by: Michelle Barnhart
Parkland College’s Ford Automotive Student Service Education Training—otherwise known as the Ford ASSET program—allows students to gain hands-on experience in automotive services. This competitive two-year program offers students a paid internship and rewards them with an associate degree in Applied Science in Automotive Service Technology. Graduates can also enter the workforce as entry-level technicians or earn credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
As stated on Parkland’s website, the layout of this program alternates between instruction, labs, and hands-on work experience. Every 8 weeks, students “put their newly learned skills to use” at a local dealership and then return 8 weeks later for more training.
The only problem is that right now, the college is closed, and Illinois is under a stay-at-home order. The normal curriculum of the Ford ASSET program has been disrupted. So how exactly is the program moving forward? The Prospectus reached out to get some answers.
“Imagine being a mountain climber with a responsibility of navigating 14 others up the Covid-19 mountain and back down successfully.”
The program manager and apprenticeship coordinator Aimee Densmore provided a response from co-director Thomas Fischer:
“Imagine being a mountain climber with a responsibility of navigating 14 others up the Covid-19 mountain and back down successfully. On the other side of the mountain, there will be a commencement and a banquet to recognize such an accomplishment. There’s one issue, there is no map to navigate Covid-19. In early childhood schooling, the leader is responsible to make sure all the students hold onto the rope while the rope is being pulled in the right direction. This is how we will navigate Covid-19.
For our Ford ASSET sophomores, this is their reality. Fourteen sophomores with six weeks prior to graduation, their mountain is real. Without directions, all we can do is tighten our laces, ask the students to hold on and start moving forward. With the load of three Ford ASSET classes, these hard-working sophomores need to navigate through 12-15 credit hours prior to graduation. So yeah, we have a lot of climbing left to accomplish.
Our end date may move, we may face new challenges, but we have one of the best cheer squads available to tackle this mountain. Ford ASSET is receiving motivation from Ford Motor Company, Parkland College, and each of the students sponsoring Ford dealerships.
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right,” [said] Henry Ford.
We can.
Someday I will tell you about the Covid-19 Titanic carrying our Freshman navigating the open waters of paid internships. The iceberg ahead is called ‘Furlough.’”
Despite the uncertain times, those in the Ford ASSET program are working to remain optimistic. There are challenges, there are roadblocks, there are things they will not be able to do. But Fischer is adamant that together, they will make it through.
