Rate My Professor Barry Valentine

Barry Valentine serves as Assistant Professor and full-time faculty in the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration (ACR) program at Palomar College's Escondido Education Center. He is the designated contact for the program, located in room ESC-504 with phone extension 8335. Valentine chairs the Palomar College ACR Technology Advisory Committee, guiding curriculum development to meet industry standards. The ACR program, which launched in the Fall 2019 semester under his involvement, quickly drew over 120 students across four classes covering mechanical, electrical, heating, and air conditioning systems. Housed in a new classroom and state-of-the-art lab at the Escondido Education Center, the program emphasizes hands-on learning of theory, principles, and techniques essential for the air conditioning and refrigeration industry. Students gain skills in system components and functions, safety procedures, tools, equipment use, testing, evaluation, troubleshooting, and repairs. The curriculum supports retraining and skill upgrading for maintenance technicians, including preparation for EPA certification.

The program offers a workforce-ready certificate achievable in as little as one semester through four foundational classes, a Certificate of Achievement, and an Associate of Science degree requiring 27-31 units plus general education. Core courses taught by Valentine include ACR 101: Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration: Mechanical (3 units), ACR 102: Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration: Electrical (3 units), ACR 103: Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration: Heating (3 units), ACR 105: Refrigerant Management and Recovery (1 unit), ACR 110: Advanced Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration (3 units), and ACR 112: HVAC Controls and Automation (3 units). Supporting courses encompass IT 108/WELD 108: Technical Mathematics (3 units), IT 115: Industrial Safety (2 units), CE 100: Cooperative Education (3-4 units), and WELD 160: Metal Layout for Fabrication (3 units). Through these offerings, Valentine contributes to preparing students for careers in the HVAC/R field at 1951 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92027.