Fall 2024 Board Meeting Minutes
Friday, Oct. 25, 2024
Texas A&M Memorial Student Center Gates Ballroom
Room 2400
Opening Remarks
The meeting began promptly at 8:30 a.m., led by Lauren Collins, president of the CIAC, who welcomed attendees.
Reflecting on CIAC’s 25th anniversary celebration in April, she highlighted two key insights: CIAC’s role as advisors to the program should remain central in supporting the needs of faculty, students, and the department. She also reminded members to uphold Aggie core values in all aspects of life and work. She said she is confident in the future of Texas A&M’s Department of Construction Science and the CIAC, and emphasized that industry demands should continue to shape the department’s direction.
She introduced the day's guest speakers: Mike Clancy of FMI, James DeLapp for the lunch address, and Jim Smith of ECC for the closing remarks. Collins then handed the floor to Interim Dean Dr. Patrick Suermann.
Dr. Patrick Suermann
Dr. Suermann spoke about the importance of investing in the College of Architecture, expressing excitement for its future. He announced an internal search for a new department head and shared key achievements, including participation from 272 companies at the Fall 2024 career fair.
He also detailed planned improvements to the Langford Architectural Complex, including upgrades to infrastructure and utilities, as well as ADA compliance enhancements, with a goal of raising $20 million by 2028. Dr. Suermann discussed the RELLIS Construction Field Lab project, which is in Phase 1, featuring new fencing, signage and parking. The lab, a collaboration between Farrara (Dynagrid), AgriLife Extension Services, Lennar Housing, and Icon 3D Printing, will focus on affordable housing, emerging technologies, and industry needs. The lab will include a 3D-printed feature wall, a field office, and an Insurance Institute for Construction Safety and Research. With a funding goal of $7.5 million, the project represents a significant investment in construction technology.
Dr. Suermann concluded by introducing Dr. Phil Lewis, interim department head.
Dr. Phil Lewis
Dr. Lewis reported steady growth in enrollment, with 1,536 students currently in the department: 1,400 undergraduates, 90 students in the face-to-face master's program, 60 in the online master's program and 30 Ph.D. students. Female students comprise 14 percent of the enrollment, surpassing the national average, with over 200 female students currently enrolled.
He provided an update on faculty composition: 45 professional-track professors, nine assistant professors, three associate professors and six full professors. The department is also conducting a national search for three more tenure-track faculty members, with a goal of increasing female faculty representation to 33 percent by April. The student-to-faculty ratio is 32:1, higher than the A&M average, and efforts are underway to expand the faculty.
Regarding degrees, Dr. Lewis said 425 degrees were awarded: 378 bachelor’s, 42 master’s and five doctorates. This year’s cohort also includes the first fully funded Ph.D. students, who are on track to graduate on time.
The department has seen substantial growth in research funding, with FY 2023 expenditures totaling $1,092,880.39.
Dr. Amal Bakchan, an assistant professor, received a $15 million grant from the EPA for her research on wastewater treatment systems in underserved communities. Research expenditures, which were under $100,000 in 2017, have grown tenfold in seven years, reflecting a strong commitment to supporting faculty, students, and industry partners.
Dr. Lewis also mentioned that searches for both a new dean and department head are ongoing, with the latter expected to conclude by year’s end.
Dr. Lewis also addressed industry demand, noting the department currently meets only 6 percent of the need for construction management professionals. In response, the department secured a $2 million grant from the Department of Labor for the Aggie Construction Management Apprenticeship Program. The program, aimed at high school graduates not wishing to attend college, offers a 10-week classroom segment covering construction management fundamentals, followed by a 16-week apprenticeship with potential for full-time employment.
CIAC members showed strong support, submitting 25 letters of endorsement for the grant. The Department of Labor offers additional funding once the program is established. The department is also collaborating with TEES to develop professional development courses for program graduates, with CIAC involvement in identifying relevant content.
Dr. Lewis then introduced the next speaker, Hernan Guerra.
