Jim Armitage, Professor of Automotive Technology at Waubonsee Community College, gave a tour of the automotive technology facilities at Waubonsee to representatives from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the National Coalition of Certification Centers, and area Mopar automobile dealers.
Waubonsee Community College has partnered with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the National Coalition of Certification Centers to establish the college as a Mopar Career Automotive Program Local training site. Officials from the Mopar Career Automotive Program Local were at the college on Thursday to launch the college’s involvement with the program.
Representatives from area Mopar dealership service departments; representatives from the Coalition; as well as members of the Waubonsee staff, faculty, and administration attended the event.
The Mopar CAP Local prepares individuals to work as Level 1 Technicians upon graduation. For individuals, the certification is a path to employment in FCA dealerships. For the college, the certification opens more options for students.
“Waubonsee is a facilitator of opportunities for students. Ultimately, this certification helps the college help students gain employment,” said Ken Kunz, a Professor of Automotive Technology.
For Mopar, the program is a critical stream of highly-trained technicians to service cars.
Jeffrey Kuester, the Performance Institute Mopar CAP/CAP Local Manager, told the attendees that by 2018 FCA will need 5,500 new auto technicians and by 2024 the auto industry will need 780,000 new technicians.
Stephen Massey, a 2009 graduate of the Waubonsee Automotive Technology program and current Service and Parts Technical Advisor for FCA, was at Waubonsee for the program launch.
“I wish this was available when I was a student here. Waubonsee is a great school that prepares people for life. This program makes that even better,” said Massey.
Waubonsee is the first community college in Illinois involved in the Mopar CAP Local. The automotive technology program is Master ASE certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.
