SAN ANTONIO — St. Philips College has been working for over 50 years to get students prepared to work in the automotive field. But the industry is changing, and the program is evolving to keep up.
St. Philip’s College Automotive Technology Program is making a significant impact in the San Antonio area, with its students employed at all 26 General Motors dealerships in the region.
“We believe that the academics prepare our students to be the shop foremen, the service managers, the shop owners and the business leaders that our industry needs,” said department chairman John Eichelberger.
Established in the 1950s, the program currently enrolls 1,200 students who can choose between a General Motors factory training program or a comprehensive automotive program covering all makes and models. Students receive hands-on training, learning skills from pulling transmissions to rebuilding them.
“We’re lucky here in Bexar County that we have the Alamo Promise. And so if a student comes here to do the automotive program and they live in Bexar County, their tuition is 100% free, if they’re coming straight out of high school and going into St Philip’s College for automotive program,” explained program coordinator Ben Birkenfeld.
The program aims to make students mainline technicians within two years, significantly reducing their debt-to-income ratio.
With the rise of electric vehicles, St. Philip’s College has adapted its curriculum to include an electric vehicle (EV) program, providing students with hands-on experience in building and maintaining EVs.
Students in the program include some from a high school P-Tech program or currently enrolled in the college. Program coordinator Ben Van Meter says this allows the student to become successful in the automotive field whether in Texas or beyond.
“As you as you work on those, or as you learn to work with those, there is an environment there that lets you travel. If you want to stay in Bexar County, there are a ton of cars in Bexar County. If you decide that you’re going to work in other places around the country or expand your knowledge base, it’s something that goes with you,” said Van Meter.
Eichelberger noted the resilience of the industry against automation.
“We know it’s going to affect so many different career paths, but AI has not learned how to turn a ranch yet, and so this is an AI proof industry,” said Eichelberger.
The program is accredited by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), ensuring students are prepared for careers both in Texas and beyond.
Due to the program’s growth, a new building is underway to better serve students and industry partners. The goal remains to prepare graduates to ensure vehicles run smoothly, whether they choose to stay local or expand their careers nationwide.