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Commitment to Inclusive Excellence

The Department of Construction Management embraces CSU’s mission to foster a campus environment that welcomes, values, and affirms the contributions of all its members.

CSU’s longstanding commitment to diversity reflects its role and mission as a land-grant institution. Only through the inclusion of the rich diversity of students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, and CSU’s partners can we truly be excellent in our pursuits.

As such, the Department of Construction Management is committed to:

  • Providing an inclusive and welcoming educational and working environment for everyone in our community.
  • Strengthening the diversity of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and industry partners in our teaching, research, and engagement endeavors.
  • Enhancing access and opportunities for all students, staff, and faculty to promote their professional growth and success.
  • Rejecting any act of hate, bias, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, gender discrimination, and gender-based violence within our community.
  • Assessing departmental efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to continually recognize and focus on areas needing improvement, while also highlighting and celebrating areas where work is being done.
CM students look at plans

Teaching

This is a sampling of Construction Management courses with DEIJ content.

CON 317 Safety Management

As a safety management class, the goal is to purposely and intentionally expand the students’ perspective of safety, beyond the prevention of physical injuries. This element of the class offers in-class discussion on examples of how to create “safe space” in the classroom or in the workplace where everyone is valued equally. We discuss an approach to safety management which requires future industry leaders to care as much about others as they do themselves.

CON 450 Travel Abroad - Sustainable Building

The short-term study abroad course Sustainable Building: Introduction to Sustainable Design and Construction – Costa Rica, takes students through the country focusing on the principles of sustainable design and construction, energy, healthy buildings, natural resources, and other environmental issues. CSU students work with local students to learn about the best sustainable practices through renowned international examples.

Recruitment, Retention, and Outreach Initiatives

This one-week program hosts up to 30 young women each summer to engage in classroom sessions, jobsite tours, hands-on lab activities, an equipment rodeo, a female industry panel, and a volunteer day.

EMPOWER: Mentoring Women in Construction

Promoting women in the construction industry through cultivating a community of support, fostering connection, and developing career-applicable skills.

Empower CM mentoring participants

First Generation and Multicultural Mentorship Program

Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where alumni and students, who are first-generation and/or from multicultural backgrounds, mentor undergraduate students who have similar backgrounds and experiences. The mentorship focuses on career development, academic support, and navigating the CM major and industry.

First generation and multicultural club-group of 12 students, both male and female

Get Involved

We value and encourage participation by students of diverse backgrounds in our department activities. Check out these opportunities for ways you can get involved.

CM Cares

Our CM Cares service learning program has competed over 20 projects to help individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations with accessibility needs.

Students have the opportunity to participate in annual national and regional student competitions where students compete against other universities for top honors.

We have several student led clubs within Construction Management from Associated Builder and Contractors to Women in Construction Management.  We encourage our students to engage in these organizations.

Explore College and University Resources

Change Team Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee shall support sustainable change in the Department’s environment, practices, and program to create a more inclusive home for the Department’s students, staff, and faculty. Membership includes faculty, staff, and representatives from both graduate and undergraduate students.

The duties of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee shall include, but are not limited to:

  • Identifying how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles and practices can be integrated into both the undergraduate and graduate admission processes, student experiences, and curriculums (e.g., incorporation of specific ideas into existing courses and potentially developing new courses focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).
  • Providing continuing assessment of Department climate and culture in diversity, equity, and inclusion and identifying sustainable and long-term steps in improving both.
  • Identifying programs and workshops related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to be integrated into future departmental meetings and retreats.
  • Identifying industry or academic guest speakers who can address Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity principles in the construction industry.
  • Seeking support from and communicating with the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of CHHS in pursuing the abovementioned objectives.
  • Coordinating as necessary with the Recruitment and Retention Committee on issues related to student diversity.
RamBuilt hard hat with service stickers

Faculty Research

Awarded a grant to assess construction workers’ mental health and enable the creation of programs to improve not only their mental health, but overall well-being, CM Associate Professor Mohammed Hashem Mehany leads the project that aims to help address concerns in the industry about worker mental health. Read more.

Mohammed Mehany
  • 26% of CM undergrads identify as diverse
  • 28% of CM undergrads are first generation
  • 18% of CM undergrads are female

CM Diversity News