Vatterott

[rice killer 302]

Dose any one here go to vatterott

[billva]

if i knew what the hell it was i'd probably show up , just to have a beer or two.

so, what is vatterot?

[billva]

i hope its not similar to crotch rot.

[rice killer 302]

it is a tec colledge ther is 17 of them i go to one in O'Fallon MO.

[stlhvac]

I go to the one in Sunset Hills. I just started a few months ago. We are learning the basics now, but I am kind wondering how good their job placement really is? So how do you like it so far?

[rice killer 302]

I go to the new O'Fallon campus and i realy like it,I'am in phase 2,I work at True Manufacturing during the day as maintaince,then go to school at night. So how are they treting you out in Sunset Hills?
What kind of tools did they give you? Ours suck,thats my only complaint.

[mattm]

I thought it was a redneck word.

"Vatterott if'n you don't put it in the fridge soon."

[rice killer 302]

I love the meters,and some of the tools are fine for students,but there are a lot of kids in my class have already broken and damaged many of there tools,partly because they don't know how to use them,I whis we were given the same tools, but from Craftsmen, or snap on,something that is a good durable name brand with life time waranties. But that is not even what bothers me,It is the fact that we were all told we HAD to take the tools provided by Vatterott,If I knew we could buy our own then me and half my class would have,this is not your fault,it is the admissions reps,for missleading us in many things.
Sorry if I ofended you,I am just VERY picky about my tools and equipment,and don't like being given false info when it is my money.
By the way, great job on the St.Ann HVAC lab.

[billva]

why cant a student spend as much as he can afford? why is there a limit?

is this a pc school where everyone is equal despite their abilities and finances?

[hvacprodmgr]

Hey lmtd,
Understand that Unico is doing their training schools there at Vattarot.
We just had Ted Brown do a program for our employees last night (12/8)

[rice killer 302]

Thanks for your reply on this subject. Jerry and Ray realy did not have anything to do with it,I never even got to meet them until well after I started in August,you said we should have seen the tools when we saw the campus,because I did not.I understand that you had to balance the tools,but if I bought my own tools I would have bought everything on the list then some,I was willing to spend alot more on the tools if I picked them but they never made me aware of any other options.But it dont realy matter anymore,it was just a topic that came up in class and had a few guys were pretty upset,I just thought I would see if anyone online had the same problem.
Thanks for sending the unit,I have already been looking into it,that type of stuff is why I'm geting into the feild,I want to do all comertial and industrial work,I realy don't have any interest in residential.
Our lab is coming along nice, Jeremy just bought 5 new units on Monday,It would be nice if the electrical class wasn't taking up the other side of the lab. Thanks again.

[rice killer 302]

I understand why ther is a minimum. Is johnstone one of your suppliers,I know they give our campus a little discount,as long as we are going to school.

[Gary Warren Jr]

Hi LMTD and all.

I graduated many many yr ago from Springfield campus. To answer one question , the placement is fantabulous,probably the best part of the program .

[Gary Warren Jr]

Originally posted by lmtd
We buy from every suppliar in town. United and Johnstone get a majority of our business on small parts as they are close.

Real close to your campus Lmtd , right around the corner. Guess johnstone off Bohles blvd in Fenton is close to the south side campus I went to .btw , you have any students lookin for a job around Ft Wood /Lebanon area?

[Gary Warren Jr]

Originally posted by lmtd
At the Rockroad location.

Might check with JD down at the Fenton campus as the guys down southwest really don't travel up here.

Tell JD I said Hi, its gary warren, he knows me well.How long has he been teachin now???

[Wild Leg]

As an instructor in a community college, I certainly appreciate the effort put into a standardized tool list.
Especially standardizing the meters used in class.
It is purely frustrating for the student & tedious for the instructor for a class of 15 to have 15 different VOMs, in varying condition.
With guidance from my advisory committee, we adopted a do-it-all meter for classroom instruction.
It is not the absolute best, for all situations, but certainly not the worst. It does allow everybody to be on the same page at the same time.
It's also frustrating to see people try to work with junky tools.
Most have some idea of what a good tool consists of, but some are clueless.
A standardized set of tools for lab use is at least as important as a standardized textbook for classroom use.
I applaud Vatterot for adopting a common tool list. I also appreciate the fact that it is made available to the student, in one package.
However, it is up to the student to determine whether or not the tools (or books) MUST be purchased from a particular supplier, school or otherwise.
It is also up to the student to verify that the chosen tool actually meets the standards of the one on the approved list. Just a tiny difference in a meter means it may or may not perform the required function.
We too, have a very specific recommended tool list. We don't sell or provide hand tools for student use. The students are required to furnish their own tools, new or used. They also must keep up with them. I am amazed at the difficulty some have at going shopping for tools. Quite a few think the only place to buy tools are department stores. My local supply houses have a copy of the list.
The students are encouraged to "meet the counterman" for tools as part of the learning process.
More work for me, but the student benefits from the experience.

[cordell]

Sticking with the original post. I used to attend Vatterott. I graduated the Associates Program in 1998. While attending school I worked in the trade, recommended for all students. Sometimes it isn't that easy though. To get that job I had to prove myself. BTW it's best to have the basic knowledge ie. ref fund, and elect fund before seeking work in the trade. The job didn't pay that well, $6/hr .. remember this is back in '96 - '97 time frame, but think about it I got paid to learn, and did I learn. It helps so much to learn it in class, see it in lab, then work on it in the field. I used the tools that Vatterott issued back then, no comparison to the tools offered now. We had some real generic meters, not the fluke meters in the tool kits these days. I still have most of the tools to this day, still in good condition, it all depends on how you use them. The right tool for the job, don't use a pair of snips to cut a bolt, ect. Those blue wire strippers, have a few small bolt/screw cutters for that purpose. If someone misuses a tool, most likely it's not going to last. Ok back to what Vatterott has done for me. With this said first, they are NOT required to place you, they just help you by giving you a list of available jobs, and will help you with a resume'. As I said before I worked in the field while attending school, after graduation Vatterott placement dept. called me in for two interviews, one was with a factory working as building maintenance, the other was Commercial Refrigeration. I went on both interviews, I selected Commercial Refrigeration, and worked in supermarkets about 4 yrs, worked in a sheet metal union for 2yrs then I made my way back to Vatterott, I'm proud to say I taught Jeremy a couple of phases. I Instructed for about 10 mo's when the job I am currently at was offered to me. I am very satisfied working in a computer data center, maintaining HVAC equipment as well as power management equipment. Ok maybe all I could have said was, if you apply yourself you can go as far as your own ability.

Cordell

[Gary Warren Jr]

Love rereading old threads. My old nic was Wannamakeice. Got offline for awhile and now back. Any of the oldies on this thread still here?

[hvacker]

What do you have against "Rice"?

[Gary Warren Jr]

you are definetly one of the oldies here , haha. I was working in St Louis back in 04