Much work has been accomplished in the personal classes curriculum and in the overall curriculum of the department, throughout my time as a full-time instructor here at EDCC. Much of this has to do with educational and industry tech updates. An increased focus on the commercial construction structure and methodologies has been added as well. The professional ties gained to both via real-world experience allowed for both the understanding of and the need for and the implementation of these curriculum changes.
The CM program changing to be more commercial construction based has been accomplished. While both commercial and residential construction has their peculiarities, there is a truism often said in the industry: ‘a commercial constructor can do residential easily while a residential constructor faces many challenges in the commercial world.’ EDCC Construction Management students should be able to easily transit both worlds. The differences may be broken down into the basics of organization regarding contracts, design documents and financial responsibilities and speed of the construction schedule. Both are much more structured and intense in the commercial construction world. Materials and methods of construction do play into the differences but not nearly as much on a management level.
S.S. Saucerman makes this case in an article printed in a trade publication regarding stepping up into the commercial world: “To those not yet indoctrinated, commercial construction (CC) can appear daunting. Suddenly there are architects, engineers, liquidated damages, bonding, and a cast of wealthy business clients with short attention spans and scary-sounding law firms on speed-dial. There are new regulations, strict protocols, and new competition. “I wouldn’t know where to begin,” you tell yourself. “.
Mr. Saucerman then outlines the complicated path it took for him to navigate this transition. I, too, navigated this transition after graduation and came away knowing that our students should not have to do that winding path. All classes taught are based on the ‘Commercial Construction’ model with various asides simply mentioning the residential differences. As the industry changes from the commercial side, residential follows.
EDCC’s CM program must change with the times. Changes in the construction industry in the information/ computer age have been plentiful. It is important that EDCC’s Construction Management program keep up with and sometimes anticipate those changes. Our CM program was on the cutting edge of construction in many ways when I had graduated. This needs to be ongoing, and a continuously updating, process. For example, the VDC (Virtual Design Construction) model has been fairly recently accepted by the industry. Implementing Canvas as a mandatory student support tool has immersed students further into the tech world.
Canvas implementation and expansion has been a large part of the curriculum updates in the EDCC CM program as well. All classes taught by myself are fully populated on Canvas. Any materials offered in class, like PowerPoints, articles, and all assignments are on Canvas. All work is turned in via Canvas as a rule. Additionally, ongoing assistance to part-time instructors happens on an ongoing basis. Any possible Canvas usage issues due to our unique student body, many are computer illiterate or challenged, are largely dispelled by walking the assistance needed students down to the computer labs after the first class. A student leaves that session ready to use Canvas and move forward in the program.
VDC is the way that we build buildings in our modern world. VDC buildings are built better, faster and with less last-minute changes than ever before. The CM program has had individual classes featuring pieces and parts of the VDC concept in the past and was always an early adopter. Additional VDC programs and software have been integrated into the CM program in key ways. In the future, all classes at EDCC in the CM program will be VDC based in keeping with the industry as the industry fully completes its transition.
Micro-certifications are considered to be critical to today’s workforce. And, are considered to be an important offering by CM programs as well. Additional Micro certification pathways have been, and are being integrated into the EDCC CM program. Additional applicable certifications will be added when applicable and available.
A ‘60 hours of Management level Construction Safety +Training Certificate’ has been added. Non-Occupational Safety and Health (they take the two safety classes as well) students may apply for this certificate by successfully completing both the CONST 250 Safety and Accident Prevention and CONST 251 Safety Plan Administration. This is an effective micr-cert. For a construction Professional. Additionally, both classes have an increased ‘management’ level focus.
The LEED/ Green Building certification has been added. The class (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) has been revamped to fully provide the students with the pathways and support materials to be ready for the LEED Green Associates and the LEED AP BD+C certification tests. Historically, the class was not taught with the certification in mind.
The CDT (Construction Document Technician) certification is being implemented into the program in multiple classes in a stepped fashion as well. These tests and their resulting certifications make our graduates’ more employable and open doors that may not be available to them without the certifications. These are especially valuable to non-traditional CM students (female,ESL & non-construction experienced)