ULM School of Construction Management receives $ 250,000 from La. Contractors

Posted on October 5, 2021

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and the Contractors’ Education Trust Fund donated $ 250,000 to the ULM Foundation for the ULM School of Construction Management. The organizations donated over $ 1.5 million to help grow the program. Pictured left to right in the back row are Senator Glen Womack, Andy Dupuy, Garland Meredith and ULM President Ron Berry, and in the front, SCM Director Dr Ed Brayton , Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences, Dr. Michelle McEacharn, and Vic Weston.

Siddharth Gaulee / ULM photo services

To date, LSLBC has donated $ 1,142,000 to the School of Construction Management at ULM, and CETF has donated $ 400,000 and funded a $ 1 million chair.

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and the Contractors’ Educational Trust Fund know that graduates of the Monroe School of Construction Management at the University of Louisiana are among the best in the world at what they do.

This is why the organizations went to the ULM on September 30, 2021, to present a check for $ 250,000 to the ULM Foundation for the SCM. This is the second year that LSLBC and CETF have donated $ 250,000 to the school.

A check presentation and reception was held to thank the organizations for their many years of support, which has enabled SCM to improve facilities, technology and student experiences.

Guests included Vic Weston of LSLBC and CETF; from LSLBC, General Manager Michael McDuff and Treasurer Andy Dupuy; Louisiana Associated General Contractors, CEO Ken Naquin, COO Michael Demouy, North Louisiana Regional Director Wes Mouk, and former ULM president and alumnus Robert Billeaud; Andrew Barber’s SCM Industry Advisory Council; and State Senator Glen Womack.

“I want to thank all of you for being here and for your phenomenal support,” said Michelle McEacharn, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you do, which advances not only the Construction Management program, but also the College of Business and Social Sciences and ULM. ”

Weston said construction is the lifeblood of the economy, “… and the students you train are modernizing the industry.”

Weston noted that LSLBC has donated $ 1,142,000 to ULM to date, and CETF has donated $ 400,000 and funded a $ 1 million chair.

“If you think we’re here to give you a cheeky check, we’re here to humbly give you a check,” Weston said.

SCM principal and CETF chairman Ed Brayton, Ph.D., said the school’s progress over the years was due to both organizations.

“We spent $ 1.4 million. Last year we completed the atrium area and also added an additional computer room. This year, we plan to construct a pre-engineered building that will be used for the construction practices area, ”Brayton said. “We were able to do what we did thanks to these private funds. We have really turned this program around because of them.

The SCM has a 100 percent pass rate on licensing exams and a 100 percent placement rate, with most seniors accepting positions before graduating. Starting salaries for SCM graduates are highest in the university’s undergraduate programs.