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Friday, March 1, 2013

Home Inspection Program at Sault College Gets A Name Change

In January 2011, Mike Holmes endorsed Ontario's Sault College when they created the province's first two-year home inspection course. Two years later, the course is receiving a name change to better reflect the curriculum.


From SaultStar.com:

College makes changes to home inspection program backed by Mike Holmes


By Michael Purvis

Mike Holmes speaks with media at Sault College in January 2011.
Mike Holmes speaks with media at Sault College in January 2011.
 

Sault College is renovating a construction program name just two years after the course of study's creation was endorsed by Canada's Most Trusted Contractor.
A two-year home inspection program, backed by Mike Holmes in early 2011, will be retitled residential construction technician – home inspection in September 2014.
The title change won't nail students who want to work as home inspectors, says the college's dean of natural environment, technology and skilled trades.
“They have all the training they need to work as home inspectors,” Colin Kirkwood told The Sault Star after the college's board of governors approved the name change on Thursday.
“If graduates aren't working as home inspectors it is because they're not trained.”
The board approved the new monicker following a short presentation by Kirkwood. The curriculum, about 90% of which relates to residential construction with courses such as residential wiring, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, remains the same. There are three specific home inspection courses.
“Most of the learning is relating to residential construction,” said Kirkwood.
“It was designed that way so that students would be better home inspectors. If they know how to build houses, they know how to inspect houses.”
That approach to instruction, he added, “came from Mike Holmes.”
An advisory committee that oversees the program “discussed and recommended” the name change, a rationale given to the board says.
“It's quite normal for programs to evolve and as we get the experience with what the job market looks like, and what student expectations are like and what employers have as far as employment goes, then we just adjust accordingly,” said Kirkwood.
Sault College launched Ontario's first two-year home inspection diploma program with great fanfare in January 2011.
The college's gymnasium was packed for an appearance by Holmes, creator and host of HGTV's Holmes on Homes.
In a video from that event posted alongside the program's description on the college's website, Holmes says the program “makes total sense to me” and will teach students “what they need to know.”
The program's first graduating class is this spring. About 20 students have signed up for the program in each of the two years it has run.
“We are requesting a change to the program name to better reflect the curriculum in the program,” reads a name change rationale given to the governors.
“Students are primarily receiving residential construction training with some speciality courses relating to home inspection. The revised title is a better reflection of the curriculum focus.”
Amanda Heath, a spokesperson for Mike Holmes Inspections, said the organization is part of the program advisory committee and supports the name change.
“Since the two areas are so closely related the name change makes sense,” said Health. “This change hopes to broaden the appeal of the program and to increase enrolment. In order to be a good home inspector you need to understand construction and this will provide students with a solid foundation in both disciplines.”
Heath said MHI is happy with the Sault College program and the feedback they've received from students. MHI has brought on two co-op students from the college program.
b.kelly@sunmedia.ca

1 comment:


  1. home inspection course
    becomes viral by the involvement of certain colleges.We wish you all the success in the future.

    ReplyDelete