COCC gets $200,000 grant for hybrid-electric car classes

Central Oregon Community College announced Monday it has received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support the development of curriculum and the purchase of equipment to teach specific classes in the new concept of hybrid vehicle proactive repair.

“We are ahead of the curve and building curriculum that is the first of its kind,” said Ken Mays, professor and director of the automotive technology program at the college.

“As more hybrid and electric vehicles get on the road for longer periods of time, technicians will be needed to service those vehicles,” Mays said. “With this specialized training, our graduates in this field will be very employable.”

This is an emerging industry, according to Mays. “In the long term, this project has the potential to position COCC’s hybrid vehicle program as the regional center for training technicians and certifying instructors in this technology.”

COCC presently offers two short-term (34 to 38 credits) automotive technology certificates at the college’s Redmond Technology Education Center.

The grant will help develop dedicated classes on hybrid technology to help sustain the vehicle’s life through high-voltage battery analysis and restoration and rebuilding of the batteries.

This type of advanced training in battery and component predictive maintenance will help extend the life of hybrid vehicles at a reasonable cost, according to Mays.

Mays was also instrumental in initiating the formation of the Advanced Vehicle Training Group Northwest, a nonprofit consortium that includes seven other community colleges in Oregon, Idaho and Washington. The group’s mission is to prepare colleges to address the growing automotive technician readiness gap and improve in-service technician continuing education.

Oregon, Washington and California are the leaders in hybrid vehicle ownership, with nearly one-third of the nation’s four million hybrid vehicles on the road in 2015.

In addition, the region has demonstrated significant regional community and political commitment to the HEV industry by the development of the West Coast Electric Highway from British Columbia to Baja, California.

One aspect of the NSF grant provides an opportunity for COCC to develop and explore thevalue ofopen badges for students andemployers.

Open badges recognize skills and achievements. The badge structure allows students to display real-world achievements and skills that may help with future career and education opportunities.

“Open badges arebeing implemented in a variety of contexts,but haveyet to penetrateinto thecareer technical world, wherethe concept seems like a natural fit,” said Bruce Emerson, professor of physics and co-principal investigator of the grant.

COCC’s hybrid vehicle proactive repair program will include a model open badge curriculum involving industry and academic partners in the development of both desired skill sets and authentic assessment strategies.

College staff will also document and share this process for the benefit of the larger technician training community.

The success of any long-term badging system requires the establishment of validity and trust in the badge on the part of industry partners and others to whom these badges will be presented.