Washtenaw Community College used its Detroit Auto Show booth to showcase programs aimed at meeting the auto industry’s shift to electrification, automation and advanced manufacturing — and the jobs that come with it.
“Mobility is bigger than just what you see — the car is just the beginning,” said Dr. Rose Bellanca, president of Washtenaw Community College. “We train students for those jobs and we want employers to see our students, meet our faculty and look at our curriculum and state-of-the-art laboratories.”
Bellanca said the college, celebrating its 60th year, is aligning coursework with employer needs, including short-term “fast track” options. One example: an EV charging station technician program that can be completed in three to six months. “There are so many technician positions,” she said. “It’s supply and demand — there’s not enough supply right now, so there is a lot of demand.” She added that cybersecurity is another area with accelerated training pathways, alongside traditional degree routes and upskilling for incumbent workers.
Al Lecz, director of the school’s Advanced Transportation Center, pointed to hands-on training that mirrors industry systems, from battery and power electronics to driver-assistance technologies.
“This is an example of a trainer in electronics that controls the EV from the battery to the power motors to the systems for charging,” Lecz said. “Businesses, manufacturers and dealerships need skilled, trained technicians who can work on these complex vehicles, diagnose and repair them. We also need technicians for product development to test and validate refinements to these systems.”
Lecz said the college’s new semiconductor and manufacturing labs prepare students for clean-room environments and automation-heavy production. “Semiconductors are an integral part of all of the electronics in a vehicle,” he said. “We’re teaching how you manufacture and test them, with soldering skills and programmable logic controllers for robotics and automation.”
Bellanca framed the college’s presence at the show as a talent pipeline for employers and a fast on-ramp for learners. “If they’re looking for talent, they can find it here,” she said. “Or if they need upskilling or reskilling, we’re here to support whatever it is that they need.”
To watch the segment, click the video above.
If you’re interested in learning more about attending Washtenaw Community College, visit wccnet.edu.