News Releases @ TCC

~PLANS ADVANCE FOR TCC’S AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER
~PROGRAM WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM TOYOTA

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – (Jan. 9, 2006) – Tidewater Community College’s Regional Automotive Technology Center moves closer to groundbreaking with recent approval of building plans for its 30,000-square-foot facility to be built in Oakbrooke Business & Technology Center, the city of Chesapeake’s newest business park.

At the same time, recognition ratchets up again with a national manufacturer award. Toyota has named TCC’s T-Ten (Toyota Technical Education Network) program one of six in the United States to receive the inaugural T-Ten School Recognition Award. The award program recognizes the highest performing T-Ten schools across the country.

T-Ten , a joint effort of Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., Central Atlantic Toyota Distributors Inc., Toyota dealers and TCC, leads to an associate degree or certification in the automotive technology field.

Incorporating T-Ten and other manufacturer-based programs, TCC’s plans for the new Regional Automotive Technology Center feature eight 20-foot-high bays - with one designed for an 18-wheeler - and the latest in high-tech instructional equipment including ceiling-mounted video cameras to project hands-on demonstrations to everyone in the class.

A well-established model for industry partnerships, TCC’s automotive technology program boasts an award-wining advisory board comprised of 32 members from all areas of the industry, including regional dealerships.