The Louisiana Associated General Contractors (AGC) has generously donated a gift of $37,411 to support Louisiana Tech University and its Construction Engineering Technology (CET) program housed in the College of Engineering and Science. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), through the leadership of the AGC, has been a strong supporter of construction education in the State of Louisiana for many years. This commitment was enhanced last year when the State Legislature approved the LSLBC to collect $100 on a voluntary basis whenever contractors renew their licenses. Today’s donation represents a portion of the funds collected which provides financial support for construction education programs throughout the state. Dr. Hisham Hegab, dean of Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science, says the funds will be used to upgrade Louisiana Tech’s CET instructional programs and fund student support. “We are grateful to the construction industry’s contributions that made this gift possible,” said Hegab. “This gift will have a significant impact on our ability to enhance our construction engineering technology program to support the growing demand for these graduates in the State of Louisiana.” Officials within Louisiana’s construction industry believe the CET program at Louisiana Tech will also help provide them with much needed new employees. “The CET program at Louisiana Tech is one of the primary construction programs that the AGC and the LSLBC are committed to supporting,” said Dr. Tom Isley, director of Louisiana Tech’s Trenchless Technology program. “They realize that the construction industry is a key component to economic development and is a major employer in the State of Louisiana and it will continue to need strong leaders in the future.” Louisiana Tech’s CET program prepares graduates for the responsibility of managing and supervising activities related to converting the plans and specifications prepared by engineers and architects into finished facilities. With increasing demand for economical service and continuous quality improvement, the construction industry continues to improve its technology as well as its management efficiency. The CET program provides technical and managerial education in that field of construction most closely aligned with engineering, with a particular emphasis on highway, heavy, and underground construction. Written by Catherine Fraser – cfraser@latech.edu