The Professional Automotive training Center at Shoreline Community College.
The Professional Automotive Training Center at Shoreline Community College may be getting a new name. Maybe not all new, but at least longer.
“The Center and our programs are focused on serving new-car dealers and their manufacturers,” said Michael Boehm, Director of Dealer Services and Manufacturer Relations, said. “Our advisory group for the Center has requested adding the words ‘-Dealer Training Academy” to the existing name of ‘Professional Automotive Training Center.’”
The addition would make the full name: “Professional Automotive Training Center -Dealer Training Academy.”
The Center houses the premier automotive technician training program in the U.S. and pioneered the model that ties together manufacturer-based training, dealership employment and two-year college degrees.
“The Center and its industry partners originated this innovative model that integrates education with hands-on workplace experience,” Boehm said.
Every student in one of the four manufacturer-focused programs is sponsored by a local automobile dealership. Students are in a cycle of one quarter at the college followed by one quarter working at the dealership throughout the two-year program. Students can graduate with a two-year Applied Associate in Arts and Sciences degree as well as numerous manufacturer-specific training certificates.
As with all professional-technical programs at Shoreline, the Center operates with the advice of an industry-based committee. On June 11, 2014, members of that committee proposed an addition to the name of the building to better align with the focus of the Center and the automotive programs by adding “– Dealer Training Academy” to the name of the Center.
At a second meeting of the committee on Sept. 9, 2014, it was unanimously agreed to request that Shoreline Community College proceed with the process of adding “-Dealer Training Academy” to the Center’s name.
On Oct. 7 and again on Dec. 2, the College Council discussed the name-change request and in accordance with Policy 3802, Naming of Campus Facilities, approved a balloting period on the issue from Jan. 12-19.
The balloting will be Web-based and distributed by e-mail to all current students and employees. Results of the balloting will be tallied on Jan. 20 and reported to College Council at its regular meeting on Jan. 20. At that meeting, the Council will make a recommendation that reflects the ballot results to President Cheryl Roberts. Roberts may then decide to bring the ballot results and recommendation for consideration and potential adoption by the Board of Trustees at its Jan. 21 meeting.
“We’re hopeful that the campus community will be supportive of this change that is intended to recognize the tremendous support from our dealer partners for students and our communities,” Boehm said.
Day at a Glance 
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