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How Northwood University leaders continuously enrich the lives of students

Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Inside Automotive, exclusively on CBT News. On today’s show, we’re joined in the studio by Automotive Aftermarket and Management Chair for Northwood University Elgie Bright, and Senior Director of Strategic Planning for vAuto, Patrick Janes.

Northwood University is known for creating a curriculum geared toward the automotive industry. The university takes enrolled students and prepares them for every position within the industry. About five years ago, Cox Automotive approached Janes with the request to teach a college class on their behalf. So, Janes and Bright curated a curriculum around inventory management.

According to Janes, “What’s unique about our teaching is we discuss the metrics and data to take to make good inventory management decisions that surround pricing, appraisal, merchandising cars, and a lab feature that allows students to login into the vAuto software to obtain and learn the necessary skills before they begin solidifying a career in the industry.”

Bright furthers, “Our students begin to get experience as early as Freshmen year summer where internships are available. The internships help our students to broaden their educational and practical experience as part of our curriculum.”

"It doesn't get more real than talking about yesterday." - Elgie Bright

Legacy and heritage, according to Bright, “Are the reasons behind the community and vendor involvement.” He notes having vendors and technology companies walk into the classroom and build relationships to connect better with the students aids in the outreach of all the access available in the industry. “The relationships bring advantages to the transition from the classroom to the career,” Bright elaborates. 

Additionally, “We have all the big names in the industry, and they’re very generous. They’re constantly giving back, and the University has received their generosity.”

“We collectively teach our students that you can take advantage of industry relations, but it’s important to remain a lifelong learner.”  — Patrick Janes

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Jaelyn Campbell
Jaelyn Campbell
Jaelyn Campbell is a staff writer/reporter for CBT News. She is a recent honors cum laude graduate with a BFA in Mass Media from Valdosta State University. Jaelyn is an enthusiastic creator with more than four years of experience in corporate communications, editing, broadcasting, and writing. Her articles in The Spectator, her hometown newspaper, changed how people perceive virtual reality. She connects her readers to the facts while providing them a voice to understand the challenges of being an entrepreneur in the digital world.

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