Several weeks ago I received a packet from I-CAR stating that they are changing their curriculum structure for schools. We’ve already bought the I-CAR curriculum for the school and purchase I-CAR cd’s for the students. However, according to a letter in this packet I-CAR is going to start charging an annual fee to use their curriculum. The packet also included an invoice that is due April 30, 2012. From what I understand after reading the packet, if we do not pay the annual fee this month, we are no longer eligible to use I-CAR curriculum or provide I-CAR points.
My question is about the students that have been using the I-CAR curriculum for the past two years. Since the invoice is due April 30 and the students graduate in May, are they eligible to claim the I-CAR points they have already tested for? I could not find where the packet addressed this. If it did, I missed it and need clarification.
As many schools I’m sure, we do not have an extra $900 this time of year. In fact, there was no way to budget for this as I did not know about the annual fee until I received the packet earlier this month. I am assuming the students that have already been using the curriculum can still get their points, but I cannot confirm this with I-CAR to make certain. I certainly do not want to provide false information to the students.
I wanted to post this and reach out to other collision repair instructors who read the CollisionBlast. I am hoping one of you may know the answer or have been able to contact I-CAR regarding this matter. I have sent several e-mails and left voicemails, but have not had any response from I-CAR.
So here is my question once again, the invoice is due April 30. We are not going to pay the annual fee this budget year. Are the students graduating next month going to be able to receive the I-CAR points? If you know the answer to this, please comment below are e-mail Donnie at [email protected]
Richard Gravelle says
April 23, 2012 at 12:23 pmI read that this was a licenseing fee for the use of their cd’s. I do not know for sure but with talking to other instrucctor and my advisory committee members, this is a fee for the privilage of using the CD’s. I would think that since this come so late in the school year that I-CAR should know about budgets and any of the students that have used the CD’s up to now will finish. I also heard that I-CAR was in try and see mode. Letrs bill the schools and see how many pays. You have not mentioned the other part of the letter stating abotu the new curriculum that when the student completes the program they will recieve their points and not have to retest. For us to get this package with the number of students that we have will cost us about $25-35,000 per year for I-CAR curriculum and online access. I believe that this is the direction I-CAR is going, the CD’s will more than likely disappear. Just my thoughts.
Donnie says
April 23, 2012 at 4:37 pmThanks for posting Richard! I guess I will just have them fill out their applications as they normally do. I just hate telling the students they qualify for points if I don’t know for sure.
So if your school uses the new curriculum, is the cost going to be part of the student fees?
Donnie Smith says
April 24, 2012 at 11:08 pmI would like to thank all of the other instructors for e-mailing and the comment regarding the I-CAR points. I also received a response from I-CAR. I understand that the students graduating this May can apply for their I-CAR points as in the past. We’ll probably have to pay the annual fee to offer the points in the future, but we’re good for this year.
Thanks again for your help, Donnie
Richard Gravelle says
May 1, 2012 at 11:41 pmDonnie
I talked to several instructors at the state Skills USA competion at Wichita this past week and no one that I tlaked to can afford the rates for the on-line program, they all agreed that the liensening fee was okay in their opinion to pay it, but everyone’s budget is shot. I talked to an I-CAR instructor for State Farm and he thinks and agrees with me that I-CAR is going to an online format and is increasing costs to the shops and technicians.
Donnie Smith says
May 2, 2012 at 12:30 amI agree with you Richard, it’s going to be difficult for us to do this too. The only thing I can think of is to pass the expenses to student fees. I may not have any students though!
Robert Winfrey says
July 10, 2012 at 12:01 amFrom what I got out of the documentation and my I-Car rep. Points will be honored till the end of the year (2012). Points will change to credit hours in 2013 and if we do not purchase the new curriculum from I-Car our students may have to take an equivalency test.
The new curriculum looked to be about a two year degree (LOL)
I am against sending students out at a level one technician level. I think our job is to get students that have never done bodywork or painting before a taste of what it is like and see if they have what it takes to be a tech. Not everyone can paint or do bodywork!
I have students that have taken one of each of my classes Painting, Non Structural, Estimating, Mechanical, Chassis Measuring. Some students are good at one of these paths some are good at all. It is not so easy a Monkey can do it!
I don’t agree with the new approach to curriculum nor the pricing. I left my complaint. Seems like corporate greed to me! For a tech to be level one by the end of this year will be a daunting task, none the less the cost of training.
What do i know though Donnie?
Bob
admin says
July 10, 2012 at 2:21 amThanks for posting your understanding of this. I am not sure how it is all going to work out. I don’t think we will be able to afford it do we may do something different. Thanks again Bob.