Online HVAC Training Boosts Latino Success At Lenoir College

Key Successes

• ​Launched the nation’s first comprehensive North American Technician Excellence (NATE) HVAC certification hybrid program in Spanish
• ​Reached 99% program graduation rate
• ​Achieved a 100% NATE Core certification and state EPA certification attainment rate among graduated students
• ​Reduced student enrollment fees to 3% of comparative state-funded programs
• ​Supported 100% of graduates in joining the trades workforce, with 75-80% becoming entrepreneurs

Training Goals

• ​Scale and expand trades education access for the Spanish-speaking Latino community with online and supplemental hands-on training options
• ​Provide Spanish-language credentialing prep for NATE, EPA, and other employability certifications in service, installation, and electrical
• ​Modernize and enhance the community’s learning experiences with safe, cutting-edge technology like 3D training simulations and VR
• ​Offer flexible and affordable learning formats for those working full-time and/or who have familial responsibilities

“When students show up to local employers with three community college certificates, NATE, the State EPA certification, and a portfolio of about 34 Interplay HVAC certificates, the employer says to us, ‘We need more of these people.’ So we stay well-connected and funnel our students into the workforce when they meet employers’ qualifications.”

— Carlos Cotto, Director of Centro Educativo Latino and LCC’s Associate Dean of Workforce Development and Latino Programs

About Centro Educativo Latino

The Centro Educativo Latino (CEL) workforce development program at Lenoir Community College (LCC) is a pivotal resource for the Spanish-speaking community, offering leading technical education in Spanish. With a mission to bridge equity gaps and empower Hispanic individuals with rewarding, well-paying careers, the program provides Spanish-language courses in fields like HVAC, welding, and auto-mechanics. This initiative underscores Lenoir Community College’s dedication to inclusivity, creating educational and economic opportunities for diverse student populations.

A College Within a College

Since its inception in 2010, Centro Educativo Latino at LCC has become a cornerstone for the Hispanic community, offering over 70 Spanish-language workforce development courses in high-demand trades.

Carlos Cotto, the Director of Centro Educativo Latino and LCC’s Associate Dean of Workforce Development and Latino Programs, began his mission to help more Latinos feel welcomed at the college, turning access into more economic opportunities in the state.

“It’s sad to say, but the Latino population has never had access to a good, higher education. They were offered English as a second language or Windows 98, and they never came on campus—they’d be taught at churches, libraries, or a little trailer on the side of the college campus. My intention with CEL was to create a college within a college welcoming the underserved population in their native language.”

A Model for Equitable Education

Centro Educativo Latino extends its commitment beyond linguistic accessibility by providing an affordable and flexible hybrid model of HVAC instruction, blending Interplay’s online coursework and in-person labs.

The program addresses the needs of parents and individuals working full-time by offering four hands-on weekend classes, serving approximately 120 students. A sliding-scale pricing model, supported by generous scholarships like Train the East, ensures that education remains financially accessible, reducing student fees to about 3% of comparative state-funded programs. The in-demand program reaches 29 surrounding counties, with its popularity drawing students who travel from out-of-state to participate in the always-full program. Cotto breaks down the costs:

“Our HVAC program adds up to about 240 hours of online and in-person instruction and costs about 3% of the cost of similar state-funded programs. We provide all tools and materials at no extra cost, plus access to college, state, and NATE certifications, ensuring comprehensive value for our students.”

Along with its catalog of online courses, the VR training provided by Interplay is also available to students through the school’s VR headsets, which they cast onto screens during weekend labs, creating a field-like virtual reality environment that enhances safety, engagement and hands-on learning experiences. This dynamic approach puts theory into practice, addressing language barriers and caters to diverse learning styles.

88% of students willingly drive up to 2.5 hours for this program, underlining the dedication and enthusiasm for this valuable educational opportunity. Additionally, the hybrid instructional model has acted as supplemental support for program instructors, enabling their main HVAC instructor, Henry Perez, to expand his mentorship and impact to more students. This past year, Perez received an award for one of HVAC Excellence’s top 25 Most Influential Instructors for 2024.

Summary

• ​Centro Educativo Latino at LCC offers the first NATE HVAC associate certification program in Spanish
• ​CEL provides an affordable and flexible hybrid model of HVAC instruction, blending Interplay’s online courses and in-person instruction
• ​Interplay’s trades training integrates video courses, hands-on 3D simulations, and VR training in Spanish, enhancing program engagement, safety, and accessibility to non-English speakers
• ​Employing a sliding-scale pricing model and scholarships for financial accessibility, the popular in-person weekend classes cater to students from 29 counties and attract out-of-staters working full-time

A One-of-a-Kind HVAC Program

Centro Educativo Latino offers the nation’s first NATE HVAC certification program in Spanish. The integration of Interplay’s trades training has elevated the impact of its 200+ hour associate degree program, incorporating online courses and the latest in 3D simulation and VR training technology, presented entirely in Spanish. This marks a tide change in technical education, bridging the gap between theory and practice with innovative opportunities once typically reserved for English-led trade programs.

“This partnership with Interplay Learning is a significant step forward in providing our students with courses that reinforce NATE and offer the best cutting-edge 3D simulation and VR training in their native language. This comprehensive education ensures they are industry-certified and just as prepared for the demands of rewarding careers and entrepreneurship as their Anglo peers.”

Program Outcomes

Steady Enrollment

The popular program has continued to attract students from surrounding counties and out of state, with enrollment holding steady at 30 students per class. With four classes per weekend, the program averages about 120 students per semester.

Industry-Certified Graduates

99% of students graduate from the program, with 100% obtaining their NATE Core Certification and state EPA, along with various Interplay certifications across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, enhancing their employability and career prospects.

Strategic Partnerships and Entrepreneurship

The program has established strong relationships with local employers who value the skills and certifications of Centro Educativo Latino graduates, leading to 100% of grads going on to work in the trades. Cotto is particularly proud to share the story of two young women who recently completed the program with honors and are now enjoying a better socioeconomic standard of living, boasting newly attained annual salaries starting at $62,000 a year. Cotto also weaves in classes in entrepreneurship to prepare students to start their own trade businesses, which 75-80% of students completing the program have gone on to do.

Summary

The collaboration between LCC and Interplay Learning empowers more individuals within the Latino community to access and excel in trades education. Not only is the program opening doors to new economic opportunities, but it’s fostering a more skilled and diverse workforce.