Current Events

10-16-2012 Clemson Construction Science and Management graduate program receives accreditation

By Kelly Borglum and Raquel Cobb

CLEMSON — The American Council for Construction Education has granted accreditation to the Master of Construction Science and Management program at Clemson University.

Established in 1986, Clemson University’s Master of Construction Science and Management program is South Carolina’s only graduate program in construction education. Part of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, the program offers a comprehensive program of education, service and research activities to improve the quality of the construction industry and thus the built environment.

All courses are taught on campus or via distance-learning technology. Clemson offers the only distance-learning construction master’s degree program in the United States. It is one of only four master’s degree distance-learning programs that the Associated General Contractors of America recognizes and promotes to its members as a means to attain graduate-level degrees and to teach in the discipline.

The National Center for Construction Education and Research has recognized the program as a step in its construction industry career path. The center has promoted the program as a component of its Project Management Academy, which is taught at Clemson University as well as at other locations throughout the United States.

“Becoming accredited by the American Council for Construction Education serves as national recognition of the quality education the students receive in our master’s degree program," said Roger Liska, program coordinator. "Being one of the first two construction management programs nationwide to become accredited is a real honor and will serve as a benchmark for other similar programs.”

12-9-2011 Liska receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Roger W. Liska, professor and chairman of construction science and management at Clemson University, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Contractors (AIC) at the organization’s mid-year meeting in Alexandria, Va. Liska was recognized this past October for his extensive service to the institute and the Constructor Certification Commission. He has been a member of the AIC more than 38 years and was one of the first individuals to be named a Certified Professional Constructor. During his time with the AIC, Liska has been both president of the institute and chairman of the Constructor Certification Commission. Currently, he is the commission secretary and is spearheading the institute’s efforts in earning its AC and CPC Constructor Certification American National Standards Institute Accreditation. Read the full story.

12-8-2011 Student Competitions

Congratulations to our students who competed at the 2011 ABC Student Chapter Construction Management Competition in San Antonio, TX in April  2011. The team placed 11^th nationally.  Team members were Nils Echols, Erick Sealfon, Stacey Nicol and Thomas Carlson.  The team was co-coached by Professor Shima Clarke and Noel Carpenter (a Ph.D. student in the Planning, Design and the Built Environment program).

The department also had three student teams and three student shadows compete at the 2011 Associated Schools of Construction (ASC)/AGC Region II Student Competitions—commercial, design-build, heavy/civil, and shadow—held in Birmingham, AL in October. The commercial team won second place. The commercial and heavy/civil teams were coached by Erik Simon (Ph.D. student) and the design-build team was coached by Professor Shima Clarke. Professors Dennis Bausman and Chris Piper also helped prepare the teams for the competitions.

Members of the commercial team include (from left) Brian Nichols (CSM junior), Taylor Hughes (CSM senior), Brittany Lusk (CSM senior), Lane Norman (CSM senior), Stefan Meagher (CSM senior) and Clay Seay (CSM senior).

Members of the design-build team include (back row from left) Alison Martin (ARCH junior), Seth Addis (CSM senior), Todd Rappoport (CSM junior), Andy Troy (CSM junior), Page Tarleton (CSM senior).  Front row: Ellis Taylor (ARCH senior) and Shima Clarke (coach).

Members of the heavy/civil team include (from left) Hilton Carpenter (CSM junior), Jordan Smith (CSM senior), Clay Thompson (CSM senior), Patrick Hobson (CSM senior), Joey Howell (CSM senior), Hep Platt (CSM senior), and Erik Simon (coach).