Connect with Us!
Fall 2017Connect with Us! is a quarterly newsletter that features a UTEP Connect online program and the faculty, staff and students associated with it. Featured Program: Online Master of Science in Construction Management
This 30-credit-hour, fully online, advanced degree offered by UTEP's College of Engineering is cost-effective and designed for students with undergraduate degrees in engineering, architecture and business. Our faculty estimate that over 60 percent of all construction work is awarded based on a bidding company's qualifications rather than price. This means having access to experienced, certified and well-educated professionals is a construction company's biggest advantage in today's competitive environment and bodes well for the future of the industry. Graduates of the program will - learn how to manage the logistics of complex construction projects
- develop an understanding of construction law and job site safety
- gain practical experience through an internship at a UTEP-approved construction company or government agency
- be prepared to get certification through the American Institute of Constructors
UTEP Edge Our newest student success initiative, the UTEP Edge, develops upon our students’ assets through a variety of high-impact experiences. These experiences are designed to improve student skills and give UTEP students a competitive advantage as they move forward in their lives and careers. Our goal as a campus is to provide these UTEP Edge experiences to all of
our students, regardless of their area of study, so they will graduate with a competitive advantage over their peers. UTEP Edge experiences our construction management students will have Community Engagement | Internship | Capstone Experience | Research and Scholarly Activities UTEP Edge skills/advantages they
will graduate with Communication | Confidence | Critical Thinking | Leadership | Problem Solving | Teamwork
"I have had a great experience with UTEP's online courses, professors and fellow students."― David C. Worley, Student, Online Master of Science in Construction Management
David C. Worley is a business owner and student in UTEP Connect's online master of science in construction management program. Before starting his own engineering design and contracting business, David spent 20 years in the public sector as an Assistant Public Works Director in Sugar Land and Houston, TX and as a Project Engineer in Rio Rancho, NM. As a business owner, he soon realized that he needed to increase his knowledge of construction management and that learning more about project scheduling, LEED or sustainability construction, and construction cost analysis and bidding -- all of which are taught in the the online
construction management master's degree program through UTEP Connect -- would help his company succeed. The program has helped David develop specific skillsets and gain exposure to aspects of the industry he had not experienced as a business owner. He enjoys the flexibility of the online format, but emphasizes the importance of self-discipline for online students. David plans to graduate in Spring 2018.
Subjects taught: Construction management, construction planning and scheduling, cost analysis and bidding, sustainable construction and construction safety.
Dr. Adeeba Raheem is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at UTEP's College of Engineering and teaches in the online construction management program. Dr. Raheem joined UTEP in 2014 after earning her Ph.D. at the University of Florida. She brings her passion for learning and using the most efficient techniques/tools to manage construction projects into the classroom. On teaching online: "Teaching online is quite a challenge and it requires more preparation time and attention to minor details... As an
instructor, I have to create a delicate balance between theoretical concepts, industry practices/standards, and professional preparation while designing each online course as 7-week modules. Another challenge is to keep students motivated while working in teams (with) members thousands of miles away from each other in different time zones and with dynamic schedules."
A successful online student is... "one who can manage his time effectively and doesn’t wait until the last minute to complete his assignments. The student must be a self-disciplined and goal-oriented self-starter. The online learning environment is flexible but places an emphasis on students taking responsibility for their learning process. It is of the utmost importance for those students who are working full-time to create a balance between their work and online study hours." One piece of advice to online students: "Don't assume anything and communicate in a timely manner."
"To prepare our students to successfully take on future challenges, it is important to design courses that equip them with key technical knowledge, professional skills and modern technological tools."
Marisol Velazquez is a native of Mexico and was raised in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. She has been in higher education for over 10 years and holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Business Management (summa cum laude) from Howard Payne University. For the past year and a half, she has been one of UTEP Connect's team of enrollment counselors. Marisol works with four programs, one of which is construction management. Most of her day is spent on the phone, talking with new and prospective students, guiding them through University processes and answering questions.
Programs Marisol works with: - Construction Management
- Multidisciplinary Studies
- Media Advertising
- Organizational and Corporate Communication
" Be an example to your family; with hard work we all can accomplish our goals."
On her proudest accomplishment and greatest challenge: "My proudest accomplishment is to see student success first-hand. My biggest challenge is finding a way to communicate well with a diverse group of students." A successful online student is..." self-motivated and self-disciplined, good with time management and a good writer." A quote that inspires her: “I don’t think there's
anything as wonderful in life as being able to help someone else.”― Betty Ford
Check back often for new content or use a feed reader to subscribe to our blog's RSS feed!
For Our Instructors Want to save time, easily complete tasks and stay connected with students anytime, anywhere? Now you can do all this and more with the Blackboard Instructor Mobile App. Download the app in the Apple App or Google Play Stores and click on the Blackboard logo below to take a tour and learn more!
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO UTEP Connect
University Towers, Suite 402
1900 N. Oregon Street
El Paso, TX 79902 utepconnect@utep.edu | (915) 747-6551
|