The Enterprise Holdings Foundation and Ford Motor Company Fund have chosen the Parkland College Automotive Collision Repair Program in Champaign, Illinois, as the seventh school to offer the Collision Engineering Program (CEP), according to a press release.
The CEP is an apprenticeship-styled program that runs for two years and allows students to work and earn an income through apprenticeships in collision repair facilities while also working toward earning an associate’s degree.
Currently, seven employers in the Champaign area have come on board to participate in the CEP, including nationally recognized MSOs. Parkland College has also been offering a Ford ASSET Program, a two-year program meant to equip entry-level technicians with Ford certifications.
“The CEP program at Parkland College takes an exciting earn-as-you-learn approach to prepare students for career readiness,” Ford Motor Company Fund Economic Mobility Director Mike Schmidt stated, via the press release. “Together we're building a support system around student needs, from access to scholarship opportunities to modern collision engineering facilities and tools.”
