Advancing HBCU Students’ Interests in Residential Construction Careers through an NAHB program: An Industry-University Collaboration
- Conference
- Location
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Tampa, Florida
- Publication Date
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June 15, 2019
- Start Date
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June 15, 2019
- End Date
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June 19, 2019
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Construction Engineering
- Page Count
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17
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--32046
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/32046
- Download Count
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512
Paper Authors
Andrea Nana Ofori-Boadu
North Carolina A&T State University
orcid.org/0000-0001-6401-1399
Dr. Andrea N. Ofori-Boadu is an Assistant Professor of Construction and Construction Management with the Department of Built Environment within the College of Science and Technology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA & T). Her research interests are in bio-derived cement replacement materials, delivery of sustainable built environments, and professional identity development in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) students.
In February 2019, Andrea received the prestigious National Science Foundation NSF - CAREER award to research professional identity development processes in undergraduate AEC women. She has also received grants from East Coast Construction Services, Engineering Information Foundation, and the National Association of Home Builders. Dr. Ofori-Boadu was selected to participate in the 2019 QEM-NSF INCLUDES summit. In 2018, she was selected as a 2018 National Science Foundation - NC A & T ADVANCE IT Faculty Scholar. She also received the 2018 CoST Teaching Excellence Merit Award. Dr. Ofori-Boadu received both the 2017 NC A & T - CoST Rookie Research Excellence Award and the 2017 North Carolina A & T State University (NCAT) Rookie Research Excellence Award. Under her mentorship, Dr. Ofori-Boadu’s students have presented research posters at various NCAT Undergraduate Research Symposia resulting in her receiving a 2017 Certificate of Recognition for Undergraduate Research Mentoring. In 2016, her publication was recognized by the Built Environment Project and Asset Management Journal as the 2016 Highly Commended Paper. Andrea has served as a reviewer for the National Science Foundation (NSF), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and several journals and conferences.
In 2015, Dr. Ofori-Boadu established her STEAM ACTIVATED! program for middle-school girls. She also serves as the Executive Vice-President of Penuel Consult, Incorporated. She is married to Victor Ofori-Boadu and they are blessed with three wonderful children.
Robert B. Pyle North Carolina A&T State University
Dr. Pyle is a full professor in the Department of Built Environment in the College of Science and Technology at North Carolina A&T State University and he has been project director of numerous federal and state projects. He is a Certified Constructor with 25 years of experience in residential construction and 10 years of experience with manufactured and modular housing both in the classroom and the field. He has directed projects dealing with weatherization, energy, construction practices and improvement of housing for low income residents in several parts of North Carolina. His education degrees are BA and MA from The College of New Jersey and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Pyle has received awards for outstanding leadership, teaching and named the researcher of the year in 2005 for the School of Technology. Recently, he has been rated by his peers as an outstanding professor in the School of Technology.
Dr. Pyle has performed exceptionally well both as a programmatic coordinator and manager and has received wide acclaims at the local and national level. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s HUD project which he was the PI was requested by SEEDCO to present at its annual “HBCU Community Development Partnership for the Future” and its success was displayed at SEEDCO’s conference. Furthermore, the HUD Telecommunications Grant directed by Dr. Pyle won the HUD’s Best Practice Award at the state level. With 30 years of working with the city residents and local agencies, he is knowledgeable of HUD requirements at the University, city, county and state levels.
Dr. Pyle headed the Leadership and Community Development Research Cluster for several years at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. His experience and expertise has been invaluable to the University in acquiring numerous grants over the past 20 years. He is a Certified Professional Constructor, member of the American Institute of Contractors and is nationally certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI).
His areas of research include energy efficiency and management, safety at heights, indoor air quality, residential construction processes and manufactured housing techniques.
Iyshea Borders-Taylor
Iyshea Borders-Taylor, more commonly known as Iyshea Borders, is a biomedical engineering student at the University of North Carolina A&T State University. Ms. Borders is scheduled to graduate in May of 2021.
