by Chris Mulvihill - 03/20/2023
Hard to believe 40 years after earning a Big 10 business degree I’m back in the classroom. Yes, I’m a 63-year-old freshman enrolled in the Automotive Technology program at Ivy Tech Community College. The impetus was my love of cars combined with seeking a better understanding of why machines do what they do. Founded in 1963 as Indiana Vocational Technical College, the Indianapolis-based school has grown to over 40 locations in the state educating +165,000 students (full and part-time). It is the largest singly accredited community college in the country.
Dedicated in 2021, this purpose-built stand-alone 58,000-square-foot structure is state-of-the-art.
The Automotive Technology (AT) program has over 225 students who are instructed by a staff of 10 teachers. Each AT instructor has a minimum of 5 years ‘hands-on’ experience in the auto/truck repair industry and holds a nationally recognized ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification. The college offers several Certificate and Technical Certificate programs up to an Associate’s Degree in Automotive Technology. Currently, I am pursuing a Certificate in Maintenance and Light Repair (18 credit hours) with the goal of passing the national ASE exam.
The ‘Lab’ has over 30 service bays holding a variety of vehicles in varying stages of disrepair.
My class had 15 students from all backgrounds and nationalities. The average age of an Ivy Tech AT student is 20 years old, however, given we all are ‘car guys’ my age didn’t appear to concern my classmates. In fact, a few turned to me regarding older technology such as distributor systems and carbureted engines. I did have to laugh (to myself) one day when a classmate started talking about a ‘cool car show’ held in Fremont, IN for, “some guy named James Dean?”
The 8-week ‘Basic Automotive Service’ class met every Monday and Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 4:50. Each class began with 2 hours of lecture, followed by a quick break, and continued with 2 hours in the service ‘Lab’ for hands-on car exercises. All text material as well as quizzes/tests were online. I was surprised at the amount of reading and quizzes required before each class. The class material began with the basics of how to safely lift a car using a two-arm hydraulic hoist and progressed through performing in-depth car inspections to identifying suspension and handling issues. In addition, there was a solid focus on safety in the workplace as well as how to handle automotive-related chemicals-All extremely relevant to anyone who wishes to work on a vehicle.
Working in small groups, my classmates are entering the results of pressure testing a cooling system. All worksheets and Lab assignments were online.
Have to say I’ve been very impressed with the entire experience. The instructor took time to explain the theory behind the repairs VS just teaching how to replace parts until the problem goes away. From the questions asked, it was apparent my classmates were engaged and all seemed genuinely interested in earning a good grade. Given all the electronic device distractions in today’s world, I’d say this alone was a victory! My luck provided me an A and given I’m on a roll, my next class is Steering and Suspension Systems. I shall keep you posted.
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