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Johnson Controls Donates Lab Equipment to Ferris’ HVACR Program

BIG RAPIDS – Johnson Controls recently donated 10 temperature control lab workstations to the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program at Ferris State University.

“[Johnson Controls] realizes the benefit of practical hands-on experience for students,” said Eric Quilitzsch, associate professor in the HVACR program. “Their relationship with us has shown their commitment to education.”

The work stations will permit students to practice programming temperature control systems, Quilitzsch said. This will allow them to be current with the technology used in the temperature control industry; an advantage over other job seekers.

“The temperature control industry hires about 20 percent of our graduates, which is a fair amount. It is because of the hands-on experience from these types of donations that our students are sought out by companies,” he added.

Even with a shrinking economy translating into shrinking job offers, Johnson Controls maintains their relationship with HVACR students by spending valuable time talking with them about the industry and offering professional advice.

“We have maintained a relationship of constant communication with Johnson Controls for the past seven or eight years,” Quilitzsch said. “It’s almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy: we send our graduates to Johnson Controls, and then they, in turn, remember us.”

Faculty and students alike are anticipating the completion of the specialized set-up and expect the workstations to be ready for use by the end of the spring semester.

For more information or to make a gift, please contact the Ferris Foundation at (231) 591-2365 or www.ferris.edu/foundation. Details about establishing scholarships or endowments may be obtained from the Advancement Office at (231) 591-3825.