Christian A. Bock Hyeng North Carolina A&T State University
Christian A. Bock Hyeng is currently an Associate Teaching professor of Construction Management , College of Sciences and Technology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro NC. He earned his B.S. in building construction in 2000, M.S in Bridge construction in 2002 and a Ph.D. in Technical Science, strength of Material in 2006 from the Russian People’s Friendship University, Moscow, Russia. Dr. Christian Bock Hyeng is currently teaching Civil Engineering and safety course courses at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Build environment department under the College of Science and Technology. He is a visiting professor at the Bamenda University Cameroon, His interests are in Structural Mechanics, strength of material for sustainable construction, Bridge Construction. He has written and published several studies in collaboration with faculty in the research area of strength of material. He is an active member of the Cameroonian Association of Civil Engineer (CACE) also an active member of American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE).He was a Co-PI on a USDA proposal, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 2014 also, serve as Co-PI on a DWC Myrtle beach water management, he is a Reviewer for the technical journal (IJME).Dr. Christian A. Bock Hyeng may be reached at cbhyeng@ncat.edu
Tony E. Graham North Carolina A&T State University
Tony E. Graham, D. Eng., Assoc. AIA, is an Associate Professor (Tenured) - Navy Research Fellow in the Department of Built Environment - Construction Management program - College of Science and Technology at North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro where he specializes in sustainable construction, building information model (BIM) and geographic information systems (GIS). He received his Doctorate of Engineering and Masters of Architecture from Morgan State University and BS in Architectural Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University. With over 30 years of combined professional and academic experience, Dr. Graham has served as principal investigator on research projects addressing GIS and BIM technology and education, including projects on a) the development of a GIS carbon footprint model and b) anti-terrorism and airborne contaminants. From 2000 to 2018, Dr. Graham has presented his research at state, regional and international conferences. Dr. Graham has received several awards including National Black Herstory Task Force Recognition, several North Carolina Sustainable Building Design Competition Awards, Environmental Design + Construction Sustainable Design Award, American Society for Quality Competition Award, and an Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. He has developed undergraduate architectural curriculum and Masters of Architecture programs. He has also developed undergraduate curriculum in construction management using BIM technology. Currently, he is working on developing BIM certification programs at the graduate level.
Abstract
Employers are implementing various strategies to improve construction students’ interests in residential construction careers to address workforce shortages. In order to advance construction students’ learning experiences and residential career interests, the National Housing Endowment, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and True Homes USA, awarded a $100,000 grant to a historically black college/university (HBCU). The goal is to strengthen industry-university collaborations between residential construction organizations and the HBCU through an NAHB - Residential Construction Certificate Program, which includes NAHB memberships, scholarships, educational programing, and networking opportunities. Key NAHB program components include: (1) Residential construction modules in construction courses; (2) Travel and participation in NAHB International Builders Show (NAHB-IBS); (3) NAHB student organization; (4) Recruitment; (5) Scholarships; (6) Residential construction employment; (7) Field trips; (8) Professional development sessions; (9) NAHB student competition team for national NAHB four-year universities competition; (10) Residential construction certificates; and (11) Program evaluation and reporting. Drawing from foundational principles in professional career identity development, the purpose of this research was to gain insights into the residential construction learning experiences of HBCU-NAHB program participants. This limited case study approach involves the authors’ experiences, NAHB program data analysis, and the administration of two self-reporting surveys with open-ended questions to gain insights into HBCU students’ learning experiences as they participated in various components of this NAHB program. Thematic data analysis involves coding, categorization, and descriptive statistics. Also, the best practices, challenges, and lessons learned from the NAHB program are described.
Results indicated that students’ had gained residential construction knowledge and career interests. Positive experiences included increased understanding of the technical and managerial aspects of residential construction, real-life industrial experiences, professional development, development of soft skills, improved sense of belonging, and lowered financial burden through scholarships and internships. The few negative experiences included long travel times, new group discomfort, and feelings of inadequacy during NAHB competition team preparation. Seventy-five percent (75%) of students were interested in residential careers because of their desire to flip homes, prior residential construction experiences, NAHB activities, and passion to provide people with quality housing. Twenty-five percent (25%) of students were disinterested in residential careers because of prior commercial construction experience, higher salaries in commercial construction, and uncomfortable weather conditions at residential sites. Key challenges included difficulty in student selections and schedule conflicts. The proposed best practices model for industry-university collaboration had four components: (1) Initiation; (2) Establishment; (3) Engagement; and (4) Evaluation.
The NAHB program has had positive impacts on construction students’ learning experiences and residential construction career interests, as students feel better prepared for residential construction careers. This program described may be replicated at other universities, particularly at HBCUs, for improved residential construction learning and career interests. In the long term, this would increase the quantity and quality of residential construction professionals for 21st century built environments.
Ofori-Boadu, A. N., & Pyle, R. B., & Borders-Taylor, I., & Bock Hyeng, C. A., & Graham, T. E. (2019, June), Advancing HBCU Students’ Interests in Residential Construction Careers through an NAHB program: An Industry-University Collaboration Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32046
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