Hernan Guerra
Hernan Guerra began by welcoming first-time CIAC board meeting attendees. He outlined the day’s schedule, noting that after the guest speaker, attendees would participate in interdisciplinary roundtable discussions, followed by committee meetings in the afternoon.
Guerra also discussed CIAC’s growing membership, which now includes 322 companies, up by 10 from the previous year, despite an increase in membership dues to $3,500. While membership spans various sectors, Guerra expressed a desire for more residential, specialty trades and heavy civil companies to join for broader representation.
Currently, 44 percent of members come from commercial construction, 16 percent from specialty trades, nine percent from residential construction, six percent from development and multifamily, seven percent from heavy civil, and 25 percent from consulting and engineering, with smaller percentages in infrastructure, material supply, facilities management, wastewater treatment, and government roles.
He also reviewed recent changes to the career fair, noting its relocation to Legends, where it saw a high turnout of 272 companies and 950 student attendees. The social mixer, originally held outdoors, will move to the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center in the spring to provide a more comfortable indoor setting.
Guerra shared industry trends from recent career fairs.
For Fall 2024, 170 students secured internships, earning an average wage of $21.27 per hour. These internships spanned various locations, including Malawi, Montenegro, and several U.S. states, such as Colorado, Louisiana, and Texas. He reported that 66 percent of interns entered commercial construction, while others were placed in heavy civil (six percent), residential (14 percent), specialty trades (12 percent), and industrial (two percent). Guerra emphasized the department’s commitment to producing graduates with diverse sector experience.
In discussing recent graduate data, Guerra noted that the average starting salary for seniors is $74,460. Graduates enter several fields, with the largest percentage going into commercial construction (71 percent), followed by residential (12 percent), heavy civil (seven percent), industrial (seven percent), and specialty trades (three percent).
Reflecting on CIAC’s inaugural Research and Innovation Workshop, Guerra shared that it attracted 55 companies and featured five competitions. He also celebrated the success of endowed scholarships, noting that all were fully funded for the year.
Scholarship funding for 2024 included 16 $10,000 matches for $15,000 donations, four $20,000 matches for $25,000 donations, one $60,000 match for a $90,000 donation, and 10 $10,000 matches for existing endowments. CIAC members contributed more than $400,000 to these scholarships.
Guerra concluded by sharing a three-year calendar of upcoming CIAC events and noted the tailgate dates were removed for timing reasons and will be reevaluated in coming years. He then introduced Dr. David Jeong as the next speaker.
Dr. David Jeong
Dr. David Jeong introduced the COSC Innovation Ideas Competition and the 12CRP Research Programs, designed to encourage interns to develop innovative concepts based on their internship experiences.
After completing their internships, students were tasked with submitting their ideas to a panel of four evaluators. Each winner received a $1,000 prize and the opportunity to work with a faculty member for up to two years to further refine their concepts. Additionally, each student must write a research paper and present it at a conference within the next year.
The 2024 winners—Brennan Lantz, Victoria Chavez and Jack Patterson—were invited to the front to accept their awards and pose for photos, marking a proud moment for both the students and the department.
Following the awards, Lauren Collins introduced guest speaker Mike Clancy, a partner and chief strategist at FMI.
Mike Clancy
FMI, which has served the construction industry for more than 68 years, is known for its forward-thinking approach. Clancy’s role is to anticipate the industry’s future trajectory and the talent it will require in the coming years. His presentation focused on three themes: planning, positioning and preparing.
In the planning stage (looking ahead three to five years), Clancy noted that despite stable construction spending projections, the industry’s growth rate remains modest, and talent shortages are severe, meeting only about 10 percent of industry needs. He explained how construction spending is now tied to sentiment indices rather than the broader economy. Projected themes include increased client diversity, technology adoption, and regulatory complexity, all driving a demand for diverse, tech-ready teams.
In the positioning stage (seven to 10 years), Clancy discussed adapting to shifting market segments. He presented data showing rapid growth in data centers, warehouses, and medical offices, with the Texas Triangle leading national markets. He highlighted the influence of government initiatives like the CHIPS Act, which supports computer and electronics construction. Clancy encouraged Texas A&M to consider how best to equip students for future needs, especially as buyer expectations evolve.
