HVAC Donation to Give CSM Students Hands-On Experience When All Trade Classes Resume This Fall

The Mote Management Company, of La Plata, recently donated a roof-top heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit that will give College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students an opportunity to get hands-on training and experience with large commercial HVAC equipment.

CSM HVAC Instructor Robert “Scott” Shannon facilitated the donation which will go to the HVAC lab at CSM’s Center for Trades and Energy Training (CTET) at the Regional Hughesville Campus. In Shannon’s role as the President of Metal Crafters Sheet Metal in Waldorf, he was aware of the unit’s availability and worked with Mote Management to secure the equipment for CSM students.

“This donation supports our commitment to provide the best hands-on trades training in the region,” said CSM Director I, Master Trainer, Accredited Training Sponsor Representative Michael Langton. “Our HVAC Lab is equipped with mostly residential HVAC heating and cooling equipment; although, our curriculum does include commercial HVAC systems. This is a commercial, package/roof top, heat pump/air conditioning unit with economizer and controls. CSM currently uses a roof top trainer unit. This donation will help our students better understand commercial HVAC equipment, systems, controls and applications.”

“It’s a new unit in that it was installed in a new building but never used.” Shannon said. “It will be a great addition for our students to train on during classes.”

All trades classes are offered this fall as CSM continues to play a significant role in shaping the local economy by educating and training the future trade workforce.

“This fall we will offer hands-on training sessions in-person while practicing physical distancing, wearing face masks, and sanitizing equipment, tools and supplies,” said CSM Associate VP Continuing Education & Workforce Development Ellen Flowers-Fields. “When hands-on, in-person training may not be accessible, we plan to also offer remote proctors who are trained to evaluate students while they perform their hands-on training requirements on the job or as scheduled.”

CTET provides residents direct access to specialized training in career fields that have remained essential throughout the global pandemic and continue to have substantial growth potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following projections are made for job growth between 2012 and 2022:

• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration (HVAC):Employment of HVAC mechanics and installers is projected to grow 21 percent, faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities for HVAC technicians are expected to be excellent, particularly for those who have completed training at an accredited technical school or through an apprenticeship.
• Electrical: Employment of electricians is projected to grow 20 percent. With greater efficiency and reliability of newer manufacturing plants, demand for electricians in manufacturing should increase as more electricians are needed to install and maintain systems.
• Construction: Overall employment of construction laborers and helpers is projected to grow 25 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations.
• Plumbing: Demand for plumbers is projected to grow 21 percent. Job opportunities are expected to be good, as some employers continue to report difficulty finding qualified workers.

For more information on how CSM is taking precautions to safeguard our students, please consult our webpage: https://ready.csmd.edu/covid-19/.

Learn more about CSM’s Regional Hughesville Campus online https://www.csmd.edu/about/locations/regional-campus/.