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March 28, 2014 - High School Educators Get Lesson in Salvaging Automotive, Diesel Courses

While high school Career Technical Education (CTE) programs such as automotive and diesel classes help students discover interests that can lead to success in college and in-demand careers, CTEs are often the first programs to be cut when school budgets fall short. As a result, Universal Technical Institute (UTI) brought together automotive and diesel CTE instructors and armed them with the knowledge and resources to protect these vital courses from budget cuts by identifying “auto shop” as a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program.

On March 15, UTI hosted a one-day, all-expense paid workshop, “Crossing the Finish Line with STEM,” at its Rancho Cucamonga campus for 30 CTE instructors from Southern California and throughout the country to learn how they can identify the STEM components that already exist in automotive and diesel curriculum.

“The UTI STEM-based workshop offers instructors an opportunity to work with the latest technology in the automotive industry,” said Jerry Ellner, national director of high school development for UTI and board member of the STEM Education Coalition. “Instructors also walk away from the workshop playing an important role in helping change the industry perception of a screwdriver-and-wrench mechanic to the computer technology-savvy and problem-solving automotive technician today.”

Instructors from the Inland Empire, including Colton High School Auto Tech instructor Rafael Negron, worked with UTI instructors and partners Snap-On Tools and MegaTech in hands-on workshops throughout the day to learn how they can transform auto “electives” into core STEM classes.

According to Ellner, by qualifying CTEs as core programs, already existing automotive and diesel programs have the potential to qualify for thousands of potential STEM grant dollars, give local high school students an opportunity to earn graduation credits, and pave the way for students to learn the skills necessary for in-demand technical career paths.

The event was the last of six STEM Educator Workshops hosted by UTI at its campuses throughout the country that have brought together 300 educators to learn about STEM and STEM careers for high school students in CTE programs. 

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1) UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.

2) For important information about the educational debt, earnings and completion rates of students who attended this program, and to review the applicable Gainful Employment disclosure, visit our website at www.uti.edu/disclosures.

5) UTI programs prepare graduates for careers in industries using the provided training, primarily as automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as a technician, such as: parts associate, service writer, fabricator, paint and paint prep, and shop owner/operator. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.

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