As anyone who works in the automotive industry knows, not every car that a dealer purchases from an auction ends up for sale in the showroom.
In fact, the reality is that about 20% of vehicles purchased go back to the auction because the maintenance costs are just not worth it.
Bakersfield College’s (BC) Automotive Instructor Andrew Haney realized this phenomenon was an opportunity, not just for his program to receive the new cars they could not afford to purchase otherwise, but also for his students to get the hands-on learning experience they needed. So, Haney created a model in which dealers within the Greater Bakersfield New Car Dealers Association (GBNCDA) could have his students refurbish vehicles purchased at auction, then return them to the dealer to sell.
GBNCDA loved the idea, and it was accepted with so much enthusiasm that everyone quickly realized that BC’s students would need more space to work on these cars. Since a new facility was not possible on the current campus landscape, a new facility located near the Bakersfield Automall was selected for construction and is scheduled to open later this year, allowing students even more access to career-like experience.
“I approached them [GBNCDA] with the concept of taking 1-3 cars per month and returning them,” Haney said. “The dealers loved the idea and they expanded it, and then I expanded on what they proposed. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
Haney explained BC is also in the process of aligning its curriculum to make automotive instruction more available, and more accessible. Demand for jobs is high, and Haney sees an opportunity for people experiencing homelessness and other marginalized groups to start down the pathway toward stable, well-paying jobs.
The college will split its introductory automotive course into one-week modules, where students can earn micro-credentials for finishing the material. Once they have completed all the modules, students can then petition for course credit. Haney hopes this approach will provide an opening for new groups of students or returning learners to try the automotive program on their own terms without the pressure to complete a full course or degree program.
“We are expanding the campus reach across town and reaching out into the community,” Haney said. “We want to partner with industry to innovate and create new directions for education.”
Haney is also working on partnerships with industry equipment manufacturers, ensuring students in the growing program have the tools they need. He plans to make the college’s new facility available to industry partners in evenings and off-hours to create another win-win for everyone involved.
By forming partnerships like this, Bakersfield College and Haney hope to break down larger barriers within the local automotive industry, like the competition between original and aftermarket parts manufacturers.
“We have an industry that depends on each other, and we can help create that fusion here,” Haney said. “Our students are eager, and the technician shortage is tremendous. We need the entire industry to come together to address it. The more we work together, the more we’re exposing students to the industry, giving them the opportunity for a stable career, living wage, and good future.”
