Del Mar College

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (News Release) - Automotive service technicians and mechanics––they’re in demand, and there’s a shortage. According to the most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2023), projections indicate only a
3 percent growth in these jobs through 2033 and about 67,800 openings available on average annually over the same timeframe. The shortage is due in part to aging workers retiring from the automotive repair industry and others leaving the sector for different careers.

Additionally, automobiles have become more complex, and the skill set required to work on cars, trucks and SUVs necessitates training focused on the advanced technology that runs them.

Del Mar College (DMC) has received a $313,833 Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (Texas Governor Greg Abott’s announcement) to expand its equipment in the Automotive Applied Technology Program to train students, in particular high school students taking career and technical education (CTE) courses, to become automotive service technicians and mechanics with the advanced skills needed in the industry.

The college’s JET grant is one of 60 totaling $15 million awarded to public higher education institutions and independent school districts across the state providing CTE training for high-demand jobs.

Currently through Memorandums of Understanding, DMC partners with four ISDs –– Calallen, Corpus Christi (Harold T. Branch Academy and Miller High School), Flour Bluff and Gregory-Portland –– to train students for the automotive repair industry. Expanding the Automotive Applied Technology Program’s training resources with more advanced equipment will allow CTE students through the college’s Dual Enrollment Program to become highly skilled automotive service technicians and mechanics to meet the area’s workforce needs.

“As a community college, Del Mar College prides itself on being deeply involved with area high schools and working in collaboration with industry partners to address workforce needs,” says Paul Creacy, Interim Chair of the college’s Architecture, Aviation and Automotive Department. “This collaboration ensures that our programs align with the latest industry standards, equipping students with the advanced skills needed to excel in today’s automotive repair industry.”

Dual Enrollment CTE students will not only earn credits toward the program’s Level I and II Certificates or the Associate in Applied Science degree, they’ll also earn high school credits toward graduation. And, because of their school’s partnership with the college and the new funding model from House Bill 8, their training is tuition-free.

Expected to arrive next spring, equipment acquisitions using the JET grant funds will include:

• Consulink Cruze 1.4L engine Trainer challenges students with over 50 real-world scenarios.

• Consulab Fuel Injection & GM Engine Management System teaches engine management technologies.

• Ohm's Law and DC Circuits Classroom Set teaches fundamentals using the latest electrical components and includes integrated digital multimeter and built-in protected power supply.

• Consulab Engine Starting Test Traction teaches students how to disassemble, measure, reassemble and start combustion engine, along with identifying original equipment manufacturer (OEM) components to complete procedural diagnosis of engine components.

• AC System Trainer with H-block teaches refrigerant flow control design using mechanical faults to develop problem-solving skills.

• Double-sided Automotive Lighting Trainer for hands-on basic to advanced circuit wiring, ranging from relay- to power side- to ground side-controlled circuits, along with built-in fault box to test problem-solving and diagnostic skills.

• CAN Bus Multiplex Network Diagnostic Trainer providing real-world functional vehicle systems with full accessibility to components and communication between all modules.

• Automotive Electronics Moduponent Kit teaches advanced electronics and complex automotive electrical circuits as required by current industry standards.

The DMC Automotive Applied Technology Program is in its final phase for accreditation from the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Foundation with support from local industry partners.

Director of Workforce Programs with DMC Corporate Services Dara Betz, who co-authored the JET grant proposal, says, “In addition to earning certificates and an associate’s degree from the college, students who complete ASE certification will be considered prime candidates for hire in the automotive repair industry. And, this new equipment will enhance their learning experience as well as our  faculty’s ability to increase student engagement that would not have been available otherwise.”

Locally, automotive service technicians and mechanics are among the jobs on Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend’s Targeted Occupations List for 2024-2025, which currently shows there were 1,715 employees in WSCB’s service area with these skills. The WSCB website shows the median salary is about $42,000 per year with regional job openings around 152 annually.

To learn more about Del Mar College’s Automotive Applied Technology Program, visit  www.delmar.edu/degrees/automotive-applied-technology/index.html or contact the Architecture, Aviation and Automotive Department office at 361-698-1767.