Nonprofit Collision Engineering Career Alliance to Help Remove Barriers
The Collision Engineering program has begun its next chapter with the launch of the Collision Engineering Career Alliance, according to a news release, which "reflects the success and evolution of the pilot program and the vision to create a collaborative movement that strengthens the future of collision repair through industry-driven education."
In fall 2020, the Collision Engineering program was introduced by the Enterprise Mobility Foundation and Ranken Technical College in St. Louis as a pilot at four schools across the United States. The unique program was designed to help address the demand for highly skilled collision repair technicians, and more than 100,000 job openings are expected through 2028. Today, the Collision Engineering Career Alliance is expanding from an innovative hybrid apprenticeship model to an industry catalyst for addressing the ongoing technician shortage in collision repair.
“The launch of the Collision Engineering Career Alliance marks the next phase in the movement to develop highly skilled collision repair technicians,” said Carolyn Kindle, president of the Enterprise Mobility Foundation. “Nonprofit status will enable the Collision Engineering Career Alliance to remove barriers and create rewarding collision careers in more communities. Our continued support of this program reflects Enterprise Mobility’s commitment to strengthening our industry’s future.”
The name “Collision Engineering Career Alliance” reflects the nonprofit’s goal to energize allies across the collision repair industry to help build a workforce that is highly skilled, prepared for the future of vehicles and eager to build a lifelong, fulfilling career.
“Addressing the increasing demand for a highly skilled collision repair workforce is critical to ensuring the future of mobility—but achieving this goal will require a collective effort,” said Chrissy Taylor, CEO of Enterprise Mobility. “Through this Alliance, we invite industry partners to join Enterprise Mobility in helping create a pipeline of highly skilled, motivated and passionate collision repair professionals.”
Philanthropic contributions will enable the Alliance to recruit more students, expand to more schools across the nation and contribute to student success factors, including costs of certifications and assessments, quality-of-life needs, and tuition reimbursement.
The launch of the Collision Engineering Career Alliance will not change the experience that instructors and students have received since the program began. The unique two-year apprenticeship model and industry-guided curriculum that helps students gain real-world experience before graduation is, and continues to be, integral to the program’s success.
Since the pilot launch, 87.5% of enrolled students have completed the program. Of those, 100% have achieved job placement before graduation.
Today, Collision Engineering is active at six schools across the country, with more schools expected to launch the program in 2025: Ranken Technical College in St. Louis; College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California; Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois; Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska; and Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
For more information about the Collision Engineering Career Alliance, click here.
