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