Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine November 2021 b

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Skills Development ’ s legislative directive to perform sector reviews in the colleges. HVACR was one of those reviews. A panel of four industry persons assisted OSD in visiting all 16 of the State ’ s HVACR college programs. In a positive move toward improvement and cooperation, OSD and Energy Efficiency Arkansas funded a two day school with Jim Bergmann teaching digital commissioning and diagnosis with measureQuick. Attending schools received over $3,300 in diagnostic equipment for their programs.

North Ark ’s Jeff Smith To Lead Instructor ’s Council

The Arkansas HVACR Association and 10 Instructors from the 16 HVACR college programs founded the Instructor ’ s Council as an arm of the Association. It ’ s goal is to connect instructors and their programs to each other. While each remains independent, instructors can share information, curriculum, lab exercises, and ideas for recruitment and retention. Historically, programs have operated in their own silos without the benefit of a colleague to connect to. Since the organizational meeting, instructors are already sharing ideas. Jeff Smith of North ARK volunteered to serve as the Council ’ s first Chair and Robert Dixon as Secretary. The others volunteered to help in any necessary capacity. The Council will meet as necessary when the members feel it beneficial. Initially, Zoom and email will serve as the primary points of contact and sharing information. The formation of the Council was an outgrowth of the Arkansas Occupational

Arkansas HVACR Association Instructor ’s Coun cil Founding Members

Ken Beeler, Arkansas Tech, Ozark

Mark Constant, ASU Marked Tree

Brad Cooper, ASU Searcy

Robert Dixon, UA PTC

Danny Gumm, SEARK

Leo Rateliff, UA Hope/Texarkana

Jeremy Shuck, National Park

Jeff Smith, North ARK

Roland Walters, SAU Tech

Kevin Wright, NWACC