Current Program

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics prepares students to work with air conditioning and refrigeration systems. An A.A. degree for those students attending primarily in the evening division is structured to prepare students for a career in repair, installation, or sales. Students enrolling in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics program do so for personal enrichment, to obtain a degree or a certificate, or for retraining or upgrading job skills. Changes in technology, the increasing use of technology and changes in the environment have all prompted changes in the program in recent years.

Degrees and Certificates - An Associate in Science degree and a Certificate of Completion are offered in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics, as well as an Associate in Arts degree and a Certificate of Completion in Construction Technologies - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics.

Personnel - At this time, four full-time faculty and five part-time faculty are employed in the program.

Teaching Methodologies - Teaching methods at this time include lecture/lab and lecture/demonstration, as well as lecture, lab and some self-paced instruction.

Technology - No courses are offered online at this time.

Equipment - The program needs new refrigeration and air conditioning equipment to replace the current inventory of inadequate and outdated equipment.

Facilities - The condition of the facilities is average; the program needs more lab space.

Future Program

In the future, the program will need to adapt to the following changing conditions: curriculum development, technology, teaching methods, student academic preparation, recruitment strategies and different facilities. In the mid term (five years) and long term (ten years), enrollment in the program is expected to increase at the same rate as overall college enrollment growth, as the demand for highly skilled technicians is at an all-time high. See Program Projections.

Degrees and Certificates - No plans exist to change degrees or certificates offered.

Personnel - See Projected Faculty and Staff Needs.

Teaching Methodologies - In the future the use of PowerPoint presentations and other computer software will affect teaching methods used in the classroom and in the lab.

Technology - Some technologies such as interactive video and Internet based learning may have a significant affect on how courses are offered; however, most courses require some amount of hands-on training that do not lend themselves to online courses.

Equipment - As pieces of equipment are used up in lab projects, they need to be replaced over the next five years. Also needed are reach-in coolers, display cases and commercial package units.

Facilities - The program needs a tool room where students can access the necessary tools to perform lab projects. Lab space should be doubled to accommodate additional equipment needed for the program, and a dedicated computer room to house computer workstations is necessary. Larger classrooms with permanently mounted presentation screens and digital projectors are needed.

Staff Development - Faculty need to attend factory schools such as Trane, Carrier and York.

Special Recommendation

The department should explore new methods of instruction and alternative delivery systems to provide more opportunities for students to access the program, including offering classes at more convenient times for students.