Dear Prospective Student:
Thank you for you inquiry about the HART curriculum.
The following contains many of the most frequently asked questions
about ACC and the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration program.
If your questions are not all answered here, please call us. Numbers
are listed at the end of this document.
New Student
Admissions
Austin Community College maintains an "open door" policy
that admits applicants who have earned a high school diploma or general
education development (GED) certificate and others under certain conditions.
College entrance tests and high school rank are not criteria for acceptance.
Ability to benefit: Students who are beyond the traditional age of
high school enrollment (over 18) and can demonstrate skill proficiencies
that support an ability to benefit from college-level instruction. Note:
"Ability to benefit" applicants must submit a waiver obtained
from the Student Services Office on any ACC campus. A campus dean or
student services reviews requests for "Ability to benefit"
with an instructional department chair and makes a recommendation to
the director of admissions and records for final approval.
Early College Start: Students who attend a public, private, charter,
or home school within the ACC service area and have successfully completed
their sophomore year and can demonstrate they are academically prepared
for college- level instruction.
Prospective student who do not meet any of the categories above should
contact the director of admissions and records to discuss criteria for
exceptional admissions standards that may be applicable.
Admission Procedure
ACC applicants must complete the following steps to gain admission
to the college and register for classes:
- Complete an ACC application for admission
- Submit your high school transcripts; GED certificate, if applicable;
and all college transcripts.
- Determine your TSI (Texas Success Initiative) status at any campus
advising center and schedule an assessment if required. All ACC students,
unless exempt or TSI waived, must take the THEA test or the THEA alternative
test before enrolling at ACC. Results of these tests will not be a
condition of admission but will be used for placement purposes.
- Attend New Student Orientation
- Meet with an advisor to select classes
- Register when eligible and pay. Your deadline listed in the current
course schedule.
Note: the admissions process varies for Early College Start Students
and international students. Also, admission to ACC does not guarantee
admission to the Health Sciences and other select workforce programs
that maintain admissions requirements, including criminal background
checks.
Academic Fresh Start: Texas residents applying to ACC may seek admission
based on the "academic fresh start" statue. ACC applicants
may request that the college disregard academic course credits or grades
earned 10 or more years before the start of the semester for which they
are seeking to enroll. Applicants must inform the Admissions and Records
Office in writing if they wish to elect the "academic fresh start"
option. "Academic fresh start" applicants may not receive
any semester credit hours for courses taken 10 or more years before
enrollment.
Texas Success Initiative Requirements
Texas law has established the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), which
requires that students take the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA)
test or an approved alternative before enrolling in college. College
applicants may forgo TSI assessment if they meet any of the waivers
or exemptions listed here.
TSI waiver - For students enrolled in a Level 1 certificate declared
major.
Note: Students enrolling in a TSI waived certificate program may be
required to be assessed if enrolling in courses with skill prerequisites.
TSI exemptions - For students who:
- Earned an associate or bachelor degree
- Received qualifying scores on the ACT or SAT (within five years),TAAS,
or TAKS (within three years)
- Previously attended any institution and were determined to have
met the readiness standards by that institution
- Transferred to ACC with college credit from out of state or private
Texas college that satisfy the core curriculum in the ACC college
catalog and passed with a grade of C or better
- Were honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty,
Texas National Guard, or military reserves on or after Aug. 1, 1990
- Currently serve on active duty as members of the U.S. armed forces
and have been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment
ACC Policies Concerning TSI Requirements
Students who take and fail an approved test for TSI before coming
to ACC must take the COMPASS test. (See an advisor.)
Students whose test scores indicate that they need two or more developmental
courses must meet with an ACC counselor before they register for their
first term in order to develop a TSI plan and an educational and a support
service plan.
TSI students must complete their TSI requirements to graduate from any
associate degree program or any certificate program having at least
43 or more semester hours.
TSI students who do not pass all parts of the state approved test must
enroll and participate in Developmental Education courses in their area(s)
of academic weakness and follow ACC's Developmental Plan until they
satisfy their TSI requirements.
TSI students who do not comply with the state Developmental Education
requirements and ACC's Developmental Plan will be withdrawn from all
college level courses with a grade of W for that semester.
Campus Advising Centers have additional information regarding TSI requirements
and ACC's Developmental Plan.
Question: What kind of degree do you offer ?
The student can earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) or
Certificate. The certificate has 9 college credit courses while the
degree has 18 college credit courses. The student will first enroll
for the certificate, then the degree. Courses do have prerequisites
– Review course descriptions carefully.
Question: How long are the semesters ?
The Spring and Fall semesters are 16 weeks in length and the Summer
semester is 11 weeks in length. The Fall semester begins late August
and ends mid December. The Spring classes begin about mid January and
run till mid May. Summer classes begin about May and end late August.
Question: What days to the classes meet ?
Classes for most courses meet two days each week. (Some on Mondays and
Wednesdays, others on Tuesdays and Thursdays). Weekend college alternatives
available.
Question: What are the hours of the classes ?
Each HART course is 80 hours each semester. Schedules are developed
each semester and are subject to change depending on demand. Check the
ACC semester schedule.
Question: How do I register for courses at Austin
Community College?
Thirty to forty-five days before the start of a new semester, the college
publishes schedules for the following semester. All Austin ISD resident
and other school districts in the ACC tax jurisdiction are eligible
for a reduced tuition rate. Schedules are available at each campus or
online at http://www.austincc.edu.
