TO: Dr. Joe Scarcella
FROM: Phil Fournier
DATE:
12/18/2004
RE: 502, WA2, Fournier

The purpose of EVOC 502 WA2 was to prepare a proposal for the formation of a student organization for the program in Automotive Technology at the school where I teach. The following six criteria were specified:

  1. Comply with all of the General Criteria for Written Assignments.
  2. Develop a proposal for a student organization (in the form of a letter or memo) that would convince a school administrator that such an organization would be worthwhile.
  3. Include specific information in the proposal about how the organization could be facilitated and how it would be beneficial to students.
  4. Indicate any cost involved, what facilities would be needed and what sort of faculty, staff and administrative support would be required.
  5. List and briefly describe at least one good resource from which further information about student organizations can be obtained.
  6. Limit the length of the proposal to not more than two pages. It is very important that this document be both diplomatic and factual.

The following sources of information were used relative to this assignment:

  1. Fournier, Phil - From my own professional experience.
  2. www.vica.org (This is a resource for ideas about writing bylaws and a constitution; at present a VICA club is too ambitious an undertaking for this school)

I believe that the attached report meets all six of above listed criteria and respectfully request full credit: one point for meeting each of the above listed criteria.

To: Dean of Instruction, Dr. Richard Collins, Mt. San Jacinto College

From: Phil Fournier, Instructor, Automotive Technology

Dear Dr. Collins,

We currently have 152 students enrolled in Automotive Technology courses here at Mt. San Jacinto College and establishing a High performance Club would provide an excellent motivator to draw new students into our automotive program.  Our facility is now well equipped and well-staffed, yet still we suffer from insufficient enrollment.  The establishment of this club would provide a venue for field trips to high performance events such as NASCAR racing, NHRA drag racing, and IRL racing.  Additionally, the students involved in the club would conduct research into high performance applications on modern day automobiles, all in the context of street legal and safe driving.   Surveys of auto technicians currently working in the industry indicate that fully 50% of them were drawn into the industry as a result of an interest in high performance.   We need to tap into this potential source of talent for our automotive program here at Mt. San Jacinto College.

We are fortunate to have facilities and staff support that would enable us to establish and maintain a High Performance Club at no expense to the school. Club meetings could be held weekly on Fridays since we have no classes scheduled during the day. The Automotive Garage would be used for the meetings but no additional materials or equipment would be needed.  

A survey of all of our Automotive Technology students indicated that 35% would join, support, and volunteer to serve as officer in a High Performance Club if one were to be established here at Mt. San Jacinto College. Furthermore a number of the Automotive Technology faculty members support the idea and are willing to volunteer time as club advisors.

SkillsUSA (formerly Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) has considerable information available about organizing and running clubs.  This information is available free of charge on their website.  Other colleges such as Cuyamaca College in El Cajon have established High Performance clubs that can serve as a model for our club.  Furthermore the basic liability insurance policy presently in effect here at Mt. San Jacinto College covers all student club activities and will cover newly formed clubs at no additional expense. With your permission, I can develop a timeline for the development of a constitution and bylaws, and call an organizational meeting of all interested students and faculty. With your approval I believe we could have the club up and running in time for the beginning of the Fall Semester, 2005.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. By the way, the both NHRA and NASCAR have scholarship programs available to selected automotive students, and the establishment of a High Performance club has been shown by other schools to be a great way to gain the attention of those in charge of scholarship distribution.   Additionally, auto manufacturers such as Honda (with whom our school already has a working agreement) that are heavily involved in racing can often be influenced to give financial support to student clubs of this nature.  I hope to hear back from you at your earliest convenience. Your support is very much appreciated.