Halco Hosts Fourth MEPS Graduation Announces Curriculum Change

On Friday, December 18, Halco hosted graduation for the fourth class of students at its MEPS Training Center. Each of the 14 graduates received a certificate of completion from Monroe Community College, which conducts the school. According to Halco President Hal Smith, this class brings the total number of graduates to 56 since the school began in January, 2008, and Smith notes that nearly all of the graduates have jobs in one of the construction trades.

Students learned mechanical (heating & air conditioning), electrical, plumbing and sprinkler skills during the 25 week, 1,000 hour course. They also learned the life skills that are necessary to secure and keep a job.

At the graduation ceremony, Course Director Thomas Fitch from MCC’s Office of Workforce Development announced that, beginning in January, 2010, the course will concentrate on energy efficiency, rather than MEPS. The students will be trained as energy efficiency specialists.

The course will use Building Performance Institute (BPI) and Comfort Institute curricula to prepare students to take the written and field exams to become certified building analysts and envelope professionals. This will qualify them to conduct Comprehensive Home Assessments to determine a home’s energy consumption patterns and where energy can be conserved.

Instructor Joe Hagen says that, in addition to core curriculum and interpersonal learning experiences, students will earn OSHA 10 hour safety certification, confined spaces training certification and asbestos awareness.

Like the MEPS course, the energy efficiency course is 1,000 hours and the cost is $4,900. Fitch notes that displaced or underemployed workers may qualify for regional workforce development.

A brochure is available detailing the course, which begins February 8. A copy can be obtained by calling MCC at (585) 262-1430 or e-mailing [email protected].