The National Park College began in 2003 and is now one of the largest community colleges around, having assisted people in need across the country. After Hurricane Katrina, for instance, the National Park College helped students who were displaced from their home colleges by either enrolling them at the college or finding other programs in the country that would do the same.
Recently, the National Park College made national news yet again when it announced the creation of a new Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program.
In an average American home, roughly 20% to 30% of the air that travels throughout the home via air duct systems is lost due to holes, leaks, and poorly connected ducts. Thanks to the National Park College and its emphasis on teaching students the importance of proper HVAC services, millions of Americans will soon benefit from these skilled workers likely entering the trades in the near future.
“We really need employees that can work during the day and go to school at night,” said Jason Vincent, who is currently serving as the chair of the National Park Program HVAC Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. “The apprenticeship model is beneficial to newer employees because they are getting not only classroom knowledge, but hands-on experience in the field that reinforces what they are learning.”
According to Global News Wire, the college established the program after feedback from HVAC contractors who expressed the need for new (and younger) skilled employees.
“We have been discussing the best format for this program with our local contractors for several months now, and everyone agreed that an apprenticeship model is the best way to ensure HVAC students receive the best possible training to prepare them for work in the field,” added Kelli Albrecht, VP for Workforce and Strategic Initiatives.
