December 30, 2008
For Immediate Release

RCCC's Air Conditioning-Heating Program
Starts Training of 30-Plus State Agencies

           CONCORD, N.C. — The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration (AHR) Program and the Office of Customized Training at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College are providing training to North Carolina state agencies to help lower-income citizens save energy and reduce their energy expenses.

           The first class of 16 state agency representatives will undergo the training at RCCC Jan. 5 through 9.

           The N.C. Division of Health and Human Services' Office of Economic Opportunity is working with RCCC to train more than 30 state agencies to provide services of the state's Weatherization Assistance Program. The program assists lower-income citizens by conducting home energy audits and diagnostic testing to determine levels of carbon monoxide and identify and recommend health, safety and heating-air conditioning efficiency improvements. Heating and air conditioning systems which are inoperable, highly inefficient or pose a health threat are repaired or replaced by the program.

           Faculty members from the AHR Program at RCCC will provide two, week-long training sessions; the first occurring Jan. 5-9. The sessions will focus on the mechanics and design of heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) systems. The training will take place at RCCC's AHR facilities, located at the college's Cabarrus Business & Technology Center in Concord.

           "Everyone in the AHR Program is excited and proud to work with the Division of Health and Human Services and the Weatherization Assistance Program," said Joe Christie, AHR program head at RCCC. "It speaks well of our program and graduates and RCCC's Office of Customized Training to be selected to provide this training. It's also rewarding to know we will we help agencies across the state provide assistance to families in need."

           RCCC offers three AHR options - a certificate program, a one-year diploma program and a new two-year associate-degree program.

           The certificate program prepares students for entry-level jobs with HVAC/R contractors. Students completing the diploma program are prepared for positions as residential and light commercial installation and service technicians. The associate-degree program provides added training needed to install and maintain commercial and industrial systems.

           Students in RCCC's AHR program also have the added benefit of learning and practicing in a newly constructed, 1,200-square-foot facility that offers many of the situations and challenges encountered installing and servicing residential systems. The new facility resembles a two-story house, complete with an attic and crawl space.

           "Our new laboratory and storage facility gives students an opportunity to gain practical experience in assessing a building's heating and cooling needs, determining heating/cooling zones, and installing duct work," Christie said. "This kind of hands-on training ensures our students are ready for work as soon as they graduate. That's what local contractors have a high demand for; well trained technicians who are ready to work now."

           Over the last 18 months, approximately 30 graduates of the AHR programs at RCCC have taken the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification exam, and each of them passed it. The 100-percent passing rate is significantly higher than the rate for local technicians who have taken the national exam without the benefit of enrolling first in an AHR program at RCCC or another community college.

           For more information about RCCC's AHR programs, contact Christie at 704-216-3908, instructor Jon Crockett at 704-216-3090, or instructor Fred Loving at 704-216-3912.

           RCCC's Continuing Education Department offers EPA technician certification training in CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) recovery. For more information, call 704-216-3514.

           For more information about the services and programs of the Office of Customized Training, call 704-216-3668.

           Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. RCCC offers approximately 40 programs of study in business, health and human services and engineering technologies at multiple campus locations. RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an enrollment of approximately 20,000 adult students. RCCC programs include an associate degree in arts and sciences, an associate degree in applied science, and diploma and certificate programs focusing on workforce training, continuing education and basic skills education.

           In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus, under construction in Kannapolis, N.C.

           For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.