industry news New Era for Construction Programs at Pittsburg State The Construction programs at Pittsburg State University will begin the Fall semester by becoming their own department. Starting July 1, a new Department of Construction Management and Construction Engineering Technologies (CMCET) was formed at PSU to house the current 4 year degrees in Construction Management and Construction Engineering Technology. In addition, the new department will house a safety minor and a 2+2 Bachelor of Applied Science with an emphasis in Construction. The new contact info for the Department of CMCET is: Phone: 620.235.6555/ Fax: 620.235.6558 / website – www.pittstate/department/construction.edu The new department was formed in response to the significant growth in majors and industry support for the programs. The construction programs have more than doubled in the last 10 years (Fall 2008 majors = 350). The department anKauffman Students Reviewing Soil Sieve Analysis ticipates that the Fall Process. 2009 enrollment will represent the largest enrollment ever in the CMCET programs including an increase in freshman and transfer students. This increase in enrollment is also supported by an NSF-STEM grant providing full ride scholarships for five (5) Construction Engineering Technology majors. The new department of CMCET plans to add new construction emphasis areas and to convert the Safety minor into a four year degree. The department will continue to offer an online Masters degree in Engineering Technology with a Construction Management emphasis. As a part of the move to a new department the construction faculty developed a strategic plan to incorporate green and sustainable construction practices into the curriculum. This strategic initiative was highlighted with five (5) of the current CMCET faculty (Bill Strenth, Seth O’Brien, Shannon Nicklaus, Justin Honey, James Otter) successfully completing their LEED AP examination in the month of June. The next step in the strategic plan is to incorporate the Green Associate accreditation as part of the current required CMCET 691 Professional Construction CerKauffman Scholars Student Working on Revit tification Seminar Model. course.
In an effort to further enhance the new CMCET department, a new 40 seat computer based estimating and construction management computer classroom is being completed. The room is funded primarily by student technology fees. This new classroom will facilitate the incorporation of 4D/5D BIM and 3D site modeling into the curriculum. The CMCET department recently added a new 250,000# universal testing machine, a hydraulic soil compactor (thanks to KCA), two (2) new robotic total stations, three (3) GPS rovers and a base station, TEKLA software, MC2 estimating software (to complement our current SAGE Timberline software and OnCenter software), a plumbing/mechanical connections display (supplied by MCA and Midwest Mechanical), and a cement storage silo (donated by Tank Connections). As part of the departmental K-12 strategic initiative, the CMCET department cosponsored a group of 29 Kauffman Scholar students for a 3 day workshop in July at PSU including a focused section in construction. This is the third summer that CMCET has participated with the Kauffman Scholars program. The workshop included activities associated with basic structures, REVIT 3D modeling, estimating/ scheduling exercises, material testing and each student was given an opportunity to operate a total station and a Bobcat mini-excavator. Also during the month of July the department will host two (2) five day Construct My Future workshops for local kids 8-12 years old with a similar format. The faculty in the CMCET department also participated with Crossland Construction, Columbus, Kansas and Five-Mile Camp to offer the nationally acclaimed “If I Had a Hammer” program to 5th and 6th grades in an effort to enhance math comprehension and retention though construction activities. On May 7, the CMCET department joint ventured with Crossland Construction to host the annual Crossland Rodeo for 80+ regional high school students. And finally, this year marks a record accomplishment for the CMCET department students. As part of the Senior Projects capstone course and the student AGC chapter, the department will have completed over $1 million in community projects in Southeast Kansas over the last 11 years. Also, the 13th PSU Construction Company Day will be held on September 23, 2009 with 60+ construction companies expected to attend. Contact Bill Strenth (620.235.4361 or bstrenth@ pittstate.edu ) to get signed up.
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Kauffman Student on Bobcat Mini-Excavator.
The new CMCET department would like to thank AGC of Kansas and all the members for their continuing support of our program and their assistance in helping us become a new department.