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Show Rick De Moss addresses Layton Chamber By DONETA GATHERUM LAYTON "The automotive industry needs technicians who can repair cars and communicate effectively with workers and customers," cus-tomers," Rick De Moss, a staff member in the Weber State College Automotive Training Department, told members of the Layton Cham ber of Commerce at their monthlj luncheon and meeting held April 7 The setting was fitting. The lun cheon was held in the new show room of the Ed Kenley Fore Dealership. Mr. DeMoss introduced hi; topic by showing a video preparec by General Motors, that explainec the ASEP, or Automotive Service f Education Program, which is an example of an industry and an education edu-cation partnership. Weber State College is the only school in Utah i to have an ASEP center. ASEP combines classroom i theory and training with on the job I instruction and experience. Stu-I Stu-I dents spend six weeks in school and six weeks working with an experienced ex-perienced mechanic on an alternating alternat-ing basis for a period of two years. At the end of the training, the student stu-dent has earned an associate degree de-gree in applied science and job placement with GM is assured. Mr. DeMoss noted this program is extremely efficient, combining a low investment with a high return. "A student has the potential of ' earning $10,000 to be used towards his schooling and for other pur-' pur-' poses while completing the prog-5 prog-5 ram," he said. "ASEP trained peo-r peo-r pie won't necessarily always work as a mechanic. There are many opportunities for unlimited adv-r adv-r ancement in the automotive field and in obtaining more education." 1 Great changes took place in the ' automotive industry starting in the early 80's, Mr. DeMoss observed. Technology has advanced and the j electronic systems in new cars ' make it impossible to keep up with : the changes without schooling and constant contact with the manufac turers. That is why ASEP and other training programs offered as industry-education partnerships are valuable to the industry, the school, the mechanic and the consumer. con-sumer. Although there are only 20 to 25 students in Weber's ASEP program, prog-ram, the demand is great. "Last year we had 450 inquiries about our ASEP and our conventional automotive auto-motive program," Mr. DeMoss commented. He complimented Layton High School as having one of the outstanding automotive programs in the state noting there are four Layton High students in the program now and it is hoped eight or nine more will join it. The success of the ASEP program prog-ram at Weber has many beneficial effects. One is that Toyota is going to establish a similar program starting start-ing this fall at Weber. "We hope to attract Ford to our campus soon," Mr. DeMoss said. A successful automotive technician techni-cian has to have an education including in-cluding competency in English, math, physics, computer skills, communication skills and automobile auto-mobile mechanics. "It is not a heavy, greasy job anymore. There is great potential for women in this field since dexterity is as important as physical strength," Mr. DeMoss said. |
