By Leanne Costantino
Campus News
Suffolk County Community College is the largest SUNY community college in New York State with over 18,000 students,. and offers an A.A.S. degree in Automotive Technology, available to students who attend the Ammerman Campus in Selden, New York.
There are four different automotive programs offered at Suffolk that require students to complete coursework in automotive classes as well as academic classes to fulfill the A.A.S. requirements. There is a growing demand for technicians that are not only mechanically proficient, but academically proficient as well. According to Dave Macholz, the Academic Chair of the Automotive Technology program at Suffolk, the automotive industry “needs people that have excellent reading skills, excellent comprehension, ability to reason, problem solve, and think critically. We are changing technology at a rate that we can’t keep up with, so the individual has to keep up with it. How are they going to do that? By accessing information.” It is increasingly valuable to pursue an A.A.S. degree that focuses on developing a well-rounded mechanic who can service vehicles while also communicating effectively with customers.
“The amount of phone calls we get and the amount of feedback that we get from the industry looking for people is huge,” said Macholz. With the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a five percent increase in automotive technology jobs by 2024, now is an opportune time to enter into an A.A.S. degree track.
To meet the growing demand for technicians, colleges need to increase enrollment into the automotive programs. Macholz added that the interest in the automotive field needs to start at home and in primary education. “If the parents’ perception is that our industry is not a good fit, why would the students’ perception be anything different? It starts with talking to your friends, family, and relatives about what this industry is, what it has become.”
In addition to the automotive service specialist track, Suffolk County Community College offers a Toyota manufacturer-specific program that is a two-year curriculum designed to prepare students for careers in Toyota or Lexus dealerships. SCCC also offers the Honda Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT) program and the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP).
Facebook Comments