Nissan provides Ferris State Automotive Department with two vehicles to provide students with real-world skills, build a talented workforce

October 6, 2025

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — 

Nissan Motor Corporation is providing Ferris State University Automotive students
with two vehicles to help them gain experience working with the most recent cars and
trucks.

Dr. Patrick English, program coordinator for Ferris State’s Automotive Department, said
the donations are the latest example of how the College of Engineering Technology
partners with industry leaders to help students gain real world, in-demand skills
and grow a talented workforce.

Nissan donated a Pathfinder, a sport-utility vehicle, for the Auto Service program
and an all-electric Nissan Ariya, a compact crossover SUV, for the university’s new
Sustainable Transportation Service program.

“These vehicles will provide our students with invaluable hands-on experience, helping
them build practical skills that will help power their bright futures,” English said.
“We focus on providing students with a pathway from college to careers. That works
best when students are gaining skills using the latest vehicles. We deeply appreciate
the support of Nissan, and the other industry leaders that invest in our students
and keep Ferris State programs relevant.”

Nissan is one of the top 10 largest auto manufacturers in the world. It has been building
Pathfinders since 1985. The Ariya debuted in 2022.

The donation will help bolster Ferris State’s growing national reputation for its
commitment to sustainable transportation. The university this summer hosted EV Level
4 training on the Big Rapids campus, welcoming instructors from Maine to Oregon, and
extending internationally into Canada. 

Ferris State’s Automotive Center this fall launched a new Sustainable Transportation
Technology program, funded in part by a National Science Foundation grant. The program includes sections on electrical and other alternative solutions for
powering vehicles.

Ther program contains concepts related to electric vehicles and fuel cells, helping
graduates prepare for successful work in the sustainable transport industry, even
as fueling methods and power strategies change.

Sustainability is one of the four pillars of Ferris State’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.

A leader in transportation education for more than 50 years, Ferris State’s College
of Engineering Technology offers bachelor’s degrees in Automotive Engineering Technology
and Automotive Management, and a two-year Automotive Service Technology program, as
well as performance machining and performance motor sports certificates.

The AET program trains students to work as technicians before proceeding into engineering
studies, so students graduate with the knowledge to work as either engineers or technicians.