The AGC and ABC are construction industry associations that represent general and specialty contractors, vendors, and suppliers. They represent every aspect of the construction industry, including: commercial, industrial, civil, public and private, large and small construction firms. These two organizations represent over 100,000 construction firms nationwide. Services these organizations provide to their members are plan rooms, lobbying in relation to contractor sensitive legislation, communication on construction issues, education, publications, and insurances.

Support from the national and state branches of these associations has been invaluable to Construction Engineering Technology at USM. The AIC is a construction professional association. The individual is a member of this organization as opposed to company membership for the AGC and ABC. The AIC, in the future, will test and register construction professionals the same way engineering professional associations do at present. The AIC publishes a journal and promotes research and development in the construction industry. Student Constructors is a very active student organization. Some of the activities this group participated in the past were:

• Attended AGC and ABC meetings in Jackson, Hattiesburg, and the Gulf Coast
• Participated in the Southeastern Region Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition
• Invited speakers to student meetings
• Involved in job placement
• Social functions (two parties during the year)
• Attended trade shows (World of Concrete)
• Construction projects (built a roof on a Habitat for Humanity house).