SUNY Delhi to Offer New Residential Construction Track

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Professor Gary Brackett shares his expertise in one of the college's experiential construction labs.

DELHI, NY (04/19/2016)(readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi will begin offering a new Residential Construction Management option this fall, the first of its kind in the Northeast, as part of its Construction Management program.

This new track was recently approved by the State University of New York and the New York State Education Department. SUNY Delhi was awarded a $100,000 grant from the National Housing Endowment, the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in November of 2013 to develop the curriculum.

"This Residential Construction Management (RCM) option will fill a void in SUNY Delhi's Construction Management program," said Gary Brackett, Professor of Construction Management. "It allows students who are attracted specifically to the residential industry to continue their education in their area of interest."

The option with be especially attractive to students graduating from SUNY Delhi's two-year carpentry program, and has already garnered "considerable interest" among students, according to Brackett. "We believe it will help encourage more students to stay and complete a four-year Construction Management degree," he said.

Among Delhi's incoming construction majors, a high percentage say they have a strong interest in residential construction, according to faculty. The college's current Construction Technology and Management program focuses primarily on commercial and industrial sectors of the industry. The new Residential Construction Management option creates a formalized path for students to pursue their interest in residential construction management.

The NAHB grant funds will also help the college expand industry partnerships to provide students access to a wide selection of internships and job opportunities.

"Delhi faculty are in the forefront of environmental and technological advances in residential construction," said SUNY Delhi Provost John S. Nader. "This option will further strengthen Delhi's leadership in Construction Management."

SUNY Delhi has a long-standing reputation as a leader in construction technology and related areas, offering the first construction curriculum in the U.S. beginning in 1933. Faculty are experienced professionals with first-hand knowledge of the construction industry.

The NAHB's National Housing Endowment established the Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (HELP) in 2006 in order to support leading colleges and universities in their work to create, expand, or enhance existing residential construction management programs. Under the program, selected colleges and universities are awarded up to $100,000 to be used during three- to four-year periods to improve their residential construction programs.

For more information about SUNY Delhi's Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management: Design and Building, contact Enrollment Services at 1-800-96-DELHI or visit www.delhi.edu.

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ABOUT SUNY DELHI: SUNY Delhi is a member of the State University of New York, the largest comprehensive university system in the U.S. Delhi's seamless approach to education includes over 60 academic programs leading to baccalaureate degrees in specialized program areas, including Nursing, Hospitality Management, Business and Professional Golf Management, Golf and Sports Turf Management, Information Technology Management, Architectural Design and Building, Construction Technology and Management, Business and Technology Management and Criminal Justice. For more information about SUNY Delhi, call toll-free 1-800-96-DELHI or visit Delhi's web site at www.delhi.edu.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HOUSING ENDOWMENT: The National Housing Endowment, established in 1987 by the National Association of Home Builders, helps the home building industry develop more effective approaches to home building, enhances the ways future generations of leaders are educated and trained in residential construction and increases the body of knowledge on housing issues by supporting innovative and effective programs that further education, training and research. The cornerstone of the Endowment's education program is the Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (HELP), a long-term commitment to award seed grants to leading two- and four-year colleges and universities to help them create, expand, or enhance existing residential construction management programs or develop new programs in that academic area. For more information about the National Housing Endowment, please visit the National Housing Endowment Web site at www.nationalhousingendowment.org.