Automotive Technology Program Review 2007-2008

Student Enrollments and Characteristics Percentages have risen from 11.2% in 2003-04 to 20.5 % in 2006-07 and the count from 2055 in 2002-03 to 2500 in 2005-06. Our program's total enrollment growth is excellent, but there is a trend showing a slight drop in 2006-07, from 2500 to 2477. This is because of a reduction in AT-100, AT-102 and AT-110 day sections due to lab space limitations. We reduced the number of sections in order for students to have a more meaningful laboratory experience.

Student Enrollments and Characteristics All of our Ethnicity Enrollments have increased over the report period except the Amer. Ind. and Fil.+Pac.Isl. population (which has remained somewhat steady and the White population which has fallen slightly from a peak of 1194 in 2002-03 to 1134 in 2006-07 The night program was actually larger than the day program in 2002-03 with 914 students, but remained fairly steady as the day program grew past it. Nights ended with 843 students in 2006-07 compared to 1052 in the day program.

Student Enrollments and Characteristics This demonstrates that the reputation of our day program is a viable alternative to for-profit and other automotive training programs and the effect of our two part-time coordinators recruiting from high school programs. The weekend program more than doubled during the reporting period with 254 in 2002-03 vs. 582 in 2006-07 proving that our weekend program is as productive as the day/evening programs.

Major Developments and Accomplishments Discipline success rates have been as low as 76% to as high as 79% with the average at 78.5%. This means that roughly 8 out of 10 students served by the Automotive Department have been successful in their pursuit. Our students excel in our programs. Our classes are based on industry standards as well as critical thinking skills. Since most of our students are highly motivated (employment in industry is their goal), it is not unusual to find "A"s outnumbering "B"s by a little more than 2 to 1.

Major Developments and Accomplishments We have incorporated new and emerging technologies for green and clean automotive, diesel, and auto collision programs. We have continued using 2 part-load coordinators for visiting local high schools and repair shops to maintain contact information. We have expanded the auto collision program to include collision estimating. We have increased our on campus in-service instructor training in order to maintain and enhance our programs.

Major Developments and Accomplishments We have developed a yearly Job Fair to bring our industry partners to interview and hire our students. We have secured buildings at Mather Park to allow our auto collision program to evolve and grow. We have strengthened our automotive partnerships in PATC, manufacturers, and independent shops. We have an excellent advisory committee that works with our program to ensure its success. We have developed grants for clean and green automotive technologies.

Student Learning Outcomes (Were are we now) SLOs for our Automotive program are determined by the National Automotive Technicians Educational Foundation (NATEF) and are based on the entry level skills required by the automotive repair industry. Our class SLOs are written to include these skills as well as theory, diagnosis, and repair. Students who complete our classes successfully are able to take the NATEF/ASE examinations to become certified in all ASE areas. Most of our students take four or more of these examinations before entering the work force and all of our students who wish to work in this field will find employment. Use of NATEF SLOs are an excellent measure of student success and future SLO surveys will confirm this.

Program Strengths We meet the needs of the community. Our classes provide technical education to students who will work in the field as well as the hobbyist. We have strong automotive partnerships with industry to hire our students and give feedback on the development of our programs. We are at student capacity within our facility limitations. We are connected with all of the secondary automotive programs through articulation. We have developed grants for green and clean transportation programs.

Program Strengths We have 5 degree and 17 certificate automotive programs with more on the way. We are meeting the needs of professional technicians who are returning to our programs for lifelong learning and opportunities related to the profession. We will be the information source for emerging green and clean technologies including electric, hybrid, alternative fuel, and clean diesel technologies. This will be part of the solution for reducing our carbon footprint within the industry. We are improving our diversity by enabling more access to our programs by offering more classes at non-traditional times.

Areas for Growth Increase gender and ethnicity access to our programs. Maintaining instructor currency. Advertising our program to compete with the for-profit technical centers. Developing interdisciplinary classes for clean and green technologies.

Areas for Growth Adding classified staff to allow growth. Adding lecture and laboratory space. Maintaining our equipment and purchasing new equipment to stay current with the ever changing automotive industry.

Future Recommendations Develop contacts and working relationships with SETA and other state agencies to reach new populations. Continue to enhance 20 hour (per year) NATEF/ASE instructor in-service training classes with new and emerging technologies. Specific radio and TV advertising of our automotive program as well as newspaper and other printed media. We need to advertise in order to maintain our student population with two for-profit automotive training centers now in Sacramento.

Future Recommendations Make contact and work with other campus departments to develop classes with chemistry, physics, and bio technology components in clean and green technologies. Continue to meet with the classified senate to request personnel. Construction of new building additions. Adding more qualified tool room and laboratory technicians to repair and purchase equipment.