Fresno City College's New Program: Answer to Technician Shortage?

Just saw this article about Fresno City College's new Advanced Transportation Center. They're claiming they'll have students 'nearly certified on day one'. That's a bold claim. What do you all think? Is this the solution to the tech shortage? Or just hype?

Hey Bob, saw that too. I mean, it sounds good, but 'nearly certified'? That's like saying 'almost pregnant'. You either know your stuff or you don't. I've been fixing my own cars for years and I'm still learning. Maybe they're onto something with hands-on training from day one, though.

From a retired carpenter's perspective, I've seen the value of apprentice programs. If they're really giving students real-world experience early, that could be huge. But 'nearly certified' worries me - are they setting them up for failure? Or just giving them a head start? I'd like to see the specifics.

Good points. The article mentions industry partnerships and modern equipment. Maybe they're letting students work on actual vehicles from the start. But is that enough to replace years of on-the-job training? I think it's a step, but I'm skeptical about the 'day one' promise.

True, Bob. But if it gets more people into the trades, that's a win. I just hope they don't get overconfident and start mucking up people's brakes. We've all seen DIY disasters, right? 😅