2011 Ford Mustang Latest Addition to Fleet of Instructional Vehicles

The Ford Motor Co. helped Pennsylvania College of Technology celebrate the dedication of its newly renovated and expanded Parkes Automotive Technology Center by providing the college with a new Ford Mustang.

The 2011 Mustang GT Premium Edition convertible, valued at more than $40,000, was delivered in time for the dedication of the ATC part of the college's Stage X building program on Sept. 10.

Christopher H. Van Stavoren, assistant professor of automotive technology with Penn College's Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) program, said the Mustang offers many features that will be important in teaching students about a variety of modern automotive systems.

Those features include: a 5.0-liter, 32-valve TiVCT (Twin independent Variable Camshaft Timing) engine; a six-speed manual transmission;Electronic Power Assist Steering; AdvanceTrac Electronic Stability Control system; and Sync Technology.

"The TiVCT system allows us to teach the 2010 Ford engine repair and engine performance courses," he said, "while the EPAS and ESC systems allow us to teach the 2010 electronic steering and suspension and ABS/ESC Ford courses."

Van Stavoren added that the Sync Technology will allow faculty to integrate the latest Bluetooth technologies into Ford Electronics courses, noting that the Mustang has many advanced electrical/electronic circuits that can be used in instruction.

"Ford ASSET program students will benefit greatly from this addition to our training fleet," he said.

Ford ASSET is one of four associate degrees in automotive technology available at Penn College. The college's School of Transportation Technology also offers a bachelor's degree in automotive technology management, an automotive service technician certificate and a motorsports service technician competency credential, as well as an associate degree and a certificate in collision repair.

Pennsylvania College of Technology is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, committed to applied technology education. With more than 6,500 students enrolled in bachelor-degree, associate-degree and certificate majors, Penn College has the second-highest enrollment in the Penn State system.

For more information about supporting Penn College and its students, visit online , e-mail or call the Institutional Advancement Office toll-free at 866-GIVE 2 PC (866-448-3272).

For more information about Penn College's automotive technology majors or any of its more than 100 fields of study, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.