Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus is proud to announce that its Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ACR) program has been granted accreditation by HVAC Excellence.
A nonprofit organization aimed at improving the technical competency of the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industries, HVAC Excellence accredited the program after an intensive onsite review of the campus by a team of representatives, which followed the approval an Arkansas Tech-Ozark self-study.
The ACR program was analyzed against a set educational and industry standards in curriculum, faculty, student facilities, placement services, financial aid and advisory committee involvement, training facilities, equipment and safety.
Program Chair Ken Beeler said Arkansas Tech-Ozark, by seeking this accreditation, has demonstrated that the campus is leading the way in preparing the next generation of industry service technicians.
According to HVAC Excellence, one benefit of its evaluation and accreditation process, which Arkansas Tech-Ozark faculty were a part of, is employers are assured that program graduates are properly trained to meet industry standards.
Also, the process creates goals for self-improvement, and accreditation validates that a program has the resources and administrative support to accomplish these goals.
Arkansas Tech-Ozark offers a technical certificate in air-conditioning and refrigeration, as well as an Associate of Applied Science in general technology with an option in air-conditioning and refrigeration, in a fully equipped shop complex.
Students are required to take the Industry Competency Exam, a test in residential air-conditioning and heating before graduation and the EPA Certification test.
In related news, through a partnership with the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, this fall Arkansas Tech-Ozark will offer ACR classes at Chaffee Crossing for dislocated workers. Since 2007, the campus has served more than 400 dislocated workers as a result of various layoffs throughout western Arkansas – more than 200 of those coming directly from Whirlpool.
To learn more about the Arkansas Tech-Ozark and its nationally recognized program, call (479) 667-2117 or visit atu.edu/ozark.
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