In the preparing stage (10 or more years), Clancy addressed megatrends, reminding attendees of unexpected global events—9/11, the Great Recession, and COVID—and how they reshaped the industry. The “new economy” will emphasize life sciences, urban transit, data centers, and semiconductor fabrication, over traditional sectors like malls and office buildings. He projected that future construction managers will primarily work virtually, with drones overseeing quality control, flexible work models, and an emphasis on client certifications over relationships.
After Clancy’s thought-provoking talk, Collins thanked him and reminded attendees to engage meaningfully in the upcoming breakout sessions, challenging each other respectfully to stand out in the industry. The group then moved to roundtable discussions at 10:14 a.m.
Roundtable Discussion
The roundtables consisted of the following topics and were led by various professors:
- Professor Richard Palmer – Estimating
- Professor Larry Fickel – Project Management
- Professor Lane Wright – Residential Courses
- Dr. Ashrant Aryal and Dr. David Jeong – Artificial Intelligence & New Technologies
- Professors Guy Cooke and Kendall Pouland – Scheduling
- Professor Hernan Guerra – Heavy Civil Management
The one-hour industry and faculty roundtable discussions on these crucial topics during the CIAC Board Meeting were vibrant and yielded valuable insights and ideas for creating new courses and curriculum enhancements.
The attendees then had a 45-minute break for lunch.
The group gathered for lunch as Lauren Collins introduced the speaker, Retired Colonel James DeLapp of J.A. DeLapp & Associates.
Colonel DeLapp discussed plans for a Construction Executive Leadership Program, designed to bridge career development gaps within the construction industry. Drawing insights from national programs, the initiative aims to strengthen the Aggie network and A&M’s brand. The program, as envisioned, would be certificate-based and jointly managed by A&M’s Department of Construction Science and the Center for Executive Development from the Texas A&M Mays Business School.
Colonel DeLapp introduced Dr. Brandi Plunkett, Executive Director of Mays Business School, who emphasized the strengths of both COSC and Mays, highlighting the network, faculty, and industry alignment of each. The program, she explained, would streamline leadership development for professionals, fostering valuable connections and networks.
Results from an attendee survey revealed strong interest: 80 percent of companies would consider sending employees, favoring a four-day program format. Top-requested topics included leadership, risk management, and financial management, with additional subjects like sustainability, innovation, construction law, and project delivery systems.
Colonel DeLapp summarized the program’s framework as a certificate-based, cohort-style offering held in College Station, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, and a rotating U.S. location, preparing participants for senior-level roles. Lauren Collins thanked Colonel DeLapp, then dismissed the group to their subcommittee meetings.
Following Colonel DeLapp’s presentation, Lauren Collins dismissed attendees to their subcommittee meetings. The group later reconvened in the Gates Ballroom, where each committee shared updates:
Development Committee
Jeff Higdon and Richard Palmer emphasized the committee's role in strengthening the collaboration between CIAC and the Department of Construction Science (COSC), which enhances the quality of graduates.
Recent graduate feedback highlighted the value of this partnership, and the committee expressed a desire for more CIAC-sponsored activities. Key topics included maintaining the COSC’s name, with members unanimously voting to retain "Texas A&M Department of Construction Science," thus rejecting naming the Construction Department after a company or an individual at this time. They also proposed creating a digital biannual report and a new career fair sponsorship form for recognition opportunities.
Curriculum Committee
Kendall Pouland recently gathered feedback from alumni working in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston areas and shared their insights with the CIAC Curriculum Subcommittee. The graduates, who praised the overall quality of their education, highlighted several areas where they felt additional focus would be beneficial for future cohorts. Their suggestions primarily revolved around enhancing practical training in certain key aspects of project management and teamwork, as well as incorporating more technology-driven tools and time-management strategies.
The feedback revealed that alumni wanted more in-depth training in submittals and RFIs (Request for Information). Specifically, they recommended covering the complete workflow of these processes across multiple courses, such as Project Management, Materials Methods, Structures, and MEP. They also suggested addressing the challenges that arise when submittals involve multiple trades and offering a deeper dive into technical submittal review, including where to find the necessary review information. The CIAC is willing to assist by providing current examples of submittals for reference.
