By Leanne Costantino
Campus News
In a fast-paced, technology driven world, there is a growing demand for mechanics who are able to service the machines that we use every day. In recognition of this, community colleges across New York are creating and expanding their automotive programs to meet the growing demand for highly-skilled mechanics.
At Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, New York, a new program is arriving this fall for automotive technology degree students. The Subaru Technician certification will be offered through Subaru University at C-GCC to train students to work in Subaru dealerships across the country. Subaru University, or Subaru-U, entered into an agreement with C-GCC to offer Level One and Level Two Subaru technical training courses through the college. Students who complete both levels of coursework will be qualified to work at any Subaru dealer in the country.
Subaru-U is a partnership between Subaru retailers and Subaru of America. The courses for Subaru-U are delivered online with the supplementation of on-campus instruction at ASE Education Foundation-accredited schools such as C-GCC.
“Subaru-U only partners with secondary and post-secondary institutions that have demonstrated they strongly support import vehicles,” said Marc Gilbert, assistant professor of automotive technology at C-GCC. “By adding Subaru-U to our options, we are not only signaling to dealerships that we have a well-heeled program, but that we can provide them with a steady pipeline of skilled employees.”
The addition of a program like Subaru-U allows students to specialize and increase their knowledge about a certain manufacturer. This gives students the foundation they need to enter into a career in a dealership straight out of the program. “What I tell students is to build a house, you need a good foundation. We give you that foundation – it’s up to the student to build the house,” said Gilbert. Students are able to build their foundation at C-GCC in preparation for building their careers and innovating technology after completing their courses.
C-GCC offers multiple career tracks in automotive technology. Students can pursue a one-year certificate program that provides comprehensive training for entry-level employment at a dealership or repair shop technician. Another option is the applied science degree (A.A.S.) that includes both technical training and general studies with two paid summer internships. Lastly, C-GCC offers an associate degree in occupational studies (A.O.S.) which includes two paid summer internships and prepares students to be automotive technicians, component rebuilders, and parts department managers. Both the A.A.S. and the A.O.S. would be great options for students looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree after the completion of their program. Students in C-GCC’s automotive technology department also complete externships in approved licensed repair facilities.
With the job market for A.A.S./A.O.S. degree holders projected to grow five percent by 2024 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the automotive career path is looking bright for future mechanics. That figure represents an increase in about 780,000 technician jobs. “Someone always needs their car fixed, so job opportunities are always expanding – especially among technicians who are well-trained,” said Gilbert. “And in this industry, training never stops.”
Training at C-GCC includes areas such as HVAC diagnosis and service, New York State inspections, general maintenance, wheel alignment, brake service, internal engine and transmissions, electrical diagnosis and repair, and drivability diagnosis.
With the current technician force moving closer to retirement, students gaining experience in automotive technologies are at a growing advantage in the job market. Since every manufacturer is different, it is important that students at C-GCC are gaining specialized experience to give them an edge when entering the job market.
“Students at participating Subaru-U partner schools gain valuable knowledge of Subaru vehicle systems, which can better prepare them for employment in any one of approximately 630 retailers nationwide,” said Mark Russo, Technical Training Education Manager with Subaru Distributors Corp. “The addition of C-GCC to the Subaru-U family will help us deliver outstanding automotive technicians to the Albany, New York, market and beyond.”
Once students earn course credit through a Subaru-U program, it remains in the Subaru system, allowing them the opportunity to train for higher positions within the company, such as a Master or Senior Master Technician.
C-GCC is one of only seven schools in New York offering training through Subaru university. However, many New York State schools have specialized automotive programs. Among these schools are Rockland County Community College, partnered with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and Suffolk County Community College, partnered with Honda, Toyota, and General Motors.
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