Partnership builds stronger construction management engineers

The electrical systems and mechanical systems courses in the CEM program receive much support from industry leaders, including Affiliated Engineers, Inc. Pictured are (top, L-R) Greg Quinn, John Nelson, Scott Moll, (bottom L-R) Awad Hanna and Scott Easton. (28K JPG)

There's a poster in Engineering Hall that quips, "You can't learn everything about civil engineering from a text book." The College of Engineering believes that students receive a better education when they can interact with and learn from practicing engineers. The Construction Engineering Management (CEM) program is a clear example.

Thanks to Civil & Environmental Engineering Professor Awad Hanna and his partnership with industry, CEM students have two innovative courses — electrical building systems and mechanical building systems. These unique courses teach material usually reserved for electrical and mechanical engineers, enabling CEM students to receive the well-rounded education they need to manage a $550 billion industry.

"We want these classes to be as practical as possible so students can relate to what goes on at the job site," said Hanna. "Students need the practical aspect of design and construction, and that's best taught by a partnership between design organizations, academia and contractors."

Industry partnerships in CEM

The electrical building systems and mechanical building systems are made possible only through an industry partnership with the College of Engineering. Several individuals contribute their time and resources to make the classes a success.

• Norm Doll (BSCE '77), president of Pieper Electrical, Inc., provided initial support for the electrical course. An engineer hired by his own company taught the first class, and Doll (pictured here) paid the teaching salary and purchased books and equipment for students.

• John Nelson (MSME '76), president of the Madison-based Affiliated Engineers, Inc., provides many resources for CEM, including four employees who lead the classes. Bob Bucci supervises the electrical systems course, which is taught by Scott Easton, and Scott Moll supervises the mechanical systems course that's taught by Greg Quinn (BSME '95).

• Tripp Ahern, president and chief executive officer of J.F. Ahern, participates in final panel discussion for the mechanical course, and Jim Jarvis, a department manager at the company, teaches the design component of the course.

The classes, which are taught by employees from the Madison-based Affiliated Engineers, Inc., offer a practical, real-world perspective only practicing engineers can provide.

"The electrical building systems course gives students an overview of what goes into a building from a power distribution system perspective," said instructor Scott Easton. "We cover lighting design and electrical system materials — all the different pieces and components that go into the building design. A general understanding of these systems is really invaluable."