Women and Black Students in College Automotive Technology

The purpose of this study focused on recruitment and retention of women and blacks in college automotive classrooms. The literature established that little is known about recruitment or retention of women and black automotive learners. However, as of 1995, the number of women certified by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has tripled since 1988. In Illinois, black college student enrollments have also increased 58% since 1988, and the trend is expected to continue to 2005 ( Jackson, H., 1995 ). In the recruitment factor of this study, women and black college automotive students identified that their high school teachers and family members were frequently (51.1%) the common source to influence their career choices. In retention issues, respondents credited personal involvement with fellow students and faculty encouragement (66.6%) as important to their successes. The results of the study indicate these issues would be beneficial in recruiting and retaining women and black automotive students.

The news media is trumpeting the sound that the world of work is rapidly changing. New technology has everyone trying to keep current. Automotive employees, like so many other workers, are challenged to perform new types of jobs and adapt to new equipment.

As in the past, college and university educators are busy identifying contemporary job skills, which are then translated into classroom objectives. Some of these skills are included in the areas of computers, electronics, and environmental concerns, to name a few. When it comes to automotive technology majors, activities like these are key to preparing them for acquiring state of the art skills. Consequently, men, women, and blacks alike are expected to encounter numerous circumstances where short-lived skills must be replaced with new skills to remain technically competent. It is important to observe and utilize factors that improve recruiting and retention in programs where training is offered. These factors might include motivation, self-esteem, family encouragement, peer pressure or anything which can ultimately assist individuals in their attempts to be successful. Much of this information can apply to many different groups of people; however, the focus of this data is on women and blacks.