Nissan North America, Inc. and Greenville Technical College (GTC) have formed a strategic partnership to launch an Automotive Technician Training Program in South Carolina. The program, the "Nissan/Infiniti Technician Training Program" (NITTP) will launch October 18, 2004 at the McKinney Regional Automotive Technology Center at Greenville Technical College. Nissan and Infiniti dealers from the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Nissan Regions and the Infiniti East Region from Georgia to Virginia will sponsor Greenville Tech students as interns in the program.
NITTP is a unique training program that uses a modular training concept to accelerate the training process. Each module is seven and-a-half weeks long and will teach students a different aspect of Nissan/Infiniti new vehicle technology. At the end of each training module, students spend seven and-a-half weeks working as interns in a Nissan or Infiniti dealership service department to apply what they have learned in the classroom.
The program is designed to provide students with Certificates in Industrial Technology leading to an Associate Degree in Industrial Technology. Students completing this program will have the high-tech skills to repair both Nissan/Infiniti new model vehicles. Infiniti includes Nissan's luxury line of vehicles.
"Nissan's commitment to increase vehicle sales volume is creating a greater need for qualified technicians to maintain and repair the additional Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in operation," said Jerry Foley, vice president, parts & service, NNA. "Greenville Technical College will be a strategic partner with Nissan in supporting our mutual goal of recruiting and educating the next generation of Nissan and Infiniti technicians in order to achieve customer retention targets."
"Greenville Tech's success has been built on partnerships," says Dr. Thomas E. Barton, Jr., president of the college. "This new partnership with an international company is the kind of partnership that will build our future. Since we established the McKinney Regional Automotive Technology Center, we've been able to expand our automotive offerings by adding a Street Rods and Customized Cars certificate along with a MotorSports program. Our new partnership with Nissan provides even greater choice for students."
In further support of the program, Nissan donated $50,000 to Greenville Tech to support student tuition, scholarships and curriculum development. Nissan will also donate vehicles, equipment, tools, computer software and other educational supplies. Greenville Tech will be constructing a NITTP-dedicated classroom and training facility at the McKinney Regional Automotive Technology Center located on Pleasantburg Drive. Nissan's donation to GTC is part of its commitment to "Enriching People's Lives" through charitable contributions, in-kind donations and other philanthropic investments that support education, the environment and humanitarian aid.
About Greenville Tech
Founded in 1962, Greenville Tech is now the state's third largest postsecondary institution. From a four-campus system, hands-on training is available in over 160 business, health, engineering and industrial careers along with the university transfer option that provides an economical route to a four-year degree. In addition, the college's continuing education division, housed at the Buck Mickel Center, served over 2,500 businesses last year with classes that improve skills in specific areas. For more information contact www.mckinneyregionalautomotivetechnologycenter.com.
