College to Host Audio Visual Program Open House

August 21 Event to Showcase LSC-Montgomery’s Audio Visual Systems Program

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- The latest technology from the audio visual industry will be on display during a special open house for Lone Star College-Montgomery’s newest degree program—audio visual systems specialist (AVSS). The public is invited to experience all the ‘bells and whistles’ of this hot career track on Thursday, August 21, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will take place in the college’s new audio visual lab/classroom, located in TEM 112 (behind building D on the east end of the campus). Refreshments will be served.

“We want to showcase all that our program has to offer,” said Chase Waites, professor of theatre at LSC-Montgomery. “It’s really a hands-on, ‘touch-and-see’ kind of event.”

Added Waites: “Not only is the audio visual industry a growing field to consider, it’s also a lot of fun. The career opportunities for graduates of our program will be outstanding. AV systems specialists are in high demand not only in the Houston area, but throughout the region and U.S.”

According to the America’s Career InfoNet Occupation Report, there will be an 18 percent increase in the AV field over the next seven years, and median hourly salary for this field in the state of Texas is $13.51, with some AV technicians earning up to $24.48 in entry-level positions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the AV industry to expand by 18,000 jobs nationwide through 2016.

The college’s AVSS program, the first such academic program in the state of Texas, recently received a $430,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant helps the program develop an educational pathway for AVSS students to earn jobs with such organizations as conference centers, hotels, sports arenas, churches and other venues requiring integrated, high technology communication needs. It also provided state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, salaries for faculty and support staff, as well as funds to conduct workshops and training to encourage similar program start-ups at other institutions.

The college’s AVSS program was officially approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in December, and the first classes in the program begin this fall. The program provides three levels of training, including a Level I certificate (two semesters); Level II certificate (three semesters); and the AAS degree, which is a two-year program. As part of the Level II and AAS programs, students will participate in internships with local businesses and organizations.

Several local businesses in the audio visual industry enthusiastically support the program by serving on its advisory committee, and many played a key role by writing letters of support for the NSF grant.

Christopher Dunn, vice president of StageLight, Inc., a large lighting system design and sales company with offices in Houston, New Orleans, Dallas and Nashville, said his company is excited about providing guidance for the LSC-Montgomery’s AVSS program, which he said “is in the right place at the right time.”

“Over the last 15 years our company has grown from a small operation in a house to a large corporation operating out of four different cities,” said Dunn. “The technology of our industry continues to grow but what hasn’t grown along with it is qualified personnel. The need in our industry is substantial. There is a great shortfall of qualified technicians in this industry and we're pleased to be part of a program that will equip people to meet that need.”

Students will work with companies like StageLight, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel, Anadarko, Audio Visual Professional Group, Hairel Enterprises, and Fellowship of The Woodlands during the internship portion of the program.

Additionally, the Conroe Independent School District has partnered with the LSC-Montgomery program, providing a pipeline of interested students via the college’s dual credit program in which high school students earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.

"We are excited that this program will afford our high school students an opportunity to earn their first level certificate before they even graduate," said Chris Hines, associate superintendent of Conroe ISD. "We have several students that are truly interested in this exciting and technical field and they have already begun to enroll.”

In addition to providing an associate of applied science (AAS) degree, the program will also offer customized business training for existing workers in the AV industry.

To find out more about the college’s AVSS program, visit the Web site at the link below.

The fall 2008 semester begins on Monday, August 25, and the last day to register is Saturday, August 23. In-person registration and advising is available Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Beginning Monday, August 11, the hours will be extended to Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

LSC-Montgomery is located between Conroe and The Woodlands, at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit the College's Web site.

Lone Star College System consists of five colleges, including CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball, six centers and Lone Star College-University Center. With 49,250 students, it is the largest college system in the Houston area, and third largest community college district in Texas. For more information, visit the College System's Web site.