Auctioneering

Gavel 1 Clarion University will offer an associate degree program with an auctioneering concentration at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh beginning in January 2012. It is the only auctioneering program approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Auctioneer Examiners in western Pennsylvania and the only one in the Commonwealth to award a university associate degree.

Auctioneering courses will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays from January through May 2012. Students can complete general education and other university courses over the next eighteen months at various times at West Penn, online or at the Venango Campus.

At the completion of the 15-weekend auctioneering component, students will have earned 20 credits toward a 60-credit Clarion University Associate of Applied Science in Administration Technology degree, with a concentration in auctioneering. Upon successful completion of the 20 auctioneering credits, students will be able to take the Pennsylvania State Auctioneer's License Exam and upon passing of this exam become a Pennsylvania Licensed Auctioneer.

The technical component of the auctioneering degree program is designed to provide students with knowledge of the techniques, procedures, and principles of communication, appraisal, management, marketing and law necessary to conduct a successful auction in Pennsylvania. It also includes a practical field experience of on-the-job training with Pennsylvania licensed auctioneers.

The general education component provides students with an educational foundation that will help them in operating an auctioneering business or for further education.

The technical component of the degree will be taught by Charlene A. Caple, a licensed and bonded Pennsylvania auctioneer who has authored the definitive text for auctioneering courses of study in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ms. Caple has served as an instructor in the auctioneering program at the Harrisburg Area Community College since 1983. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Auctioneer's Association (PAA) and has served as an officer of the PAA's Central Regional Chapter.

The 240 auctioneering classroom hours will take place at Clarion University Pittsburgh Site at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing, 4900 Friendship Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224 over the course of 15 weekends beginning on January 28^th. Students will be taught by lecture, discussion, and a variety of other sources. Students will be required to complete assignments, pass examinations, and pass final exams for each of the six courses. Sixty (60) hours of Practical field experience with Pennsylvania licensed auctioneers under direction of Instructor will also be required. There will be an evaluation of competency for the Field Experience.

The Auctioneering Program consists of:

A 20 technical credits in auctioneering required by the State Board of Auctioneer Examiners for licensure.
- 32 additional general education and business foundation credits which can be completed online.
- 8 additional electives as discussed with your advisor.
Six (6) classroom classes and one (1) practical field experience class
15 weekends of classes, Saturday and Sunday.
Tentative Friday courses as necessary.

The Auctioneering Program meets all educational course requirements necessary to sit for the PA State Auctioneer's License Exam.

After successful completion of the Auctioneering classes and passing the State Auctioneer's License Exam, and obtaining a bond, the graduate becomes a PA State Licensed Auctioneer.

The Auction Program is designed to provide the student with knowledge of the techniques, procedures and principles of communication, appraisal, management, marketing, and law necessary to conduct a successful auction sale in Pennsylvania as well as to prepare them to sit for pass the Pennsylvania State Auctioneer Licensing Exam.

The curriculum not only meets State licensure requirements to take the state exam, but prepares the graduate, after licensure:

To conduct an auction business with understanding of legal issues concerning the auction business and profession. The graduate will also have knowledge of federal, state, and local laws.
To develop and use appraisal sources and techniques of valuation.
To develop and train the staff necessary to carry out tasks and duties to complete a successful auction.
To Take charge of an auction and develop interpersonal skills to control large and small groups of people.
To develop a personal style of auction chant.
How to obtain business, sellers, and goods to sell at auction.
To Organize and manage various types of auctions including collections of antiques and collectibles, estate and real estate auctions and develop, build and educate a staff necessary to complete a successful auction.
Keep accurate and complete records, understand the contracts entered into as well as demonstrate an understanding of the PA Auctioneer and Auction Licensing Act, Business Law, and other specific laws as they relate to Auctioneering.
Understanding of Marketing and Advertising theories for the promotion of the auction and auction business.
How to reconcile and settle an auction account.
How to use procurement and appraisal fundamentals for additional business opportunities.

The 20 credit auctioneering program is projected as follows:

(1) Projected Start date: January 28, 2012

No class March 10^th & 11^th (Winter Break).

