CLC's Automotive Collision Repair program moves into renovated space
College of Lake County students learning to paint cars and repair dents will start the spring semester in a new Auto Body Shop created by refurbishing Building 12 on the Grayslake campus.
The $1.6 million project was completed under the College Master Plan. The new facility will allow the college to expand its Automotive Collision Repair program to offer a full daytime schedule of courses. Previously, the program only offered evening courses because it leased facilities at the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus, which used the same facilities during the day.
"We'll be able to offer classes in the morning and midafternoon, doubling our courses," said Octavio Cavazos, instructor/department chair. "We will also have open lab times so our students can spend extra time improving their skills, something most of them can't do at home."
Members of the college community, industry partners and local body shop representatives viewed the new facility at an open house held Jan. 15 in the building, which is behind the Physical Education Center on the north side of campus.
To create the new Auto Body Shop, the college renovated Building 12, which was most recently used for storage. Prior to the opening of CLC's Technology Building in 2005, Building 12 housed the Automotive Technology program.
The 10,083-square-foot auto lab space includes a large auto-body work area, three new general classrooms, a faculty office, student lounge, restrooms, and a 2,955-square-foot storage mezzanine. A new asphalt-paved vehicle staging area accommodating up to eight cars is behind the building. Shop equipment and features include:
• Full down draft and semi-down draft paint spray booths
• Two paint mixing rooms
• Integrated welding booth
• Chief frame machine and new mechanical service area and equipment
• One paint double prep station
• Dust collection system
• Vehicle exhaust system
• Compressed air system
Cavazos said he is very excited about the new dedicated space for the program, which will have the latest industry equipment.
"I graduated from CLC's automotive program many years ago, having taken most of my classes here in Building 12, and now, having the privilege to teach the subject I am passionate about is a dream come true," he said.
The building renovation and most of the equipment for the Auto Body Shop was funded through the $1.6 million allocated under the Master Plan. The full down draft and semi-down draft spray booths and the double prep station were purchased using the department's equipment budget, according to David Agazzi, vice president for administrative affairs.
In fall semester 2014, 50 students were enrolled in the program's classes, taking 277 credit hours.
"Having our own space will allow us to offer a full daytime program with classes in the morning and midafternoon, allowing us to double our course offerings and increasing future enrollment," Cavazos said.
The program awarded 22 degrees and certificates during 2013-14.
In addition to Cavazos, the program's other full-time instructor is Ken Davis.
"Since coming on board in the fall of 2013, Ken has played a vital part in the growth of the program, including the design, construction and set up of our new building," Cavazos said.
CLC offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Automotive Collision Repair and four certificates: Automotive Collision Repair, Automotive Damage Analysis, Automotive Structural Repair Technician and Automotive Refinishing Technician.
Students learn to use vehicle paints, high-tech spray guns and other tools to straighten bent car and truck bodies, remove dents and replace crumpled parts that cannot be fixed.
Employers of CLC graduates include auto body repair shops, auto mechanics who offer auto body repair, car and truck dealers, custom fabrication shops, paint manufacturers and distributors and self-employed individuals.
Graduates of CLC's program find work in positions such as automotive detailing specialist, automotive glass installer, collision parts/tools distributor, collision repair technician, collision shop foreman, collision shop owner/manager, collision repair instructor, custom painter/fabricator, damage estimator, paint/parts manufacturer's representative and refinishing technician.
Annual salaries for the Chicago area range from $23,640-$66,120, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Visit www.bls.gov to learn more.
For more information on the Automotive Collision Repair program, visit www.clcillinois.edu/programs/acr, or contact Cavazos at (847) 543-2905 or ocavazos@clcillinois.edu.
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