Students have been asking for it for years, and now Ball State University is meeting the demand by offering a construction management option through its industrial technology program.

The option will be available starting in the fall of 2004, said Jack Wescott, chairman of the Department of Industry and Technology.

"If there are students interested in management of the construction process as a career this may be an option for them," Wescott said.

Graduates will be prepared for work as project managers, estimators, health and safety specialists, site supervisors and in other jobs.

"Our people are the ones on the job site trying to expedite the completion of that project on time and at cost," said John Warner, an assistant professor in the department.

Construction professionals in East Central Indiana have encouraged Ball State to offer the option, and current and potential students have requested such a program.

"For the last several years, people would call regularly and ask if we have anything in the area of construction management," said Wescott.

Partnerships within the university and with industry professionals will be an important part of the instruction.

"I can't emphasize enough that students are going to get a wide variety of experiences from the Colleges of Architecture and Planning, Business, and Applied Sciences and Technology," said Wescott.

Ball State faculty members have reviewed similar programs offered by other state universities in Indiana and crafted an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes additional exposure to business administration and architectural-related concepts.

"It is important that the architect and construction manager work cooperatively on a project," said Mike Mezo, an assistant professor in the department. "They need to function hand-in-hand, and if we foster that in the college environment hopefully it will carry on into the real world."

Wescott also plans to serve industry professionals. "We'd like to provide contractors in East Central Indiana with training workshops and certificate programs such as estimating, safety, project management and CAD (computer aided design)," he said.

It is hoped that construction professionals will also partner with the university to provide internships for Ball State students.

The department's goal is to have 50 students in the program within two years.

(Note to Editors: For more information about this story contact Wescott at (765) 285-5642 or jwescott@bsu.edu.)

Peter Osborne 1/14/04