No class April 7^th & 8^th (Easter Weekend).

There will be 4 - 5 weeks during that time period where we will work in Friday evening classes, which will be determined on Jan. 28^th.

(2) 15 weekends to include Saturday and Sunday, 8 hours each day.

(3) The six classroom courses will be divided into three - five weekend periods.

Two courses will be taught every five-weekend period.

1st 5 weekends
Auction Talk - Audience Communication
Auction Law

2nd 5 weekends
Procurement of Auction Business & Appraisal of Personal Property
Auction Preparation

3rd 5 weekends
Auction Method of Evaluating and Selling Real Estate at Public Auction
The Auction - conducting the auction

Practical Field Experience

This will start the first day of class and ends the last day of the 15 weekends.

The transcript will reflect six Auctioneering classroom courses as 3 credit hours each and the Practical Field Experience in Auctioneering course as 2 credit hours for a total of 20 credits.

Wish to Enroll in this Program?

To enroll in the Auctioneering program for Spring 2012, interested persons must:

Apply to Clarion University and follow all instructions given on the application. Please list Administration Technology as your academic major choice. List A.A.S. (Associate of Applied Science) as the degree sought and write in Auctioneering to designate this as the program of your choice. Please choose Spring 2012 for semester and year of application.
Once you have received notice of acceptance to Clarion University (this usually takes about 2 weeks once admissions has received a complete application & all required paperwork), please contact Dr. William Hallock at whallock@clarion.edu or (814) 676-6591 x1307, for advisement on the specifics of the program, and how to proceed.
Students will be enrolled in 14 credits at Clarion University during the Spring 2012 semester, and 6 credits during Summer 1.
Spring 2012 tuition & fees for courses held at Clarion University-Pittsburgh Site for 14 credits is $3,918.00. Summer tuition & fees for courses held at Clarion University-Pittsburgh Site for 6 credits is $1,962.00. The total amount due for the 20 auctioneering credits is $5,880.00, plus the cost of books. Books will be sold through the instructor on the first day of class.
Students will be allowed to enroll for the entire 20-credit program only. Students will not be permitted to enroll for single courses in this program. Credit will not be awarded for previous auctioneering experience.

Course Descriptions:

AUCT. 101 - AUCTION TALK - AUDIENCE COMMUNICATIONS

Communication and interpersonal skills with large and small groups and control of the auction crowd will be taught. The Auction Chant will be taught.

AUCT. 102 - PROCUREMENT OF AUCTION BUSINESS & APPRAISAL OF PERSONAL PROPERTY

Principles and techniques used to market services of auctioneering and appraising personal property are taught. Theories and fundamentals necessary to evaluate goods for auction and appraisal of personal property for estate and liquidation purposes are taught as well.

AUCT. 103 - AUCTION METHOD OF EVALUATING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE by PUBLIC AUCTION

This course covers the fundamentals of selling real estate and the steps necessary to evaluate, market, and sell real estate at by the auction method.

AUCT. 104 - THE AUCTION LAW

This course covers the Pennsylvania Auctioneers' Licensing and Trading Assistants Act, as well as other laws applicable to the auction profession. Contract law and Uniform Commercial Code articles concerning the sale of goods relating to the auction profession.

AUCT. 105 - AUCTION PREPARATION

This course covers management, marketing, organizing, and planning all aspects for conducting an auction.

AUCT. 106 - THE AUCTION

This course covers specialty types of auction. Speakers from the state and local governments will be invited to speak regarding state requirements in selling guns, liquor, animals, taxidermy/stuffed mounts. Sales tax laws and fumigation laws are also discussed. Also conducting the auction from Opening talk to settlement is taught.

AUCT. 202 - PRACTICAL FIELD EXPERIENCE IN AUCTIONEERING

This course is a practical experience course requiring the student to document at least 60 hours on the job training and experience with Pennsylvania licensed auctioneers. The supervising instructor will approve the auctioneers and keep a weekly account of the hours. Seminars may be held to discuss observations and concerns of the student during a working experience. A student auction may be held under advisement and input from students.