Two OSU Institute of Technology employees attended a four-day training for industry and curriculum updates for the Ford Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) program.
Each year, Terryl Lindsey, dean of the School of Transportation & Heavy Equipment attends an annual summer trip to Detroit, Michigan with a faculty member of the Ford ASSET program.
“This trip moves the relationship forward between OSUIT and Ford to benefit the students and the university with updated curriculum and vehicles for several years to come,” said Lindsey.
Bryan Gray, Ford ASSET instructor, attended the meeting for the first time this year and plans to attend annually going forward.
“This trip is very important to both the program and instructors,” said Gray. “It keeps us up to date on the latest Ford offering as well as ways other ASSET programs are handling recruiting.”
Gray said the trip gave him the chance to network with other ASSET program instructors across the nation.
As the only university in Oklahoma with the Ford ASSET program, the training provides exposure for OSUIT. Representatives from all Ford ASSET schools from the United States and Canada attend this annual training.
Lindsey said it’s more than just training, “We discussed virtual reality applications for teaching, discussed updates to the curriculum, vehicle needs and even recruiting.”
“This was an excellent opportunity for me to improve upon myself and my recruiting efforts,” said Gray. “I look forward to applying what I’ve learned.”
Currently students in the program earn Service Technician Specialty Training (STST) in gasoline engine repair, manual drivetrain and axles, automatic transmissions and transaxles, suspension and steering, brake, electrical and engine performance.
Gray said annual curriculum updates are vital to keeping the students up to date on training and to increase their knowledge and value as a Certified Ford Technician.
With the ongoing evolution of technology within vehicles, the curriculum will eventually have a need to evolve with that and include aspects of hybrid, electric and autonomous vehicles.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the meeting and look forward to returning next year,” said Gray.