Here’s a look at how Bakersfield College is using CEC funding to make an impact on prospective students in their areas.
The CEC funding has allowed Bakersfield College to completely change its recruiting focus by creating classes in hybrid technology that it was not previously able to offer.
The college recently added an advanced electronics class that incorporates scanning and diagnostic tools purchased with the funds.
“All of the scan tools that we received in the grant, as well as all of the computers, and the Chevy Bolt applications are being incorporated in that class,” said Automotive Instructor Andrew Haney.
Like Cerritos, the Chevy Bolt is also a hit with high school students at recruiting events. Haney said students love climbing inside it to explore. The college recently used it as part of an opening day ceremony and drew attention from the advisory board. That attention is helping to launch a new program that will specifically focus on hybrid vehicles.
Haney said the college is also seeing an increase in students transferring into the automotive program from other majors such as engineering. The focus on hybrid vehicles is also attracting more female students to the program.
“We’re seeing more and more students who want to learn the electric vehicle applications,” Haney said. “There’s a little bit of extra movement than we’d seen in the past, particularly with nontraditional students.”
