College will offer 4-year construction degree

A new bachelor's degree program in construction management will be offered at Western Nevada Community College in Carson City, officials said Friday.

The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents approved the college's first bachelor's degree program at its Friday meeting in Las Vegas.

Anne Hansen, college director of information and marketing services, said it was a unanimous vote that will benefit college students and regional construction employers.

"Our goal is to start it in the fall of 2007," she said.

Graduates with the bachelor's of technology degree in construction management are expected to fill needed positions in construction management, said Gene Martin, WNCC construction technology instructor. The college already offers an associate's degree in construction management.

"It's great that we've been able to put this together for the community and students seeking a four-year degree," said Martin. "It has been well received by the industry in the area. They have been behind us all the way."

The program was recently dropped by the University of Nevada, Reno, which left enrolled students with credits but no program.

Tom Metcalf, owner of Metcalf Builders of Carson City, employs managers who completed the program and has employees who hope to start it in their hometown.

"I have one project engineer who was dropped in their third year by UNR, so he will be able to finish at WNCC," he said.

Local builders anticipate they will start losing upper management to retirement in the next five years.

"I have 10 project managers and 10 superintendents all aged on average over 50," Metcalf said. "Eighty-five percent of those in the construction industry will retire in the next five years. Give me a chance to hire b-tech (bachelor's of technology) graduates from WNCC so they can be mentored before my project managers and superintendents retire."

Metcalf will reimburse tuition and books for employees who keep an acceptable grade point average.

The WNCC instructor projects the new degree program will attract 15 more students a year and will graduate 10 to 15 students after the first four years.

A student would have to earn 128 credits for the bachelor's degree, which is about 40 classes. Students should expect to spend $7,000 on tuition, plus books. But economic benefits will follow.

Metcalf said he could start these graduates at $40,000 plus.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.