Construction Management 
UNK Department of the Month
September 2008
The UNK Staff Senate is pleased to recognize the Construction Management Program as the September 2008 UNK Department of the Month. Early in the 1990’s, the Department of Industrial Technology decided to refocus its mission by directing resources to three unique, but emerging, disciplines in the field of applied technologies, including Construction Management. Beginning with a solid core of about a dozen majors, the program has grown to over 140 majors currently. The growth and success of the Construction Management Program at UNK can be contributed to a variety of factors.
First, the program has a somewhat unique focus in preparing managers for the “large-volume residential” and “light commercial” construction industry. Successful recruiting and 100% career placement of graduates by these types of companies clearly indicates a demand for people with management skills in these sectors of the industry.
Second, the program has a very practical and applied approach to teaching requisite management skills such as calculating cost estimates, developing scheduling logic to complete a project on-time/on-budget, and much more.
Third, the program acknowledges the need for sound business management skills and thus includes coursework from the College of Business in addition to technical courses in construction while also giving the student his/her first opportunity to experience “the big picture” in a real world setting by completing an internship.
Through the program’s student organization, CMO (Construction Management Organization), the students have the opportunity for service learning in the community. The group was instrumental in assisting with the first Habitat for Humanity home in Kearney in 1992 as well as the 54th HFH home last year. The organization has also volunteered on other construction services to the community e.g. the Kearney Housing Authority and the Kearney Children’s Museum.
The Construction Management program has received international exposure through its student exchange with the University of Rostock and Wismar, Germany. Currently in its tenth year of operation, over 250 UNK and German students have had the opportunity to travel to one another’s country to experience local construction methodology as well as the opportunity to experience cultural differences.
For the tremendous opportunity that the Construction Management program offers our students, the UNK Staff Senate would like to recognize them as the September 2008 Department of the Month.
Thank you to the sponsors of the Department of the Month: UNK Athletics and Staff Senate.