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UA – Pulaski Tech diesel program awarded $692k grant for modernization

UA - Pulaski Tech’s Diesel Technology Program has received a generous grant to enable the college to equip graduates with skills in utilizing emerging technologies in the transportation field.

Arkansas Office of Skills Development (OSD) and the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas System, Acting on Behalf of University of Arkansas, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding August 23 to issue grant funding in the amount of $692,626 for the purchase of the equipment, trainers, and tools required to attain Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Accreditation in Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Service Technology.

“We are proud of the guidance and support given from the Office of Skills Development and industry partners to position the Diesel Technology program to be one of the best in the state,” said Dr. Angela Kremers, dean of technical and professional studies at UA-PTC. “The grant will provide the advanced equipment and resources necessary to not only achieve ASE accreditation, but to meet industry needs by providing a talent pipeline that’s ready to work in this high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand career.”

In response to local industry demand for truck service technicians, UA-PTC is modernizing its program in Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Service Technology and will offer accreditation in ASE Medium/Heavy Duty Inspection, Maintenance, and Minor Repair, to be followed by accreditation in ASE Truck Service Technology. This new programming requires specialized equipment, trainers, and tools for classroom activities and hands-on experiences. UA-PTC has worked closely with the ASE Foundation, which is affiliated with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, to determine the supports necessary to provide the highest quality instruction.

“Our overall goal at UA-PTC is to offer the highest quality education possible,” added UA-PTC Chancellor Summer DeProw. “We are grateful for the financial support from the Office of Skills Development and for the encouragement from our industry partners. I am particularly proud of our faculty for their dedication to this program and our students. The new equipment and curriculum will serve our students and community well, and we look forward to expanding our recently-earned ASE accreditation from our Automobile Technology program to the Diesel Technology program. The ASE accreditations will compel us to focus on new and emerging technologies such as alternative power sources for medium and heavy-duty trucks.”

OSD is a state agency authorized to award grants to public and private organizations for the development and implementation of workforce training programs. UA-PTC is a public community college that provides educational programming, workforce training, and civic and cultural enrichment to residents and students in central Arkansas.