Auto Technology Program Policies & Procedures

Non-Discrimination Statement

To view the full Non-Discrimination Statement, please visit the College Catalog & Student Handbook or the college website.

Disability Services/Accommodations

Individuals with disabilities who require accommodations for special services should contact the IHCC Disability Services office for assistance. Services are available to students who need classroom accommodations, interpreters and/or specialized equipment.

Students who are requesting accommodations must document their disability by providing a written statement signed by a school counselor, physician, psychologist or other health care professional. Statements must include: (a) a description of the disability, (b) a statement of how the disability prohibits one or more major life activities and is a barrier to the student’s full participation in the program, and (c) a description of the specific accommodations to be provided. (Requested accommodations must be related to the individual’s specific disability.)

All requests for accommodations should be made prior to enrollment.

Students should make their requests for accommodations to the Disability Services office at the time they are applying for admission and, preferably, no later than six weeks prior to the beginning of each academic term. All student requests are dealt with in a confidential manner. Students should contact Disability Services by calling (641) 683-5749 (Ottumwa) or (641) 856-2143, ext. 2214 (Centerville) or by email at disabilityservices@indianhills.edu.

Accreditation

Indian Hills Community College is a public post-secondary institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the Higher Learning Commission, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, and (800)621-7440.

Indian Hills Community College is also accredited by the State of Iowa, Iowa Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319-0146, (515)281-8260.

Student Services

To view the full listing of Student Services, please visit the College Catalog & Student Handbook.

Program Learning Outcomes

To view the Program Learning Outcomes, please visit the College Catalog & Student Handbook.

Cancellations

Indian Hills Alert is the emergency notification system of Indian Hills Community College. Indian Hills Alert allows the college to communicate timely emergency information quickly to students, faculty, staff and interested members of the community.  To sign up to receive alerts, go to http://www.indianhills.edu/about/alert.php and create an account to receive information via phone, email, and/or text message about college–related emergencies, college closings or delayed openings due to inclement weather, or other urgent campus communications.  Indian Hills Alert will only be used to send you messages related to college emergencies or safety issues, never to send you advertisements.

Attendance and Punctuality

Mandatory Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance is mandatory in all Advanced Technologies Division courses. Student attendance will be recorded each day this class meets. A student missing class should immediately contact the instructor or a fellow student to find out what material was covered in class and if any assignments have been missed. The instructor will decide to accept late work or not. Communication between the student and instructor is most important, but it is the student’s responsibility to initiate such communication. Contacting the instructor before the missed class session is preferable whenever possible.

A student missing 16%  of scheduled class meetings without excuse will be withdrawn from this course. This withdrawal may have academic or financial effects. Students missing class because of a college-sanctioned event will be excused from attendance but not excused from completing assignments. They should contact their instructor for further guidance. Based on the instructor’s discretion, students may also be excused for the following reasons: bereavement, illness (more than two days), jury duty, court appearance, religious observance or military service. Students should give access to the appropriate documents in order to establish an absence as excused. Instructors will decide on the validity of such an excuse.

The number of actual class days a student may miss before being withdrawn varies depending on how often a course meets in a week. Students will receive warnings via email when they are nearing or have reached the 16% threshold. Consult the chart below to establish how many unexcused absences are permitted in this class:

Showing up for class on time is also mandatory. On the first day of class, the instructor will announce guidelines for tardiness, such as establishing a time limit for when a tardy becomes an absence. Four incidents of tardiness equal one absence, and the guidelines above apply.

Professionalism

Through your IHCC Auto Technology Program, you will experience an environment of professionalism. Proper conduct and safety awareness are emphasized. Attendance for on-campus meetings and online courses, as well as in-person courses, is expected and required. 

