Construction Management Program Receives ACCE Accreditation

The Construction Management program at College of DuPage has received accreditation from the American Council for Construction Education.

The program is the 12th associate's program in the country and the second in Illinois to receive this designation, said Jane Ostergaard, COD Professor and Program Coordinator.

“This is a reflection on our degree of professionalism,” she said. “The extensive review process consisted of detailed reporting and four-day site visit that included interviews with students and faculty.”

The Construction Management associate's degree prepares students to work in construction management firms or as office personnel for construction companies. Students can also transfer into a baccalaureate program. Last fall, COD and Purdue announced a 2+2 articulation agreement for COD students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management and Engineering Technologies from Purdue's Calumet Campus. COD also has a long-standing transfer agreement with Illinois State University.

Ostergaard said the five-year accreditation should facilitate transfer opportunities into accredited baccalaureate programs that include Purdue, ISU, Bradley, Indiana and Ball State.

“We're really excited to have this accreditation,” Ostergaard said. “Construction management is a field that is relatively new within the academic environment, so it's important on an associate's degree level to distinguish a construction management program from a construction trade program. We've established a strong Construction Management program and the accreditation validates our efforts.”

For information about the Construction Management program, call (630) 942-2331, email osterg@cod.edu or visit www.cod.edu/programs/architecture/construction_management.aspx.