Construction Career Academies are collaborative programs between Western Carolina University, Carolinas Associated General Contractors, Local Construction Companies, and the Participating High Schools. A Construction Career Academy allows a high school freshman to choose a dual track approach to learning and gaining experience in a construction high paying trade such as carpentry or masonry that will allow the student to be employable upon graduation while at the same time completing all high school prerequisites that will allow the student to be directly admitted to a 2 year or 4 year college program in construction management or engineering field.

The construction industry has a high demand for both employees in the trades and in management positions. This demand continues to grow every year along with increasing salaries. Since the construction industry is basically the worlds largest employer, those working in the industry can expect continued employment for their life. The construction industry is thought of by the general public as mostly folks who build houses. This is only one segment of the construction industry. Some will work their careers in building large office buildings and high rises, building roads and railways, building industrial facilities and power plants, building bridges and airports, building hospitals, and much more.

Students graduating from a Construction Career Academy at their high schools, will be certified in a national certification program administered by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. With this certification, the student may continue on to gain higher levels of certification up to a journeyman in their trade. At the same time, students may choose to obtain a degree at a community college or university and be able to work part time in their trade.

Files to Download

Construction Career Academies PowerPoint Presentation by Prof. Charles Parker on 2-20-04
WCU-CAREER_ACADEMY.ppt

Construction Career Academy PowerPoint Presentation by Donna Franza of AGC National on 7-22-04
AGC Career Academy Information.ppt

Resources

National Career Academy Coalition

National Academy Foundation

Career Academy Support Network

MDRC

AGC National

Carolinas AGC

Our first NC Construction Career Academy meeting took place on February 20, 2004 in Asheville and included the below list of attendees.

Return to Western Carolina University's Construction Management Program

Email Dr. Sims

Last Update 7-23-04