Anchoring a career in today’s automotive industry means students have to know about a lot more than just what’s under the hood.
To keep up with the accelerating pace of vehicles today, students have to be tech-savvy and familiar with the latest electronics and sophisticated devices coming on to the auto scene and colleges have to offer this experiential learning—both of which happen at Morrisville State College.
“We are noted for our auto programs,” Joe Kidd, assistant professor in the automotive department, said. “We are very hands-on and our students’ skill-set is exceptional when they graduate.”
MSC took another step toward preparing its automotive students to keep up with the driving demands of the auto industry, with its recent certification by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) of its automotive technology bachelor degree program. The college’s automotive technology—Ford ASSET (Automotive Students Service Education Training) program also received recertification.
The news, which follows an extensive review and analysis, means the programs met or exceeded nationally accepted standards of excellence in areas that included instruction, facilities, and equipment.
“Achieving NATEF certification is a testament to the continuing level of excellence that has been established in the college’s auto programs, which are designed to reflect the most recent advances in the industry and to provide students with the best technical training,” said Dan Akers, director of the Ford ASSET Program. Akers is a 1990 graduate of the college’s automotive technology associate degree program.
“We are very proud of our program and this accomplishment,” Alexander said. “We know to compete in the industry we have to show we are excellent at what we do.”
That’s why the college applied for the voluntary certification which included reviewing records, checking faculty credentials, and performing an on-site evaluation that entailed everything from counting tools to interviewing students.
“Contacts and corporate sponsors look for this certification,” Kidd said. “This gives our already renowned auto program instant credibility nationwide and will assist graduates in their career pursuits.”
Along with the prestigious certification, the college scored the highest rating for faculty quality.
“We have known for a long time that our automotive faculty provides a high quality of instruction to our students,” said David Rogers, provost and chief operating officer at MSC. “The assessment by the evaluation team affirms that fact.”
The drive behind Morrisville State College faculty is preparing students to work on today’s modern, sophisticated automobiles that are equipped with extensive electronics that require highly specialized training to service.
“It is affirming to know that each of our faculty members, after leaving as graduates, came back to teach in the program that provided them with a cutting-edge education,” Rogers said.
This experiential learning is monumental to other grads—alumni who tout the program’s effectiveness at getting them ready for the workforce.
Students are provided in modern facilities with the newest, latest and greatest equipment is another feather in the auto program’s cap. About 75 percent of the work students perform in the programs is hands-on in technologically sophisticated environments.
Degrees and Facilities
Morrisville State College’s automotive program started in 1933 with one degree. Today, the college offers bachelor degrees in automotive technology and automotive technology management and associate degrees in automotive technology and autobody technology, and has approximately 275 automotive students.
Facilities include an award-winning Automotive Technology Building with nine state-of-the art laboratories and a showroom, and an Autobody Building with a modern-day lab, superior air purification equipment, a laser measuring device capable of determining frame damage, and a Garmat Paint Station.
Morrisville State College sets the world in motion for students. Curriculums are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology. Lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs, the college was named to the 2012 President’s Higher Community Service Honor Roll. Visit www.morrisville.edu to experience, Morrisville in motion.
Experimental learning really does allow students the best way to learn especially during the reflection part. Through this experiential learning environment, students understand business strategy and management concepts at a deeper level, while creating memorable learning experiences.
Nice to see the colleges presenting themselves without the regular flim, flam and judy we are all used to.