Written by: Emma Boughman
During a recent visit to the Construction Management Program, Southern Adventist University President Ken Shaw spoke with the students about their studies and spread mortar on blocks with them in the warehouse masonry lab. Shaw said he was involved in construction while at Southern as a student.
“When I was at Southern, I worked with the construction crew and enjoyed the practical experience,” he explained. “I also helped build houses in the summer, helped masons lay block for a cafeteria, [and] put in a foundation for a nursing home facility, etc.”
Josh Castro, a sophomore construction management major, said Shaw came to interact with and encourage students.
“It seems like President Shaw really cares for the students and goes out of his way to interact with us,” said Castro.
Shaw told them stories about his fieldwork and his belief that construction is a great trade.
“Students are why this university exists. I always enjoy better understanding our students’ experiences,” Shaw said.
According to Andy Baker, assistant professor of applied technology, construction management is a degree that prepares students for many jobs within the field.
“The first two years are residential heavy with a lot of hands-on training of the trades as well as residential codes and estimating, to name a few,” Baker said.
The next two years involve commercial large-scale management projects. Classes such as Contract Administration, Commercial Estimating, and Scheduling and Planning prepare students for the industry. After graduation, they can take the state licensing exam for commercial construction.
Castro said he and other students attend labs and learn how to be future builders. Core courses include Fundamentals of Building, Methods and Materials, Structures, Construction Safety, Blueprint Reading and Plumbing.
“I really enjoy the labs because they are hands-on,” Castro said. “We can go from hearing how to do something to actually doing it.”
John Spence, an adjunct professor in the Applied Technology program, said his role includes taking students from the textbook into the real world of masonry, since they learn how to create an entire house within the program. He believes other students should know more about the Construction Management Program to make “a more informed choice” in their careers and studies.
It was Spence who invited Shaw to the masonry lab. He wanted his students to know that Shaw cared about the field they had chosen to pursue.
Shaw expressed appreciation for the Construction Management Department and the professors and staff who are willing to share their knowledge.
during class. Wednesday, February 14. 2024. (Photo by Andrew Boggess)
