The YAATC (Youth and Adult Automotive Training Center) Program provides opportunities to those who have profound and, in many cases, multiple barriers to obtaining gainful employment. These individuals are those who are generally accepted as being unable to navigate and successfully complete a college-level technical program and obtain related employment on their own. This is often not due to a lack of intellectual capacity, motivation or commitment.

In addition to obtaining marketable job skills these individuals need to learn essential life management skills (e.g.; attendance, teamwork, time management, communication skills). We strongly believe that although these traits are often ignored or undervalued, they pose a more significant barrier to an individual’s future success in society than their lack of technical skills.

For this reason, we have developed a program model that utilizes an integrated approach of intense technical training, soft skills training and intrusive personal counseling. Although the technical training is an essential ingredient to the model, the other two components are the "X factor" that makes this model successful beyond similar technical programs.

Created in partnership with the automotive industry, the technical skills training includes 484 hours of automotive-specific technical training and approximately 160 hours of related subjects. The Technical Education Curriculum is as follows:

This on-campus technical curriculum is supplemented by a paid co-op/internship experience. Local dealers and automotive repair facilities help the students to gain "real world experience" and ease their transition into the workforce by providing an environment where they can reinforce their classroom and lab learning in a ‘live’ employment setting under the watchful eye of a master technician. Here they can ‘earn while they learn’ and help to work their way into a permanent job assignment after graduation.

Graduates of the program also earn 30 quarter hours of college credit. All of these credits can be applied toward any of the college’s Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Technology degree programs. The students also can earn Ford Motor Co. STST Advanced Technician training credentials while in the program. Through our upward articulation agreement with Franklin University, those interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree can enter their Bachelor of Applied Management Degree with junior status. Thus, this program truly provides a seamless pathway that allows students to continue their education now, or in the future, to rise to whatever they seek.

The strength of our YAATC model lies in its ability to equip graduates with the life and employability skills that they need, accompanied by technical skills and work experience … in summary, the ‘complete package’ required to become a success.