Diesel Powered Equipment Technology - Illinois Central College

11. Career opportunitiesDiesel powered equipment service technicians work as:• Service technicians• Service managers• Service specialists• Corporate territory service managers• Engineering test technicians• Technical sales professionals12. How will I know this is a quality program?This is a question a prospective student seeking a post-secondary technicaleducation should ask. Visit area dealers who have employed graduates of theprogram. Request an opportunity to view facilities and training aids along withspending a half day or more with students of the program attending class.Bring your parents when you meet the instructor(s) of the program and tourthe facilities. They can be a tremendous asset to asking the right questions.To help you determine if this is a quality program, ask yourself the followingquestions:• How many students are grouped together in the lab environment? In most labenvironments, we put our students in groups of two. Groups of three or moredo not learn as much and do not get as much hands-on training.• Ask to see the training aids used in the classroom discussion and laboratorypractice. How old are these training aids? Are the training aids in goodcondition? How appropriate are these training aids in meeting your careeraspirations?• How much time will you spend gaining hands-on experience in a given course?• Is lab time spent gaining hands-on experience or does the instructordemonstrate service procedures without giving you an opportunity to practicethem?• What will be the total cost of the program?• Does the program provide an internship specific to your career objectives?• Are you given the opportunity to work on "outside" equipment or onlycollege-owned equipment?• How much student-to-instructor contact time is offered in each technical area(i.e., engines, electrical, etc.)?• Does the program provide in-depth training in the diagnosis of engine,electrical, transmission, hydraulic, and air-conditioning?• Will the program give you specific training on agricultural, heavy truck, andconstruction equipment?• How will the money you pay in tuition be used?4At Illinois Central College all your tuition is given back to you in the form ofan education. This tuition is only a small portion of the total cost incurred by theCollege in providing you a quality education. The additional money neededcomes in the form of tax dollars.