MILWAUKEE -- (April 25, 2006) -- City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) has been selected by Johnson Controls, Inc. to participate in CAREERCONNECT, a collaborative program dedicated to training the next generation of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians.
Through CAREERCONNECT, Johnson Controls will donate resources to partnering schools to enhance their learning environments, HVAC program curriculum and students' experience. The company's contributions include building a new laboratory at Kennedy-King College, one of CCC's seven colleges, instruction from industry experts, learning materials and faculty training. The market value of the donation is worth $86,000.
The overall goal of CAREERCONNECT is to increase the number of skilled graduates of HVAC programs entering the workforce. This is in response to a lagging number of HVAC program graduates entering the trade, an aging workforce, and an increasing demand to transform buildings into cost-effective and efficient facilities.
"To meet the needs of our growing service business in the central United States, we are taking action that goes beyond recruitment to develop the kind of talent we look for in professional service technicians. Students who graduate from the HVAC program at City Colleges of Chicago will be among the best candidates the industry has to offer in this region," said Renee Collins, vice president of central region - service, Johnson Controls.
To date, the agreement with City Colleges of Chicago is one of six partnerships that Johnson Controls has established with U.S. community colleges for inclusion into CAREERCONNECT. Colleges were evaluated based on school and program demographics including diversity statistics, curriculum and ability to modify it, geographic areas served, enrollments, placement statistics, strategies, and its relationship with Johnson Controls.
"In our experience, industry partnerships have proven an excellent way to ensure that our programs stay current and our graduates are well prepared. We are excited to partner with Johnson Controls and its CAREERCONNECT program to strengthen our HVAC service program and to continue producing the best graduates in this field," said Wayne D. Watson, Ph.D., chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago.
The CAREERCONNECT program exemplifies the company's dedication to the communities in which it serves. Through its local network of service professionals, Johnson Controls offers a team of experts and a range of service solutions designed to improve facility performance and keep customer facilities running right.
About City Colleges of Chicago
The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) is a community college district which includes: Daley College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harold Washington College, Wright College, Truman College and Kennedy-King College. WYCC-TV Channel 20, a public broadcast station is also part of the City Colleges of Chicago system. For more information about CCC call (773) C-O-L-L-E-G-E or visit www.ccc.edu.
About Johnson Controls, Inc.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 2004 totaled $26.6 billion. For more information on Johnson Controls, Inc., visit the company's Web site at www.johnsoncontrols.com.
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