College creates degree for industry

Pool & Spa News, August 6, 2004 by Bob Dumas

A fully accredited Florida college has become the first such institution to offer a two-year Associate of Science degree for those entering the pool and spa industry.

Keiser College, with nine campuses statewide, is partnering with Horner Equipment of Florida Inc., the Fort Lauderdale-based manufacturer/distributor, to present the program--which will be offered exclusively online. Those completing the program will receive a degree in "aquatic engineering."

Bill Kent, Horner president/owner, said the pool and spa industry is sorely in need of such educational programs.

"One of [the industry's] underlying weaknesses has been its lack of respect as a profession," he said. "There are no formal or accredited programs for the industry. This is my attempt to acknowledge that we are a profession."

The curriculum will include classes in water chemistry, filtration systems and basic pool operation and design. Most of the material has been gleaned from Horner's own in-house educational program.

"We have a program here called the Horner Institute of Technology Training," Kent said. "It's for our employees and customers and is accredited for the Continuing Education program of the state of Florida. It supplies our customers with what they need to maintain [their contractors' licenses]."

Some of those classes will be incorporated into the online educational format. But Kent added that Horner has enough material to create a bachelor's degree program and perhaps even a master's. Officials want to see how well the associate degree track works out first, though. "We want to walk before we run," Kent noted.

He has been working closely with the Keiser College president, Dr. Art Keiser, to put the program together.

"We are kind of ear experiment for him," Kent said. "He could do this with a lot of different industries--I just happen to have the resources to put it together."

Keiser College serves more than 6,400 students with courses that are Web-based as well as on campus. For Kent, the Web-based curriculum was the way to go because it would be more accessible to pool and spa professionals.

"Because of the nature of this industry, a university without walls makes sense," he said.

Kent added that online courses can be more challenging to the student. "Everything is traceable. You can't hide," he said. "You have to do all the work and if you expect to pass, you have to participate."

The courses are not vocational in nature, he pointed out. "This is not a trade school," Kent explained. "We are teaching people how to think. It doesn't require someone to replace a pump seal to know how a pump works. We don't teach them how to be a plumber, but how to analyze a plumbing system."

The program officially starts Aug. 30. Those interested can learn more at Keiser College's Web site, www.keisercollege.edu.