Austin, Texas
June 14, 2009
June 14, 2009
June 17, 2009
2153-5965
Construction
8
14.166.1 - 14.166.8
10.18260/1-2--5618
https://peer.asee.org/5618
509
DR. DAVID S. COTTRELL is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1978 and retired in 2000 after more than 22 years of service with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Studies at Texas A&M University resulted in an MS Degree in Civil Engineering in 1987 and a PhD in 1995. He is a registered Professional Engineer and has taught courses in statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, graphic communications, engineering economy, and construction planning, scheduling, estimating, and management.
JOHN HILDRETH is an Assistant Professor of Construction Management in the Department of Engineering Technology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He obtained BSCE and MSCE degrees from West Virginia University in 1997 and 1999, respectively. He completed at PhD in Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech in 2003. He has taught courses in construction management, cost estimating, scheduling and controls, and construction administration. He is an active member of ASEE, ASCE, AACE, and TRB.
AMY M. KITTS is a Faculty Associate in the Department of Engineering Technology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS Degree in Civil Engineering in 2001 and an ME Degree in Civil Engineering in 2002. She is a registered Professional Engineer with over six years of industry experience in structural engineering and has taught courses in statics, mechanics of materials, and structural steel design.
AGC Competition Some Lessons-Learned:
Introduction
Once each year, students in construction educational fields across this nation are given a real-world, first-hand glimpse of their future. This preview of coming attractions presents itself in the form of regional competitions jointly sponsored by the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC). The competition challenges student teams to assume roles consistent with industry project management teams prepared to develop a comprehensive plan for a constructive endeavor. Each team may compete in one of three tracks aligned with major construction categories:
1. Heavy Highway Construction 2. Design Build Construction 3. Commercial Construction
To create a distinctive feeling of reality, corporate sponsors for each category provide project statements from actual projects addressing scope, budgetary, and scheduling considerations. Project documents typically include bid documents, drawings, and specifications consistent with the competition category. Within twenty-four hours after receipt of the initial project package, the teams consisting of four to six students are expected to complete a project analysis and provide a formal presentation detailing a project proposal including a cost estimate, schedule, and bid documents as well project planning, organizational, and value engineering opportunities. Realistic procedures are in place throughout the competition to simulate formal communication
design addendums. Finally, for each respective category, the industry sponsors serve as judges assessing and evaluating reports, and the formal presentations. The winning team from each of the three categories is eligible for a trip later in the spring for a final round of competition during the annual AGC convention.
The Program in Construction Management at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte first participated in this competition in the Fall of 2006. The current Program Coordinator championed this initial foray and recorded accurately some lessons learned for the 2007 ASEE National Convention.1 Now three years and three competitions later, this paper presents a critical review of the procedures, policies, and logistics supporting the AGC competition. This paper balances first hand observations from both faculty and students with objective input provided by the Competition judges and student feedback though surveys and written reports. The Department both students and faculty are determined to pursue this competition, and this paper will strive to evaluate the journey to date and perhaps point to a future path to success.
Cottrell, D., & Hildreth, J., & Kitts, A. (2009, June), Agc Competition: Some Lessons Learned Third Time's The Charm! Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--5618
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