The ACC website includes telephone numbers, admission and registration
information, assessment schedules, registration schedules, the telephone
registration procedure, tuition and fees, payment information, financial
aid, student services and campus locations.
For someone who has not attended ACC previously, the first step is
to call or go by the nearest ACC Advising office. Advising offices are
located on all major campuses. See Helpful Telephone Numbers at the
end of this document.
After the Advising office obtains certain information, they should
direct you to the office of the Department Chair of the program that
you wish to enter.
Question: How much do the Air Conditioning courses
cost?
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice by the ACC Board
of Trustees and are based on your place of residence as follows:
In District Out-of District Out-of-state
$212.00 $464.00 $812.00
The fees are computed from "Semester Credit Hours". For In-District
students, the HART Certificate (32 Semester Credit Hours) $1,700, and
the HART Associate of Applied Science Degree (64 Semester Credit Hours)
$3,400.00.
Emergency Medical Insurance: All students in the Industrial Technical
Programs are assessed additional fees for Emergency Medical Insurance.
The fee is not included in the tuition. Presently, the costs is $3.50
each semester. Many of the HART courses require and additional lab fee.
Question: How much do the books and course material
costs?
For a student completing the Certificate the total course materials
purchased from the bookstore $200.00.
.
Question: Are all of the courses 4 semester credit
hours?
No. Look at the courses as they are listed in the College catalogue
or in this document. The second number in the course numbering system
indicates the number of credit hours. For example, the Air Conditioning
course HART-1403 is 4 credit hours. English (ENGL 1301) is 3 credit
hours. Tuition is based on the number of hours.
(The acronym HART denotes Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Technology.
Question: How long does it take to complete the
Certificate/AAS diploma?
The Certificate diploma requires 9 courses to be completed. If you complete
3 courses each semester and you attend the summer semester, you should
be completed in one year. Note that we schedule classes fall, spring
and summer.
The AAS degree requires 18 courses. Again, if you complete 3 courses
each semester, you can be completed after 6 semesters. That's 2 years,
but each person will tailor their school schedule, and if you are employed,
the number of courses you attend may be reduced.
This question is best answered by asking the
student some questions.
Question: After starting the program, must I
attend every semester?
No. You do not have to register and attend every semester. But you must
complete your chosen program within 5 years or complete the program
under a new college catalogue that is not over 5 years old.
College Catalogue: College Catalogues are available through the Bookstore
or online. The Catalogue provides information about courses, degrees
and College policies.
Question: Can I complete the AAS degree and start
my own business immediately ?
Probably not. The State of Texas requires a State Contractors License
to operate an air conditioning business. Some member of the company
must have the license. Questions about the state license should be directed
to the Department of Licensing and Regulation. The number is at the
end of this document. To be eligible to test for the license, the applicant
must have at least three (3) years of wage earning experience in the
HVAC field.
Question: What is the difference between the
State Contractors License and the E.P.A. Certification?
In 1992, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed regulations
requiring all HVAC technicians to become certified to handle refrigerants,
associated parts and equipment. Several industry organizations provide
seminars and administer examinations, which if successfully completed
qualify the technician for certification.
Question: Will courses from another College transfer
to ACC?
Yes, If the other college is accredited the course will transfer in
place of any ACC course of which it is equivalent. Courses from any
Texas college with the same HART designation are equivalent to our courses
with the same designation.
Question: Must I have my GED to enter college
credit courses?
Yes, or obtain a waiver from the Director of Student Services. See helpful
telephone numbers at the end of this document.
Question: What are the class sizes?
The maximum is twelve (12) students, minimum of eight (8)..
Question: Can I take more than one Air Conditioning,
Heating, and Refrigeration course in one semester?
Yes.
Question: How do l know what courses to take
first?
The courses are listed in this document and the college catalogue in
the sequence which it is recommended they be taken.
Question: Several courses are listed for each
semester in both this document and the college catalogue. For example,
the Associate Degree lists five courses for semester one. Do I have
to take five courses that first semester?
No, you may take as few of the courses as you desire. Some students
also work, and they take only one or two courses each semester.
Question: Do I have to take a course if I already
know the material being taught?
No, not if you truly know the material. If you have taken an accredited
course equivalent to the required course, the completed course may be
substituted for the required course.
Otherwise you can challenge the required course. At the present time
it costs $40.00 to challenge a HART course. Challenge forms are available
at the admissions office.
Question: What are the job opportunities in this
field?
Typical jobs include:
Heating and air conditioning service (residential and commercial)
Refrigeration service (residential and commercial)
Maintenance (apartment complexes, management companies, hotels, industrial
plants, state and federal buildings, food chains, etc.)
Installation (residential, commercial and industrial)
Duct design and fabrication
System sizing and design (residential and commercial)
Helpful Telephone Numbers
HART Dept
TASP Office
223-6090
223-6091
Call Admissions
Bookstore
223-6020
223-7504
385-5727
Student Services
Advisors New students with less than 15 credit
hours
512-223-6201
512-223-6202
Financial Aid
223-6022
223-7549
Veterans Affairs
223-7557
223-7555
Department of Licensing and Regulation (State Office) (800) 803-9202
(512) 463-6599
Railroad Commission, Liquid Petroleum Gas (512) 463-7167
Thank you for your inquiry about the Austin Community College Heating,
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology curriculum.
Thank you !!!
