The Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation recently reaccredited the automotive training program at Hennepin Technical College in Minnesota, the school announced in October.
The college, which has campuses in Eden Prairie and Brooklyn Park, received its reaccreditation in Master Automobile Service Technology. Its auto body program is waiting to hear back about its reaccreditation status after the ASE Education Foundation recently completed its site visit as part of the vetting process, Hennepin Tech Academic Dean for Construction and Transportation Mark Johnson wrote in an email to Autobody News.
“This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” ASE Education Foundation President Michael Coley said in a statement to Autobody News on the automotive service reaccreditation. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance that graduates will be employable entry-level technicians.”
The ASE Education Foundation is a nonprofit, independent organization that evaluates and accredits entry-level technician training programs in alignment with industry standards.
Several variables compose ASE Education Foundation’s Automobile Program Standards, including the potential for technicians to be hired in the geographic area served by the program, ability to accommodate students with cognitive and psychomotor differences, and a robust program advisory committee.
The standards, which became effective July 1, state that advisory committees should inform and review student surveys, examine funding and conduct yearly inspections of tools and equipment for quality, safety and age. The committees include at least five industry members, excluding school personnel and other schools’ educators.
Site visits involve evaluating repair activities during two consecutive days while students are in class for initial accreditation, and during one day for renewal of accreditation. The visits require participation by the evaluation team leader and additional team members, generally recruited from local repair shops and dealerships.
“During the past few months, we have worked closely with the ASE Education Foundation to make certain that our program would meet strict industry standards, and now we are delighted to join the ranks of the ASE accredited training programs,” Johnson said in a statement. “Students will be assured of a quality education, and shop owners will be assured of getting quality job applicants.”
Hennepin Tech is one of at least six ASE Education Foundation-accredited colleges in the Minneapolis area. Dunwoody College of Technology, Saint Paul College, Century College, Anoka Technical College and Dakota Co. Technical College are also accredited.
It appears that ASE Education Foundation’s accreditation of Hennepin Tech is helping to produce tangible learning outcomes for students.
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) has awarded scholarships to at least six students since May 2023, including four students enrolled in the automotive service technology program.
According to a 2023 TechForce report, there will be a shortage of about 1 million automotive technicians by 2026, including 113,000 collision repair technicians.
“As a result of the quality education provided by Hennepin Tech, the motoring public will benefit since better repair technicians will join the workforce,” Coley said.
Brian Bradley