Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/340625
July 2014 | Construction Equipment Distribution | www.cedmag.com | 53 Best Practices seven years, Washburn has managed to secure more than $800,000 in grants in the last two years. And industry part- nerships, such as the one it forged with Case, and another with Trane Inc., are essential to the school's success. The first meeting was held between Washburn Tech and VLP to identify the need for a Heavy Diesel Construction program. Once the dealer confirmed with Clark Coco that Washburn Tech was interested in creating a program, a second meeting was held with Washburn Tech, VLP and Case Construction Equipment where a vision for the program emerged. A partnership agreement was formalized and the program then went into full throttle to prepare for an August 2013 semester launch date. A renovation of the school's diesel technology facilities was already under way when the agreement with Case was finalized. Ruffalo and Esterly arranged for more than a half-million dollars in equipment to be delivered to the school, along with industry curriculum, lesson plans, and instructor training. "They had a diesel program for trucks and an operator program for construction equipment," said Ruffalo. "They didn't have a heavy equipment program. We created that from scratch in about five or six months." Coco recognizes the importance of their partnership with Case and VLP. "It could never have happened without their investment in the program," he said. "They showed tremen- dous commitment, and did everything they said they would." VLP played an important role, donating tools, components and time. "I would say we probably donated 500-700 man hours to get that program going," recalled Esterly. Meetings were held every three weeks during the start-up phase, and are now held quarterly. Technicians and service mangers all helped the program get up and running. Next year, VLP will offer $5,000 in tuition reimbursement if graduates work for the company. As part of the curriculum, heavy equipment students will come to the VLP's Topeka location and go through a dealership orientation. According to Esterly, students will spend time with a parts manager, service manger, and sales manger to see how a dealership works. "Nobody wants to turn wrenches until you are 65," said Esterly. "Being out in the heat and the cold, it will wear on you. There are so many different job opportunities at a dealership for a technician to move into should they want to change jobs: sales, PSSR positions, parts or service manager positions." The idea of the orientation is to create an aware- ness of career opportunities within a dealership. Graduates of the program earn a technical certificate or an Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) in Diesel Technol- ogy. A total of 35 students completed the 2013-2014 school year, which began Aug. 12, 2013. The program complements Washburn Tech's existing Commercial and Heavy Construc- tion pathway for heavy equipment operation. The first year includes general training on diesel technology followed by a second year where students select a track in one of three areas: construction equipment, over the road, or diesel locomotive mechanics technology. Students can select morn- ing or afternoon classes to accommodate work schedules or double up and complete the program in one year. Simply through the image changes at the school and word of mouth, 60 students are expected to enroll in the diesel program in the fall of 2014. The program is affiliated with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). In addition, all students in the heavy construction equipment program will take Case online assessments. An Innovative Approach to School Recruitment To date, recruiting diesel technology students hasn't been a challenge for Washburn Tech. "If I could get a bigger space, I could get 100 students," said Coco. Washburn's stunning program for recruiting technical students is modeled after the way colleges recruit athletes. A former college basket- ball coach, Coco asked his staff why they couldn't use a similar recruitment process for tech ed. "We talk to as many students as possible and then rank them within the system to get the best 60 we can find. We sign them with a national letter of intent for technical education," said Coco. During the upcoming academic year he fully expects the school to have a waiting list. On Feb. 20, 2014, more than 431 students showed up for the first national signing day. "The power of being wanted is an unbelievable recruit- ing tool," said Coco. "Students will make a much stronger commitment if they know an institution has an investment in them and wants them." "Sometimes there is that idea that if you can't go to a university, you go to tech school. We work really hard at squashing that thought," said Coco. Image changes and Washburn Tech t-shirts help promote the school and Washburn's ribbon cutting ceremony held in the Fall of 2013, was attended by (from left) Rhonda Monks, director of Service, CASE Construction; Dr. Jerry Farley, president, Washburn Univer- sity; Governor Sam Brownback, (R) Kansas; Clark Coco, dean, Washburn Tech; Bob Foreman, vice chairman of the board, The Victor L. Phillips Company; Bill Shoenfelder, president, The Vic- tor L. Phillips Company (continued on page 62)