Scholarship applications are available online for the 2009 AGC Education and Research Foundation‘s undergraduate and graduate programs.  College sophomores and juniors enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time, four-or five-year ABET or ACCE-accredited construction or civil engineering program are eligible to apply.  High school seniors and college freshmen are not eligible.

Our renewable undergraduate scholarships are worth $2,500 per year for each year of undergraduate study, up to a maximum of $7,500.  Over 100 scholarships are awarded each year.

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Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and ITT-Technical Institute (Tempe) are AGC’s newest student chapters. Sponsored by AGC of Tennessee (Middle Tennessee Branch), MTSU completed its application and was awarded a charter in August of 2008.  In addition, ITT-Technical Institute (Tempe) was sponsored by AGC of Arizona and awarded a charter.

By supporting an AGC student chapter, AGC of America and AGC chapters are helping to prepare students for "real-world" experiences in addition to traditional academics.

For more information on how you can sponsor an AGC Student Chapter, please contact Carrie Harper at (703) 837-5316 or via email at harperc@agc.org.

Thousands of college students headed back to campus last month and as upper classman and freshmen settle into their collegiate roles, we are reminded of all the dreams young people have for their future. Even in a slow economy, the outlook for construction management graduates is strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in construction management and safety are projected to increase by 16 percent over the next decade, faster than average for any other occupation. Furthermore the Bureau also predicts,  

“In addition to job openings arising from employment growth, many additional openings should result annually from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force for other reasons. A substantial number of seasoned managers are also expected to retire over the next decade, likely resulting in a large number of openings.” 

Among the college students returning to their dorms, apartments and campuses are members of the over 125 AGC Student Chapters.  Membership in an AGC student chapter provides emerging professionals with an unique opportunity to learn about the industry while developing their skills. AGC’s Student Chapters enjoy a range of member benefits, networking opportunities and recognition programs. AGC Student Chapters are known for their hard work in their local communities and on campus.

More importantly, AGC Student Chapters provide the construction industry with its most valuable asset – the next generation workforce. Welcome back! We are looking forward to a great year and have many new things planned.

For more information, contact Carrie Harper at (703) 837-5316 or harperc@agc.org

AGC awarded the student chapter at Boise State University with first prize in the 2008 Outstanding AGC Student Chapter Contest. The Outstanding AGC Student Chapter Contest recognizes the top three student chapters for their remarkable work in the community. Boise State was rewarded for assisting Borah High School (Boise, ID) in its construction of a 4,032 sq. ft. greenhouse. This project will serve the community well into the future and stands as a positive reflection on the university and the image of our industry.

Taking second place, Arizona State University was recognized for its work on the Hunkapi Horse Program which constructed new horse and training facilities to benefit children with Autism. Awarded third prize, Southeast Community College (Milford Campus) was commended for their construction of a new sun porch for Sunrise County Manor, a retirement home with more than 85 residents. On another note, Iowa State University, whose continued work in Hurricane Katrina stricken areas of Mississippi, will be the first recipient of AGC’s commitment to service award. This is the first time any student chapter has received this special recognition.

AGC student chapters exist to encourage and support student interest in the professional construction industry. AGC in conjunction with local chapters supports over 125 student chapters nationwide. Congratulations to all the winners!

For more information, contact Carrie Harper at (703) 837-5316 or harperc@agc.org.

AGC is proud to endorse North Carolina State University’s Master of Construction Management (MCM) Degree.  We applaud their dedication and commitment to higher education in the construction industry.

This Master of Construction Management (MCM) Degree demonstrates NC State’s commitment to the industry to educate the next generation of construction professionals and to take construction’s higher education to new levels.  The program’s distance learning component also adds a new dynamic, making it more attractive to the best and brightest in the industry from around the country.

AGC is committed to educating and preparing individuals for success in the construction industry. These advanced degree construction management programs provides an educational experience preparing future leaders and managers in the construction industry with special emphasis place on distance learning and industry experienced faculty.

