Pictured left to right: Leigh Wallace, Vice President of Student Services; Ross Cox, Vice President of Administrative Services; Jim Glass, Provost; James Crisp; Dr. Craig Wentworth, SRTC President; Michael Clements, HVACR Instructor; Bruce Nelson, Abigail Carter, Dean for the School of Industrial Technology; Dr. Debbie Goodman, Vice President of Institution Effectiveness; Dr. Annie McElroy, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Last week the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program at Southern Regional Technical College’s (SRTC) Thomasville Campus and Moultrie Industrial Drive Campus received programmatic accreditation from HVAC Excellence.
Programmatic accreditation is an independent third party review of an educational program. The process confirms the respective programs are meeting or exceeding established standards of excellence for HVACR educational programs. These standards are designed to assure the future workforce receives the quality of training required to provide the skills necessary for success in the HVACR industry.
Accreditation standards require a thorough examination of: mission of program, administrative responsibilities, finances and funds, student services, instruction design and program elements, physical facilities, equipment and tools, cooperative training, and instructor qualifications.
“The programmatic accreditation from HVAC is further confirmation that Southern Regional Technical College is providing quality training to our future workers. We pride ourselves on maintaining a level of excellence that is second to none as it relates to our curriculum, practical application, facilities, and learning tools,” commented Abigail Carter, Dean for the School of Industrial Technology.
The Thomasville Campus received re-accreditation for a term of six years while the Moultrie Industrial Drive location received initial accreditation. SRTC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate Degrees, Diplomas, and Technical Certificates of Credit. Programmatic accreditation provides an additional level of academic excellence and compliance.
“With this approval for accreditation of both campuses students will now be able to assign this designation to their resume as it carries a higher level of distinction with certain unions and other associations. This program compliance ensures a student receives top level instruction and materials to become skilled workers in the HVAC field,” stated SRTC HVAC/R Program Chair Mike Clements.
According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median national wage for all HVAC mechanics and installers in May of 2015 was $45,110. From 2014 – 2024 the BLS projects a 14% increase in employment for those seeking entry into the field, which equates to roughly 39,600 jobs nation-wide. This increase is much higher than the 7% national average growth rate for all jobs.
SRTC offers over 155 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get you quickly into your desired career, and 27 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in Ashburn, Cairo, Camilla, Moultrie, Thomasville, Tifton, and Sylvester for the convenience of our students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to www.southernregional.edu or call (888) 205-3449.
Spring Semester begins January 9th, 2017. Don’t wait, enroll today!