From the Department Head
Mostafa Khattab
This year we celebrate the result of new and growing partnerships involving our department, our alumni, our industry, our student organizations, professional organizations, the Colorado State University administration, and other units at Colorado State.
In fall 2009, we commemorate the completed renovation of the old Industrial Sciences Building into the new Preconstruction Center. In addition to providing our teachers and students with a state-of-the-art learning facility, the Preconstruction Center demonstrates the enthusiasm and commitment of our partners to Colorado State’s CM department.
CSU’s support during the last two years was significant. The administration approved salary increases for tenure-track faculty, six new faculty positions, a new faculty start-up package that supports research and innovations in construction education, and a cap on enrollment. This support and the industry’s contribution of a superior learning environment are the cornerstones that will elevate our CM program from being a successful program to a significant one that sets the standards for construction education nationwide. Becoming a national leader will lead to greater success, empowering the CM department to attract and retain outstanding faculty and contribute to leading innovations in construction.
For our faculty and staff, the department-industry partnership enhances the quality of education our students receive and the likelihood for their career success. Many students will become familiar with their future employers even before they graduate. Every area within the new Preconstruction Center provides our students with examples demonstrating the engagement of our industry in our construction education program. Our hope is that our students will come back years from now to follow the lead of our construction partners – providing not only financial support but also engaging in the classroom and participating on our advisory board.
While we have much to celebrate, there is still much to be done. These are lean financial times, and this year’s challenges are to secure funding to meet the fundraising goal for the Heavy Construction Management Endowed Chair, attract more sponsored research projects that will enable our faculty and students to engage in solving problems facing the industry, and to develop a residential construction program that will become a model for other such programs nationwide.
