The Board of Regents approved a program expansion that will equip technology students with a stronger foundation for elevating their professional skills and downsizing their competitors in the residential and commercial construction industries.

The College of Technology announced last week that it will be expanding the construction management program into a department, which will continue to be led by professor Neil Eldin, who was appointed program chairman in 2007.

"Students will now enjoy a higher level of exposure to employers that seek graduates from full-fledged (construction management) departments, not just CM programs," Eldin said. "This differentiation means more internship opportunities, more job openings and higher salaries."

Although it already offers students bachelor's and master's degrees, the board's decision to establish an official department reflects the University's commitment to the curriculum and builds up the program's credibility in the field, Eldin said in a press release.

The next big steps will be to increase research output, establish a reputation for students with impeccable computer proficiency and to become industry employers' first choice for estimators.

"I want our curriculum to be the signature estimating program nationwide. Qualified estimators are a precious commodity in the construction industry," Eldin said. "To develop such skills, we need the entire curriculum to support this goal (and) not just a couple of good estimating courses."

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