordination ....................................................................................................... 10
Photos from the Automotive Shop at Valle Verde Campus ................................. 11
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Group Questions and Notes
TOPIC I: Training and Partnerships
Questions:
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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
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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
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Group I – Notes (Continued)
¾ Internships did not work in the past
¾ Training dealerships cannot control learning components
o cannot control lab environment
¾ EPCC Credit Program familiarize students with similar experience as they
would get interning
¾ There is an impact on Ft. Bliss
¾ EPCC keeps up with current technologies and software
o keeps up with latest technology diagnostic
¾ Training information for instructors
¾ Ft. Bliss will increase auto jobs and need for technicians and more
students
¾ There is a lot of demand and less facilities
¾ HOBBS facilities were ready to handle GM and Ford plants
¾ Current technicians in Continuing Education need information packages
on upgrades
¾ There is specialty training available for Continuing Education
¾ Computer base courses are available
o with course completion certificates
¾ High turnover rates at dealerships
Group II - Notes
¾ EPCC – Schools – Coop
¾ Outreach
o education
o requirements
o marketing
o dealers
o stereo types
o English skills
o computer skills
o high Tech
o academic skills
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TOPIC II: Technologies/Facilities
Questions:
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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
¾ 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
¾ EPCC needs to enlist the help of their vendor partners
¾ Current facility has maxed out
¾ Auto program needs to be close to campus so students can take regular
courses like: English, Math, etc.
¾ EPCC has no credit Diesel program
o Outsource diesel program has no lab or way to control the
curriculum
¾ No motorcycle program in the area
¾ EPCC has to get bigger to do more things
¾ Instructors currently overloaded at EPCC
¾ Western Tech has nicer facilities
¾ According to Snap-On Tools representative, there is grant money available
for the facility
o offers advise on facilities
¾ More resources are needed to expand facilities
¾ With better facilities more students will come
o EPCC can be competitive with tuition
¾ EPCC Associates Program will open more programs than Western Tech
¾ EPCC administration needs to support/allocate funds
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Group Reports/Recommendations
Group I
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“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
Group II
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Partnerships/Training Options
o Partnerships with Schools Districts
o Marketing Plan
o Dual Credit Opportunities in High Schools
o Auto Collision
ƒ Implementation of auto collision programs
Technologies/Facilities
o Device a plan similar to partners in Education
o Challenges of emerging Technologies
o Resources $$$$
ƒ Facilities
ƒ Acquisition of new technologies
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Participants
Name
Agency
Verne Alkire
Automotive Technology Instructor at El Paso Community College
Joe Barraza
Ysleta Independent School District
Luis Chaparro
Director, Library Technical Services at El Paso Community
College
Dr. Jaime Farias
Dean, Education and Occupational Programs at El Paso
Community College
Christopher Gomez
Institutional and Community Planning Administrative Office
Assistant at El Paso Community College
Jerry Graham
SNAP-On Tools
Bill Grimm
San Elizario High School
Kathy Lopez
Director, Industry Training, Personal Enrichment at El Paso
Community College
Jesus Martinez
El Paso Independent School District
Don Mellado
Hunter Engineering
Delfina Najera
ITSC Instructor at El Paso Community College
Leo Pineda
Automotive Technology Instructor at El Paso Community College
Jose Sanchez
Automotive Technology Lecturer at El Paso Community College
Luz Taboada
Director, Workforce Development at El Paso Community College
Dr. Olga Valerio
Director, Advanced Technology Center at EPCC
Elaviano Willars
Automotive Technology Instructor at El Paso Community College
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Coordination
El Paso Community College’s Office of Institutional and Community Planning facilitated
the Automotive and Transportation Technology Training planning session on September
13, 2007. 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
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Photos from the Automotive Shop
At Valle Verde Campus
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