THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
ABOVE: Drew Stanford, Vermilion Chevrolet; Prof. Dean Graves; Prof. Alan Wilson; Dean Terri Cummings; Jeremy Bell, Vermilion Chevrolet; Mike Peters, Vermilion Chevrolet; Lou Reid, Vermilion Chevrolet; Prof. Brandy Marron
DANVILLE — Danville Area Community College (DACC) has announced an important development in its Automotive Technology program, integrating electric vehicle (EV) technology into its curriculum. This summer, Automotive Technologies Professors Alan Wilson and Dean Graves, along with Manufacturing Professor Todd Flessner, participated in a 40-hour boot camp at Weber State University in Utah. Led by Professor John Kelly, the training included 65 hours of comprehensive education—25 hours online and 40 hours of hands-on instruction—focused on electric vehicle maintenance.
Prof. Graves remarked, “The training was enjoyable and put a lot of us at ease regarding safety. We completed diagnostics on over 16 different electric vehicles. While there remains some equipment to add to our garage, overall we gained the knowledge needed to really start sprinkling EVs into our Automotive Tech program here at DACC.”
With the aid of a $90,000 Rev Up grant from the Illinois Green Energy Network (IGEN), secured by Professor Brandy Marron, DACC has acquired two electric vehicles—a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E and a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV. This grant facilitates the development of a curriculum that includes hybrid and EV maintenance instruction. The Auto Tech Department formed a strategic partnership with Vermilion Chevrolet/Ford City, which will provide curriculum advice and assist with job placement for graduates. Vermilion Chevrolet has also fully sponsored a body wrap for the Chevy Bolt.
Much of the current curriculum already addresses EV fundamentals, as noted by Prof. Wilson: “We have been discussing electric motors in the engine class, regenerative braking in the brakes class, and I have been stressing the importance of students learning the electrical side of vehicle repair in my Auto 106 class—Automotive Electrical Systems.”
Dean Terri Cummings highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “The future of the automobile is probably going to be hybrid and electric vehicles. Starting with safety, the construction, and how they work is important for students who want to work on these vehicles. Having the vehicle on campus makes it so much easier to show them the components rather than show them a video! Vermilion (Chevrolet) worked hard to find us the vehicles that we had specifically asked for, and at the lowest price.”
This fall, Professors Wilson and Graves will integrate more EV instruction into their classes, laying the groundwork for students to earn a Hybrid/EV certificate. Manufacturing Instructor Flessner is focusing on EV safety, drawing on OSHA standards to develop a dedicated safety course for the EV certificate program.
These advancements aim to provide DACC students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the evolving automotive industry.
Danville Area Community College is a comprehensive community college serving Illinois District 507, which consists of Vermilion County and parts of Champaign, Iroquois, Edgar, and Ford counties. DACC’s main campus is located at 2000 East Main Street, Danville. The College has a higher-learning center in Hoopeston at 847 E. Orange. To apply to DACC, call 217-443-3222 or visit the Web site at www.DACC.EDU.
