Indiana State University Newsroom

The construction management program at Indiana State University received reaccreditation for six years from the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).

The organization's six-year reaccreditation is the most they can provide a program, said Lee Ellingson, associate professor in the built environment department, which houses the program.

"It gives the programs and the university a certain legitimacy, and there are some of our employers that care about that," Ellingson said of the accreditation process. "They generally prefer graduates from accredited programs."

Ellingson noted that the ACCE is considered the premiere organization for accrediting construction management programs.

"The [ISU] program has maintained the stringent standards of ACCE, and has proven to the (ACCE Board of Trustees), through a visiting team of its peers and industry practitioners, that the program is worthy of reaccreditation," according to a press release.

The council also provided insight in further developing the curriculum of the construction management program at ISU, Ellingson said. The organization lists topics to be covered and the number of instructional hours that should be devoted to each topic for universities to follow.

The organization determines its list through collaboration with professionals in the construction management field, Ellingson said.

"We think it's valuable input for us because we want to know what industry is looking for ... and so we depend quite a bit on AACE standards to guide us in that respect," he added.

The program was called the construction technology program when it was first created in 1974, but the name was changed "because it more accurately reflects what we do," Ellingson said.

"Construction technology is covered often very well by the two-year institutions, the junior colleges and so forth," he added. "We teach the management of the process."

Though the reaccreditation is for six years, the organization requires two progress reports to be issued to ensure that ISU is continuing to develop the program.

"The reaccreditation issued by the American Council for Construction Education highlights the strength of programming we have to offer students looking forward to a career in construction management," said Bradford Sims, College of Technology dean. "We are pleased that leaders in the field continue to identify Indiana State as providing a top quality education to students, and we look forward to providing that instruction for years into the future."

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Campus-Scenes/Campus-Scenes/072109campuspan-154/598849879_whcaa-L.jpgMyers Technology Center at Indiana State University, which houses many offices and programs in the College of Technology.

Contact: Lee Ellingson, associate professor, department of the built environment, College of Technology, Indiana State University, 812-237-3372 or lee.ellingson@indstate.edu

Writer: Austin Arceo, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or austin.arceo-negrich@indstate.edu