Associations, Technical Training

Washtenaw Community College Granted HVAC Excellence Accreditation

July 22, 2022

HVAC Excellence is pleased to announce that the HVACR training program at Washtenaw Community College, in Ann Arbor, Michigan has been granted accreditation.

In 1965, Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States, the Beatles hosted the first mega-concert in New York City, gasoline was 31 cents per gallon, and the first crewed Gemini flight, Gemini III orbited the earth three times, and a group of voters in Ann Arbor, Michigan voted to create Washtenaw Community College. Throughout the years enrollment has grown from 1,200 students, to 18,000, including more than 1,000 from 100 plus foreign countries. However, their mission remains the same, to make a positive difference in people’s lives through accessible and excellent educational programs and services.  To make certain their HVACR program met or exceeded national standards, they voluntarily chose to pursue programmatic accreditation of their HVACR program.

What is Programmatic Accreditation

Programmatic accreditation, is an independent, third-party review of an educational program, comparing it to established, industry-accepted standards. These standards are designed to ensure that the future workforce receives the quality training required for success in the HVACR industry.

To pursue this accreditation, they completed a detailed, comprehensive self-study, that demonstrated compliance with each of the required standards. The self-study was then sent to HVAC Excellence, where an accreditation review board thoroughly assessed the submission.

The accreditation review board, having approved the self-study, sent a team to conduct an intense, onsite review of the program. The onsite team was tasked with validating compliance with all the established standards and the accuracy of the self-study. The onsite team consists of two members, one who has served as an HVACR instructor, the other as a school administrator. They are seasoned professionals, that possess the knowledge, training, and experience to successfully evaluate every aspect of an HVACR program.

Upon a thorough review of all the documentation presented by the administration, faculty, and the onsite accreditation team, the HVAC Excellence accreditation review board unanimously decided to grant accreditation of the program.

Benefits of Programmatic Accreditation

As a nationally accredited institution, the following benefits can be realized. They can assure prospective students and employer partners that the program has met or exceeded national standards and has the resources and administrative support to professionally train the workforce. This helps enhance student placement and employer satisfaction, and may lead to advanced placement opportunities with major employers in the HVACR industry such as Johnson Controls, Carrier Commercial, SIEMENS, and EMCOR. In addition, through an articulation agreement, graduates of the program may qualify for advanced placement in the United Association’s Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program.

Learn More About the Program

Washtenaw Community College strives to be a leader in career and technical education. As a result of their efforts, they offer continuing education opportunities with several national or international skilled trade unions. They are; International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers (IW), Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA), and the Union of Plumbers, Pipefitters, Welders, HVACR Technicians, and Sprinklerfitters (UA).

Learn more about the accredited HVACR program at Washtenaw Community College, by visiting them online at wccnet.edu.