Automotive Program Gives Job Security
By: Jennifer Pond
Staff Writer
Published January 23, 2018
The Automotive Technology Program (ATP) at Green River has plenty of potential
Students who are interested in ATP often wonder what the program entails.
At full capacity, the program handles 70 to 80 students at a time. Located in the Trades and Technologies A-room, the ATP has four teachers and teaches all eight areas of the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). This includes Engine Repair (A1), Automatic Transmission (A2), Manual Transmission (A3), Steering & Suspension (A4), Brakes (A5), Electrical/Electronics (A6), Heating & A/C (A7), and Engine Performance (A8).
The program takes six quarters to complete. With open entry-exit and students graduating every quarter, this ensures that other students have an opportunity to join the program any quarter.
Students who graduate can expect to go on to get jobs such as entry-level automotive technicians, service advisers, parts person, management, or even service advisers. Average pay range begins $15- $18 an hour and works up to a well over six-figure income.
Individuals can become a master within two years, “If you have a lot of experience,” said Edwards. “It’s such that you must keep your skill set up or you’ll get left behind.” Learning is everything. Dan Sorensen, who has been with the program for 23 years said, “Every year there’s new technology, it’s not the same old thing every day.”
So how does the program differ from others in the area? For one, Green River’s shop mimics an actual shop. “Everything is done in house; we’re in the business of fixing things that are broken,” Edwards said. “We have a faculty that is really dedicated.”
With other schools, students will work on brakes one semester, transmission the next, and engine repair another. In this course, students will get a taste of real-world jobs. Working on cars of enrolled Green River students, Green River’s staff offers quality learning environments.
However, the trade is not what it used to be. In the past, this was a physical job, but with the way cars are being made now, it has become much more sophisticated. There is a lot of reading and writing to be done; it is not just putting parts in a car and hoping it works. “You don’t have to get dirty if you don’t want to,” said Edwards.
There is a multitude of tools for automotive students to use—such as multiple onboard computers—all interfaced together. Workers will need the ability to go in with a scope, diagnose problems, and work with computers.
But, with 80 to 90 percent customer work, things can get tricky. There is a lot to be done, and customers will get frustrated if their cars are not ready on time. This can leave the aids scrambling to make sure that all the parts are ordered, and everything is running smoothly.
The one thing that can be improved upon is more aids for ATP. Edwards said, “More support staff is needed. One aid to four sections is not enough. Anything that is left hanging, I have to make sure it gets done. There are days that I don’t know how I do it.” With the students only being there for 16 hours a week, there are plenty of more things to get done.
“The industry is hurting badly for people who know what they’re doing,” Edwards said. “As technology increases people are less likely to go out and work on their own cars.”
Sorensen said that ATP is “job security at its finest. Green River is just the school to give you the experience and tools you need to succeed in your future career.”
