Collision Engineering Program expands to Northern Plains

The Collision Engineering Program (CEP) has expanded to the Northern Plains through a partnership with the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS).

The Collision Engineering Career Alliance announced Tuesday that the school, located in Wahpeton, North Dakota, will begin offering the CEP this fall through its existing Auto Body Repair and Refinishing Technology program.

By partnering with schools across the country, the alliance aims to help fill the more than 100,000 job openings expected through 2028 by bringing together education and industry to transform how collision repair technicians are trained and retained, a press release states.

The two-year associate degree program is designed around a hybrid, work-based learning model. Students rotate every eight weeks between classroom instruction and paid apprenticeships at trusted collision repair facilities. The unique model provides students with the opportunity to earn an income while completing their training.

“We’re committed to providing an ideal environment for students seeking both academic excellence and a well-rounded college experience,” said Terry Marohl, NDSCS dean of transportation, in the release. “We’re excited to bring this program to students and to help strengthen the future of collision repair in our local communities.”

The release says that NDSCS’s comprehensive campus experience and wide market reach across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and surrounding areas will help broaden the alliance’s reach to more students and collision repair shops.

“Highly skilled collision repair professionals are a necessity for every community,” said Mary Mahoney, Enterprise Mobility vice president and leader of the alliance, in the release. “As vehicle types and technology evolve at a rapid pace, the next generation of technicians must be prepared to implement safe and comprehensive car repairs. We are thrilled to partner with the North Dakota State College of Science to broaden the reach of our mission, serve more communities, and offer a successful, long-term career path to students throughout the region.”

Mahoney told Repairer Driven News that North Dakota has strong regional demand and local interest in growing the skilled trades.

“Like many other areas across the country, North Dakota is impacted by the national technician shortage, which continues to challenge the collision repair industry,” she said. “Additional prospective colleges are in the works. The long-term vision of the Collision Engineering Career Alliance is to have a program in every market across the country. As we grow, our focus remains on serving communities at the local level — working hand-in-hand with colleges and employers to build strong, sustainable talent pipelines.”

For more information regarding the program at NDSCS, contact Marohl via email at [email protected].

Six other schools across the country offer the CEP, including Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Missouri.; College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California; Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois; Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska; and Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

The program began at Ranken, and Sandhills joined in offering the program last year.

Since launching the Collision Engineering pilot in 2020, the program has served more than 230 students. A 100% job placement rate before graduation has been achieved, as well as an 87.5% retention rate across CEP’s partner programs.

Current ​enrollment numbers won’t be finalized and reported until the end of August.

“However, early indicators point to strong momentum heading into the fall, driven by growing awareness of the program and a steady rise in interest and participation across our campuses,” Mahoney said.

The Collision Engineering Career Alliance, aimed at helping grow the CEP, was officially launched as a nonprofit in February. The development “marked a powerful step forward in its mission to open doors and create lasting pathways to meaningful collision careers,” the release says.

“Together with other partners in collision repair, automotive, insurance, and education, the alliance aims to break down barriers so more students in more communities can pursue these rewarding opportunities,” the release says. “Donations will help the alliance recruit future talent, expand its reach to additional schools nationwide, and provide crucial support for student certifications, assessments, tuition reimbursement, and other quality-of-life needs.”

Tax-deductible donations are accepted at beacollisionengineer.com/donation.

Images

Featured image: A North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Auto Body student works in class. (Provided by NDSCS)