Clackamas Community College is opening its garage bay doors to its newly remodeled and expanded Automotive Department, where students are now learning in modern facilities with state-of-the-art equipment similar to what they will find working in the industry.
The new expansion by CCC adds 12,600 square feet of shop, storage and classroom space, including two 25-foot-by-30-foot flex labs and 12 additional technician work stations, bringing the total to 23 work stations. This expansion doubles the space for the college’s high school program, where students from regional high schools come on campus and take classes with CCC instructors.
In recent years, there has been a decline of secondary schools being able to offer career technical education (CTE) programs like automotive. So, CCC has stepped up and is partnering with area school districts to give students CTE opportunities.
CCC also has a partnership with the World of Speed Museum in Wilsonville for area high school automotive students. CCC provides the instructors and the curriculum and World of Speed provides the classrooms space and tools.
The remodel and expansion on the CCC Oregon City campus provides students and instructors the space they need for a productive learning environment. Students learn hands-on in a space that mimics real shops. This gives them the experience they need to be fully prepared to enter the workforce.
“CCC now has the room needed to explore opportunities to continue to grow and expand our programs, increasing the number of graduates who are ready to enter the automotive industry,” said Cynthia Risan, CCC dean of Technology, Applied Science and Public Services.
The remodel and expansion comes on the heels of the college being certified by the Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation last spring. This program certification demonstrates that the college’s automotive department instructors provide industry-approved instruction on modern equipment with today’s safety standards. This is the highest level of accreditation recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
The community is invited to help celebrate the Automotive Department expansion and remodel at a grand opening Jan. 31 at 3:30 p.m. in Barlow Hall. There will be a short program, tours and refreshments. The college is located at 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City.
The $5.7-million project is funded through a bond. Voters approved a $90-million bond measure in November 2014 to expand opportunities for students and to increase the skilled workforce in the community.
This funding was supplemented by $32 million in match funding from the state. Thanks to community and state support, in the last five years the college constructed a new building on its Milwaukie campus, opened a new industrial technology center, expanded its science building, is planning for a new student services center, and doubled the space for the automotive program.
The college will break ground on the new student services center in March with completion slated for fall 2021.
For more information on the degrees and certificates available in automotive fields at CCC, visit www.clackamas.edu/programs. For more information about the college’s bond projects, visit www.clackamas.edu/BondInformation.