For more information, contact Carrie Harper at (703) 837-5316 or harperc@agc.org

At this point, we expect three presentations:

• An update on the National Center for Construction Education & Research’s recent and upcoming activities.
• A presentation on the Construction Career Investigation notebook, video and other resources assembled by the Alliance of Construction Professionals, which includes the AGC of N.W. Ohio.
•  presentation on a multi-pronged effort in Kansas that is connecting community colleges with curriculum from NCCER and AGC’s Supervisory Training Program as well as implementing NCCER curriculum in secondary and post-secondary schools statewide. Eventually a student will be able to start learning a construction trade in high school and work toward a degree or certificate and have completely aligned curriculum from start to finish and between all institutions.

We also expect the committee to discuss a best practices guide for construction career academies, AGC support of construction career days efforts, and the AGC accreditation program.

The meeting will be held in advance of the 2nd Annual Training & Development Conference, which is scheduled for October 14-16, at the same hotel. The reception, which is sponsored by the National Center for Construction Education and Research, will be a joint event with the conference attendees and members of the Supervisory Training Committee. The dinner will be just for Workforce Development Committee meeting attendees.

All AGC members in good standing and chapter staff are welcome to attend the committee meeting. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required.

For questions or to add an item on the agenda, please contact Liz Elvin at 703-837-5389; elvinl@agc.org.

During his 90-minute session, Mr. Tulgan will discuss the key techniques of flexibility and accountability, which must go hand-in-hand in order for a company to be successful.

During this session attendees will:

• Discover solutions to key Generation X and Y staffing concerns, as well as best practices to recruit, train, develop, motivate, reward, and retain these valuable young workers;
• Learn what the best managers on the front lines of the workplace are doing to bring out the best in employees; and
• Hear about successful managers who are willing to untie their hands, roll up their sleeves, and engage in hands-on transactional management, transforming demands of employees into levers to drive performance through the roof.

Mr. Tulgan, founder of RainmakerThinking, is a nationally recognized expert on young people in the workplace. He is the author or co-author of fifteen books and numerous management training programs, and a sought-after keynote speaker and seminar leader.

The 2nd Annual Training & Development Conference is designed for AGC chapter staff and other professionals involved in workforce and professional development, education, and training. The conference will be held October 14-16, 2008, at the Millennium Hotel, St. Louis.

Complete schedule information and an online registration form are available on the AGC website.

Note: The deadline to reserve your hotel room is Friday, September 19, 2008 and registration fees will increase after October 1, 2008.

We invite you to join fellow AGC contractors and chapter staff in St. Louis October 14-16, 2008 as they discuss the hottest topics in education, training and workforce development for the construction industry.

The conference will feature over 20 sessions on subjects ranging from the latest training trends, innovative recruiting methods, dynamic distance learning programs and much more.

New this year, the Train-the-Trainer sessions will develop and sharpen the skills of trainers and include:

• Leading From the Front of the Room
• Getting to Know the Role of the Instructor

This year’s conference will also feature a special welcome reception for all attendees, in addition to tours of select St. Louis facilities.  There will also be a wine and cheese social among the table-top displays.

Attendees who successfully complete this program obtain 1.3 IACET CEUs.

Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to be a part of this great conference, register now as space is limited.

According to the CE News 10th Annual Salary Survey, paid training for CEUs/PDHs ranks third among desired benefits by employees of both public and private engineering companies; this also ranked third in the 2007 survey.

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The culture and mentality of those now entering the workforce is pushing companies to rethink integration and retention strategies. Often referred to as the “millennial” generation, recent college graduates and others under 30 differ significantly from Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers in their approach to the world of work, how they set and work toward personal goals and priorities, and how they assimilate new information. Among characteristics often ascribed to millennials are:

• Technologically savvy
• Focused on convenience
• Team-oriented
• Goal-focused
• Fun-seeking
• Responsive to leaders they view as having integrity
• Expectant of quick rewards and a structured fast-track
• Possessing a strong social conscience

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