Monday, December 29, 2003

By Nicholas FALSONE
The Express-Times

BETHLEHEM TWP. -- Northampton Community College will become the first institution in the country to offer an online program for those looking to become recreational vehicle technicians.

The college is launching three online courses next month to provide training for an industry that has grown substantially in recent years, partly because of the flood of retiring baby boomers looking to spend some of their golden years traveling across the country in comfortable style.
     
"The demand is great enough," said Greg Dewalt of Dewalt's Recreational Vehicles at Route 33 and Hecktown Road in Lower Nazareth Township. "Right now I could hire two to three (RV technicians) easily. We're really trying to attract new kids into this industry."

Dewalt, who also serves as president of the education committee of the Pennsylvania Recreation Vehicle and Camping Association, teamed with the college to plan the online program earlier this year.

A traditional classroom version of the program already is offered on campus. It is one of only three of its kind in the country, meaning people who want the training can't always get it because of where they live, said Don Bray, the college's director of automotive technology programs.

Bray said he's had inquiries from people living thousands of miles away who expressed interest in taking the program and getting involved in the industry. "I got a call from a guy in Alaska who wanted (the training), but he couldn't figure out an economical way to do it," Bray said.

The online program will make it possible for anyone in the country to learn about the industry from the convenience of their home. Hopes are that interest will be high, Bray said.

A demand for technicians certainly exists, he said. "The industry has seen growth up to 10 percent a year in the last five years," he said. "(Last year) was the best year they've had in history."

Those participating will be able to communicate with fellow students online as well as their instructor, Gary Bunzer, a San Diego resident known to many in the industry as the "RV doctor."

Bray said Bunzer will be employed by the college, but he'll work out of San Diego to teach the three courses. Students will study textbooks as part of their curriculum and take tests created by Bunzer.

The program also aims to set up the students with hands-on training at RV businesses near their hometowns. Finding businesses to cooperate shouldn't be a problem given the increasing demand for RV technicians, Bray said.

Although only three courses are ready to be launched next year, the college plans to work on building additional courses for the following semester, Bray said. The classroom version of the program includes 22 courses, and hopes are to bring all of them online eventually, he said.

"It's really a win-win situation for everybody," Dewalt said. "The whole industry is excited about it."