News

Baker College of Owosso Board Approves Expansion of Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan

2011-09-14T13:14:47Z

“This approval marks the formal beginning of an 11-month construction process that will, in combination with our Welcome Center, provide an attractive gateway to our campus and the Owosso area,” said Peter W. Karsten, Baker College of Owosso president. “The new Auto/Diesel facility continues Baker College’s long history of developing and expanding career programs in employment fields that are in high demand. The building will have the functional elements, space capacity and design quality that will allow the automotive and diesel programs to be marketed throughout Michigan and surrounding states.”

The new facility will include two fully equipped automotive labs, three diesel labs, several engine and transmission labs as well as several lecture classrooms. Programs offered at the new facility will include automotive service and diesel service certificate and associate degrees, and a new automotive and diesel service management bachelor’s degree program. Future potential programs include alternative energy and collision repair.

The diesel service technology program at Baker College of Owosso, which began in 2007 with 70 students, has grown to 290 students in the 2010/2011 academic year, while the automotive program currently has more than 170 students. The Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan brand was started by Baker’s Owosso campus in 2008.

“By providing well-prepared graduates, we quickly established a strong reputation for meeting the employment needs in the automotive and diesel technology fields,” said Karsten. “Enrollment growth and our out-of-state marketing efforts have resulted in the necessity for additional space for both programs. Our new ADI facility will accommodate current program growth, additional equipment and tools and the ability to add new programs to meet the requirements of an ever-changing job market.”

After Baker College of Owosso officials purchased the 11.8 acres of undeveloped land, they engaged the services of TMP Architecture to design the new facility for the auto and diesel programs.

“TMP brought award-winning design excellence to the project, as well as a long history of project experience in the higher education field,” said Karsten.

Baker College of Owosso subsequently invited construction firms from Shiawassee, Genesee, Ingham and Saginaw counties to participate in the competitive bidding process.

“In August, we selected Morgan Construction as the construction manager for the new building project,” said Karsten. “Headquartered in Flint, they provided the most competitive pricing and brought considerable higher education experience and knowledge of Baker College’s expectations to the project’s construction services.”

It is anticipated that project subcontractors will be local firms from the mid-Michigan area.

The project’s target completion date is August 2012.

Baker and ADI at 2011 AutoRama

2011-02-10T16:31:13Z

Baker College and The Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan will attend four of the 2011 AutoRama Custom Car Show Series.

* Indianapolis, February 11-13 * Detroit, February 25-27 * Chicago, March 4-6 * Cleveland, March 18-20

For more information, visit AutoRama online.

Baker College of Cadillac Recertified for Truck Driving Certificate Program

2011-02-08T19:22:26Z

Baker College of Cadillac officials today announced that its truck driving certificate program has been granted recertification by the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). Certification is valid for five years.

“Recertification by PTDI ensures that our students continue to receive training that is current, complete and applicable to the industry,” said Tim Baker, director of trucking at Baker College of Cadillac. “Our truck driving students stay ahead of the competition, as many carriers accept only graduates from a PTDI-certified program.”

The truck driving certificate program is offered at the Baker College of Cadillac Center for Transportation and Technology. The new facility, which opened fall 2010, is located at 4800 S. Morey Rd., halfway between Lake City and McBain. Baker’s truck driving program trains individuals for entry-level positions as local or long-distance drivers of tractor/trailers, heavy trucks, dump trucks and tankers. Courses are designed to prepare graduates to sit for Michigan’s Commercial Driver Licensing Class A examination.

“The employment outlook is good, as the nation depends on the trucking industry and the services that it provides,” said Baker. “According to labor statistics, there will be a 9 percent growth in truck driving jobs between 2008 and 2018. This represents approximately 291,000 new jobs.”

A first-year driver may earn, on average, $43,500 per year with benefits. PTDI-certified programs are currently offered at 67 schools in 29 states and Canada. Baker College is the only school in Michigan to offer the program. In addition to the Cadillac campus, Baker’s Flint and Port Huron campuses also offer PTDI-certified truck driving programs.

Initially PTDI-certified in 2005, the Baker College of Cadillac truck driving certificate program is offered during spring and fall quarters.

PTDI is a national, non-profit organization established for two purposes: 1) to develop uniform industry skill, curriculum and certification standards for entry-level truck driver training and motor carrier driver finishing programs, and 2) to certify entry-level truck driver training courses at public and private schools and driver finishing programs at carriers for compliance with PTDI standards.