Students in the Engineering Technology Department at Fitchburg State University will be benefiting even more from the university’s long-standing collaboration with the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGCMA). The organization has provided dozens of internships and jobs to students and graduates, and now it has donated $100,000 to Fitchburg State to support curriculum and provide additional lab support. These investments will help students with licensure requirements to meet the industry’s workforce needs for construction managers and engineering technologists.
“This generous donation from AGCMA is an endorsement of Fitchburg State’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for successful careers in Massachusetts and beyond,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said. “We are grateful for AGCMA’s continued collaboration that has created unparalleled opportunities for our students.”
“AGC MA is very pleased to provide this donation to the Fitchburg State University Construction Management program,” said AGC MA President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Petrucelli. “The donation was made possible by a gift from several AGC construction firms and an industry advancement fund from the Greater Springfield region. These contactors wisely believed in the necessity of ensuring the continuation of quality construction management education programs for students at our public institutions of higher education. AGC MA is proud to support the excellent work of the construction management faculty at Fitchburg State University as well as the AGC MA Student Chapter on campus.”
"This gift from AGC supports Fitchburg State's vision to be the Commonwealth's top-ranked provider for an affordable Construction Management education," said Dean of Business and Technology Keith Williamson.
“AGC's commitment to quality Construction Management education is unparalleled, not only by this tremendous gift, but through internships, career fairs, and long-standing support on our Advisory Board for the Construction Management program,” added Engineering Technology Department Acting Chair, Keith Chenot.
The funds will be used to provide support to the university’s efforts in meeting the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) standards for continuous improvement and meeting the quality standards established by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) who serves as the lead society for the accreditation of construction management programs. According to the CMAA website, CMAA was accepted in 2013 as a member society of ABET, the preeminent organization accrediting undergraduate and graduate education programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology fields. As a result of AGC’s generosity, Fitchburg State will be pursuing ABET accreditation of its construction management programs.
By helping to ensure that undergraduate construction management education effectively prepares students to enter the profession, ABET, AGC, and CMAA significantly complements Fitchburg State’s mission and vision. The quality of tomorrow’s professional workforce is among the most frequently cited concerns in the construction management industry. Accrediting the university’s construction management programs assures AGC and other industry employers that entry-level job candidates have met the basic educational requirements of the profession. It also provides students specifically interested in construction management careers with a way to assess construction management programs they are considering.
Fitchburg State University’s Engineering Technology Department serves approximately 190 students annually. The department’s two degree programs in Engineering Technology and Applied Sciences and Technology includes concentrations in Construction Management, Architecture, Civil Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Energy Engineering Technology, and Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and Technology/Engineering Education. With an estimated 90% of graduates from these programs living and working within the region, this support will help to ensure a career-ready, highly skilled technological workforce in Central Massachusetts.