4 minute read
Guiding the Future of Civil Engineering: an Instructor's Commitment to Student Success
from Lake Land Magazine
by Kelly Allee
My overall goal is for everyone to find a job and discover a career path that they can be successful in.
After graduating from Lake Land’s Civil Engineering Technology program in 2008, Josh Fulk quickly leveraged his education and experience to access exciting employment opportunities. Whether it was completing jobs on the Chicago O’Hare Runway, the Buckley U.S. Air Force Base or the El Paso border, Fulk utilized the skills and knowledge he gained from Lake Land to excel in a high-demand career.
No matter where Fulk was working, however, he discovered that the most rewarding experiences came from working with interns and passing on his knowledge to the next generation of engineers. Through this realization, he was inspired to return to the classroom as a teacher.
“Spending time with our youth is so important, whether that’s out there in the field or from a desk as a teacher,” Fulk said. “If we don’t, the lessons we learned will never get passed on, and the same mistakes will always be made. It’s up to us to share what we can do for the sake of the future of construction.”
Now the instructor and coordinator of Lake Land’s Civil Engineering Technology program, Fulk seeks to create opportunities for his students to excel in their desired fields and obtain the same kind of career opportunities he once received as a Lake Land graduate.
“My overall goal is for everyone to find a job and discover a career path that they can be successful in,” he said.
For Fulk, achieving this goal means helping students find their niche within the program and ensuring they all conclude their time at Lake Land equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
“You have to be able to relate to each student, meet them where they are at and help them progress no matter the level they start at,” he explained. “Everybody is going to step into the classroom on the first day at a bit of a different level than anyone else. The key is to bring everyone up together.”
As his students navigate college courses, internship experiences and employment opportunities, Fulk stresses that the Lake Land connection is one that stands the test of time and is always a source of support and guidance.
“Lake Land is always here, and I am always here for my students,” he said. “If students ever need to come back to take any classes, get any recertifications or just get help finding a good job fit, we’re here to help them.”
To learn more about how you can enroll, visit the Lake Land College Civil Engineering Technology program at lakelandcollege.edu/guided-pathways/ civil-engineering-technology.
STUDENTS EXPERIENCE BENEFITS OF HYFLEX TECHNOLOGY CLASSROOMS
HyFlex classroom technology allows students to benefit from the flexibility of virtual classes without missing out on the quality of in-person instruction.
Equipped with ceiling microphones and motion-tracking cameras that follow the speaker, HyFlex classrooms allow instructors to teach in person as usual while offering a dynamic virtual option for any remote learners.
“I had a student who suffered a leg injury and couldn’t be here in person,” said Civil Engineering Technology Instructor and Coordinator Josh Fulk. “With the HyFlex technology, she was able to take my classes at home and complete the program on time. Without it, the injury might have delayed her from completing the program for a year.”
Lake Land is one of the first colleges in the country to adopt the innovative HyFlex technology on such a large scale. This Laker Advantage provides employees and students the opportunity to connect remotely in 30 rooms on campus and at the Kluthe Center.
