Siemens and Air-Ex Team Deliver Building Controls Training to Mt. San Antonio College Students

Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut Calif. has just graduated its first HVAC/Mechanical Controls Class using building controls Training Modules and products contributed by Siemens Building Technologies Division. The program was developed for the school by Rick Creed of Air-Ex Air Conditioning in Pomona, a Siemens Value-Added Partner (VAP).

The program which falls under the Industrial and Welding Departments at the college was funded under a grant by the California Department of Labor. Currently the course is offered as a government program only to those either underemployed or unemployed. According to Creed however, the college is planning on financing the program itself in mid-2012 and intends to offer it to all students.

Teaching at the school for more than 10 years, Creed said “Mt. San Antonio College has always had a strong mechanical and refrigeration program but we always felt there was a gap in not having a controls program. Siemens was the logical choice because of Air-Ex’s relationship as a Siemens Value Added Partner.” According to Creed, the school had limited funding through an original $2 million grant of which more than half was allocated for infrastructure and administrative cost. “Siemens helped us financially overcome the cost issues,” said Creed.

Siemens also contributes in an advisory capacity as well. Dennis King, Southwest Regional Sales Manager for Siemens VAP Talon brand controls was invited to represent Siemens on the Mt. San Antonio College’s Mechanical and Controls Advisory Board. “It is a great way to give back to the community, develop skill sets we need from potential employees and work toward the future of the industry,” said King.

The program course work is based on Siemens BACnet Training Modules as well as controls and other Siemens Talon product line devices. Classes are held in a dedicated building that offers five zones to simulate different buildings and building HVAC control issues. The facility enables students not only to learn programming but also installation techniques and controls troubleshooting in a real-world environment.

The entire program is a two year process. Once enrolled, students go through five phases of training—not only at Mt. San Antonio but also at two other colleges: Chaffey College and Rio Hondo College in Rancho Cucamonga and Pico Rivera, Calif. respectively. During the course, students are treated as if they were employed full time, exposed to a real-world working environment which includes an interview process to enter the program. Upon graduation the students receive an Associate’s Degree in Mechanical and Industrial Arts.

For the last graduating class the college hosted a career day where perspective employers were invited to meet the students. “All the students were placed with positions including two hired by the local Siemens branch and another picked up by a Siemens VAP,” said Creed. “Because Siemens knows first-hand current technology trends and is helping shape the future of the industry, Siemens input has been invaluable, helping Mt. San Antonio College equip its students for their own future careers in building automation and control.”