December 9, 2008

Purdue first to offer residential construction graduates in-demand professional designations

The three designations - chosen because they represent growing needs within the industry - are Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS), Certified Green Professional (CGP) and Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS).

The designations were developed by the National Association of Home Builders' University of Housing and Home Builders Institute and are among more than 15 designations related to sales, marketing, lending, design, construction, site management, company management and other areas. Some designations are open to those with entry-level positions, and some require up to 10 years of experience to qualify.

Purdue will receive a two-year, $100,000 grant from the National Housing Endowment's Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (known as HELP) to provide funding for graduation fees, instructor training and other costs related to implementing the program.

The grant will be announced Jan. 21 at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.

The training requirements for each designation will be included within the residential construction management specialization coursework, with the first group of students receiving designations when they graduate in May 2009.

Bruce Silver, president of the National Housing Endowment, the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Home Builders, said students who earn these professional designations will have a definite advantage in the job market.

"Our industry struggles in finding managers qualified to work in residential construction, which differs greatly from commercial construction," he said. "It can take two to three years for students graduating from a commercial construction program to learn the equivalent of what Purdue is now offering. This is a step in the right direction in attracting the best and the brightest into residential construction."

Robert F. Cox, head of building construction management department at Purdue, said that since the required course content for each of the designations is already included in Purdue's residential construction management specialization program, there will be no additional course requirements for students.

Cox said that even though the economic slowdown has significantly impacted the residential construction industry, Purdue will be poised to meet a need when the industry rebounds.

"Anytime there is a lull, that's the best time to educate," he said. "Our students will be uniquely positioned not just to get jobs themselves but also to make a real contribution to the residential construction industry in these three areas that will be in great demand in the coming years."

He said the three-year goal is for 150 students to have obtained all three professional designations.

The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist is a designation that prepares students to design and build new residential homes, or remodel existing homes, to assure that they are accessible to residents as they age.

Examples include designing or remodeling homes to widen doorways or hallways, eliminate stairs, or make bathrooms larger to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers, said Eric Holt, a certified aging-in-place specialist who will teach a course that includes material from the CAPS designation program.

The aging-in-place specialization also includes designing retirement living communities with homes for those ranging from completely self-sufficient to those needing some professional care to those needing full-time assisted living.

The Certified Green Professional designation focuses on giving builders, remodelers and other industry professionals the knowledge to incorporate green building principles into homes without significantly driving up the cost. Students who obtain the CGP designation will become familiar green building practices, starting with lot selection, through the design and construction of a home, to performance testing for ultimate energy efficiency, said Dale Koehler, a certified green professional and associate professor in the department.

The Residential Construction Superintendent designation will provide students with the skills to become an on-site field superintendent who manages a housing project from beginning to end. Koehler said this designation will educate students about a wide range of topics, such as general project management, planning and scheduling, budgeting and cost control, quality assurance, hiring, and labor relations. He said the role of a residential project manager requires specialized training to effectively manage the processes and subcontractors common to the industry. The content of the program provides a solid foundation for this specialized training, Koehler said.

Purdue's Department of Building Construction Management, established in 1964, offers bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees and is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education. In addition to residential construction management, the department offers undergraduate specializations in disaster restoration and reconstruction, electrical construction management, mechanical construction management, demolition construction management, and health care construction management.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Sources: Robert Cox, (765) 494-2465, rfcox@purdue.edu

Dale Koehler, (765) 494-2457, koehler@purdue.edu

Eric Holt, eaholt@purdue.edu

Bruce Silver, (800) 368-5242, bsilver@nahb.com

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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