COOL SCHOOL S
WHAT’S COO L AT ? SCHOO L Work exploration at technical colleges and universities in southeastern Wisconsin
BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR LEADERSHIP IN
CONSTRUCTION
Construction Management Technology program, Waukesha County Technical College When they are ready to start building their careers, graduates of the new Construction Management Technology associate degree program at Waukesha County Technical College will begin with a solid foundation for success. WCTC went directly to employers for advice as they were developing the program, which was first offered in 2020. Insiders at Hunzinger Construction Co., Kelly Con-
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struction and Design, Paul Davis, Payne and Dolan, and Tim O’Brien Homes helped design a curriculum that would match their expectations for new hires. The result, noted Michael Shiels, dean of applied technologies at WCTC, is a twoyear program that offers students “a base level of knowledge so they can walk into a job and have a basic understanding of almost everything that can be faced on a daily basis.” The broad-based studies include managing people, accounting, computer-aided drafting (CAD) programs used in industry, hands-on knowledge of building materials, construction methods, safety, scheduling, estimating, negotiating contracts and more. Students will receive their 10-hour OSHA certification as part of the course. The program “gets students ready to go into really every field of construction management,” said Shiels, from road building to residential and commercial construction. “Our instructors have great industry experience and that really helps students prepare for the job.” Job prospects in construction management are excellent, he noted, with starting wages in the low $50,000s. As employees advance, average salaries in southeastern Wisconsin range from $57,000 to $95,000 per year. WCTC tuition for the two-year program is $9,800. Most careers in construction management start with an internship, and WCTC will help students secure one, Shiels noted. After they have experience in the basics, construction managers can specialize in areas like estimating or scheduling. Shiels pointed out that many companies offer either tuition reimbursement or their own training programs to help managers move up the ladder. Students who are interested in this career should be detail-oriented, logical thinkers as well as good communicators. They will not just be learning in the classroom, which includes working with the latest construction software, but experiencing hands-on learning in the field as well. “They are out with people, interacting,” said Shiels. “They have to know all aspects of construction. As schedules and budgets get tighter and tighter, this role becomes very important.”
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