As part of its ongoing effort to support industry education, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) announced at its board meeting held during the 2010 SEMA Show that it will begin picking up the membership cost for educational facilities that provide a collision repair vocational or technical program. This offer is effective immediately to all schools that complete the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s online School Solutions Survey.
SCRS says collision repair and refinish technician training programs play a central role in ensuring a high professional standard for the collision repair industry, now and in the future.
"The lifeblood of our industry — qualified, skilled personnel — are sourced from institutions providing accredited technical instruction," said SCRS Education Committee Chair Paul Val. "SCRS wants to do everything it can to encourage and foster these programs. Paying for the memberships of these schools shows our commitment in a tangible, meaningful way."
SCRS currently counts a handful of vo-tech schools among its membership but hopes this offer will increase the number that becomes active SCRS members. This will give SCRS the chance to expand communications within the technical education sector, providing a more direct opportunity to acquaint students with the viability of today’s collision repair industry as a place to build a satisfying, long-lasting professional career.
"The Collision Repair Education Foundation is appreciative to have such great support for the institutions we serve from an industry mainstay like SCRS," says Education Foundation Executive Director Scott Kruger. "Our mission is to provide opportunities for students in collision education and to help get students and schools engaged with SCRS is an excellent way to get these young men and women plugged in to the collision repair industry."
"The results of the survey will be used by the Foundation to track specific academic performance indicators such as enrollment, placement, personnel, facilities and equipment," Kruger continued. "Ultimately, this information will allow the Education Foundation to better assist these schools with programs and development. We look forward to working with SCRS and appreciate the association’s outreach in search of collaborative opportunities to better the industry."
"This is a wonderful opportunity to offer those entering the industry the kind of information and perspective for which SCRS is known," says SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. "By teaming with schools we can create a context for the industry that will help fledgling technicians make informed career decisions that, in the long term, will strengthen our industry. We take great pride in our role as advocates for industry education and are happy to show it by supporting those preparing the next generation of our industry’s workforce."
More information:
SCRS
Collision Repair Education Foundation