Laboratory Safety Rules

General Safety Rules

• Safety glasses must be worn in the shop at all times.
• Long hair must be tied back to prevent entanglement in moving parts.
• Open-toed shoes are not permitted in the shop.
• Auto Tech uniform shirts with sleeves must be worn.
• Students may not wear jackets, hoodies, or other garments with exposed drawstrings, loose cords, or dangling accessories while in the laboratory.
• Students must wear long pants or shorts that extend to within 1 inch above the knee; pajamas and sweatpants are not permitted.
• All flammable liquids must be stored in approved containers.
• Report all accidents immediately so that first aid and medical assistance can be provided.
• Know the location of fire extinguishers and how to use them.
• Use compressed air with caution; never direct it toward yourself or others.
• Clothing must be free of flammable grease and oil.
• Keep the shop clean and promptly clean up any spilled fluids.
• Remove old parts and trash to prevent tripping hazards.
• Follow all safety procedures when operating equipment.
• Ensure all safety guards are in place when equipment is in use.
• Do not operate equipment that is unsafe or malfunctioning; report issues to the instructor.
• Return all tools to their designated locations after use.

Lifting Equipment

• When raising a car on a lift, be sure to raise it slightly to ensure proper contact of the lift arms with the frame.
• If you are putting a vehicle on the alignment rack, be sure to have another person guide you onto the lift.
• Never get under a vehicle that is jacked up unless jack stands are properly used.
• Never leave a creeper on the floor as it represents a hazard to others.
• When using the engine lift, be sure not to overextend the beam, as you can nose the lift over when raising an engine.

Vehicle Operation

A student must have a valid driver’s license to move vehicles or go on test drives to verify repairs.

• Driver’s side or alternate window must be rolled down while the vehicle is in the shop.
• When operating a vehicle in the shop, it must have an exhaust hose on it.
• When moving a vehicle in the shop, it should be operated at walking speed.
• Make sure that all fuel lines are connected properly prior to cranking an engine.
• Never accelerate an engine to high RPM under no-load conditions.

Required Personal Tools

Safety Equipment

• Safety Glasses

Ratchets

• 3/8 drive flex head    
• 3/8 drive straight       
• 1/2 drive straight      
• 1/2 drive breaker bar 
• 1/4 drive flex head    

Extensions

• 3/8 drive set of 8                    
• 3/8 drive impact universal joint    
• 1/2 drive set of 5                         
• 1/4 drive set of 6                 
• 1/4 drive impact universal joint   

Sockets

• 1/4 drive deep and shallow metric set from 4mm to 14mm.   
• 1/4 15mm deep and shallow                    
• Set inverted torx                 
• Set of heavy duty torx bits     
• Set of hex bits metric                    
• 3/8 drive deep and shallow set                                          
• 3/8 drive spark plug socket set           
• 3/8 drive impact universal set style.                                                              
• 3/8 drive impact universal joint                      
• 1/2 drive deep chrome or impact set      
• 1/2 drive shallow chrome or impact set    

Wrenches

• Set of standard wrenches
• Set of metric wrenches

Screwdrivers

• Set of Phillips and Flat blade, 8 total       

 Pliers

• Needle nose
• Slip joint
• Diagonal cutters                            
• Vise-grip type pliers
• Set of at least 4 of different makes                                 
• Snap ring pliers
  • Set of 5 of different makes                                       

Hammers

• 16oz ball peen                                                          
• 24oz ball peen                                                         
• 16oz brass ball peen                                  

Miscellaneous

• Crimper stripper combo
• 1/2 drive impact gun “air power”                                  
• 3/8 drive ratchet “air power”                                   
• Punch and Chisel set                                        
• Digital caliper 6 inch                                
• Feeler gauge set
• Set of pry bars                                

Tool Box 

• Recommend rolling tool box with storage for the required tools and space for future tools.

Placement

The ability of a student to obtain employment in his/her career field upon graduation is a very important part of the educational process. The Academic Program and Career/Work-Based Office, working cooperatively with each student, will do everything possible to see that this objective is met.

• The student is responsible for actively seeking employment.
• The program will make students aware of job opportunities through written and/or verbal communication, as well as posting the information in the lab area and on social media.
• The student will be responsible for completing the IHCC Graduate Survey sent 6 months after graduation, providing the program with vital employment data.
• IHCC hosts a career fair each year in March for all programs.