In addition to submittals and RFIs, there was a call for increased emphasis on document coordination and advanced plan reading to help students navigate complex project documentation more effectively. Another important area of focus was the use of scheduling software, particularly generating reporting outputs like the P6 progress curve and histogram, to better track and communicate project timelines.
Alumni also identified the importance of meeting management and presentation skills, recommending that students be trained in leading successful meetings, including creating clear agendas, aligning meeting goals, and managing parking lot items. The ability to facilitate productive discussions is seen as a key skill for future project managers.
Another common theme was the need for more focus on time management strategies, helping students balance the demands of multiple tasks and deadlines in the fast-paced construction environment. Graduates also emphasized the importance of teamwork and relationship building, particularly as they relate to project collaboration and communication across different teams.
Pouland plans to present these suggestions to Trey Morgan for consideration and potential integration into the curriculum. The CIAC is committed to ensuring that future graduates are well-equipped with the practical skills and tools they need to succeed in the field.
Membership Committee
Wesley Moncrief announced that the Hall of Fame Award winner would be revealed at the Spring Banquet. He outlined the nomination process, noting that the executive committee would review candidate criteria. The committee also discussed improving voting methods and updating the bylaws.
Budget Committee
Robert Hodges and Hernan Guerra reported on budget alignment with CIAC bylaws and unspent funds from 2024, which would roll over to 2025. They confirmed that 10 percent of income is reserved as a contingency fund. The following committee’s 2025 budget proposal was unanimously approved:
Graduate and Research Committee
Ryan Stoll reported on feedback from the first graduate and research symposium. Suggestions included a science fair-style event format to promote networking and partnerships, where faculty could present research areas and connect with CIAC members. Enhanced communication and presenter promotion were suggested for future symposiums.
The meeting concluded with these updates, establishing clear goals for department development and industry engagement.
Lauren Collins introduced Jim Smith from the Engineering and Construction Contracting Association, opening a discussion on the future of the construction industry. Mrs. Collins led the conversation by asking Smith a series of questions.
Mr. Smith highlighted significant shifts on the industrial side, noting ongoing growth in traditional oil and gas, with refinery work robust and liquid nitrogen gas exports projected to double by 2030, requiring over 5,000 workers per site. He pointed to a burgeoning market in renewable energy, particularly in offshore wind, solar, lithium, and carbon capture, emphasizing the industry’s expanding scope.
When asked about economic impacts, Mr. Smith noted that while renewables are less economically dependent, the construction industry faces a substantial workforce shortage. With younger project managers entering the field, the industry’s need to do more with fewer people is critical, especially as labor and skilled white-collar workers remain in high demand. Key challenges include an unreliable supply chain, sanctions, tariffs, and narrowing profit margins, pushing firms to consider outsourcing.
Mrs. Collins then turned the discussion to innovation, questioning why the construction industry lags in technological adoption. Mr. Smith explained that tight budgets and aggressive schedules often limit technological investment. While progress is occurring, the industry’s reluctance to change—highlighted by the recent port strike against automation—slows advancement. However, he acknowledged that younger hires and increasingly complex projects are beginning to shift attitudes.
In response to what skills the industry now needs, Mr. Smith stressed the importance of training new hires and fostering adaptive, data-driven mindsets. Future leaders must embrace AI, viewing it as a tool to enhance operations, similar to the initial resistance and eventual adoption of computers in the industry. He suggested companies need to be open to innovation, adopting new contracting methods like alliance or relational contracting and diversifying their supply chains to avoid dependence on a single source.
On the role of CIAC and academia, Mr. Smith advised that CIAC must stay adaptable, exploring innovative solutions like apprenticeship programs and strengthening student-company internship connections. He emphasized the importance of keeping up with industry needs and preparing students not only for technical roles but also for leadership in an evolving construction environment.
After a handful of questions from the audience, Mrs. Collins thanked Mr. Smith for his presentation and responses and then concluded the meeting just before 3 p.m.