Thaddeus Stevens College to graduate first class of new construction major

THADDEUS STEVENS COLLEGE. LOOK QUICKLY AT THE REFLECTIVE VESTS AND HARD HATS, AND YOU MIGHT THINK THIS IS JUST ANOTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN LANCASTER CITY, BUT IT’S ACTUALLY THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF A NEW MAJOR AT THADDEUS STEVENS CALLED CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY. WE’RE TRAINING THE STUDENTS TO BECOME FIELD LEADERS FOR ANNE SUPERINTENDENTS. THEY LEARN HOW TO DO THE WORK AS WELL AS WHY THE WORK IS BEING DONE. FOUNDING INSTRUCTOR MITCH KAUFFMAN DESCRIBES IT AS LEARNING EVERYTHING ABOUT BUILDING THE ROAD AND THEN EVERYTHING BELOW IT. THE CITY IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY REPAVE PARTS OF BROAD STREET, SO THE STUDENTS VOLUNTEERED TO REPLACE THE CURB AND SIDEWALK AS PART OF ITS CLASSWORK. WE KNOW THAT IT’S CRITICAL TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, A REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LABS ARE BUILT IN A WAY THAT IT’S GOING TO REPLICATE WHAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE IN THE WORKFORCE. IN JUST TWO YEARS, AND THAT A LOWER PRICE COMPARED TO TUITION AT OTHER COLLEGES. PLUS, EACH GRAD HAS A JOB OFFER AT A LIFE SUSTAINABLE WAGE. THE PROGRAM GIVES THEM A FOUNDATION AND A BACKGROUND FOR FASTER ADVANCEMENT. I’VE LEARNED A LOT. I CAME IN HERE HONESTLY KNOWING NOTHING. I’M LEAVING WITH MORE THAN I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. I’M BEYOND PROUD OF THE WAY THEY’RE, UH, THE WAY THEY’RE GROWING, THE WAY THEY’RE DEVELOPING. AND I’M EXCITED FOR THEM TO SEE WHAT THEY DO I

While some universities around the country and even colleges in the Susquehanna Valley are making news for topping $90K a year in tuition, one Lancaster County school is unique this year for a much different reason.Since there are reflective vests and hard hats, many think that it is a construction project but it's actually the first graduating class of a new major at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology called "Civil Engineering Construction Technology." "We're training the students to become field leaders. Foremen, superintendents; they learn how to do the work, as well as why the work is being done," explains founding instructor Mitch Kauffman.Kauffman describes it as learning everything about building the road and everything below it. Lancaster City is eventually repaving Broad Street along campus, so the students volunteered to replace the curb and sidewalk as part of their classwork."We know that it's critical to give our students as much as possible a real-world experience. So we try to make sure that our labs are built in a way that we can replicate what they will see in the workforce," said Antonio Jackson, the Thaddeus Stevens VP of Academic Advancement.It offers those skills in just two years and at a lower cost compared to tuition at other colleges. Plus, each grad from this program who wants a job has a job offer at a life-sustainable wage."The program gives them a foundation and a background for faster advancement," Kauffman said. "I've learned a lot. I came in here honestly knowing nothing. I'm leaving with more than I ever could have imagined," said Michael Keene, a student about to graduate. "I'm beyond proud of the way they are growing, the way they are developing, and I’m excited for them, to see what they do," said Kauffman. In addition to the 17 students graduating from the "Civil Engineering Construction Technology" major on May 18, Thaddeus Stevens will graduate in its largest class ever with more than 500 students.More than 90% of those students receive some sort of financial aid to attend.

LANCASTER, Pa. —

Since there are reflective vests and hard hats, many think that it is a construction project but it's actually the first graduating class of a new major at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology called "Civil Engineering Construction Technology."

"We're training the students to become field leaders. Foremen, superintendents; they learn how to do the work, as well as why the work is being done," explains founding instructor Mitch Kauffman.

Kauffman describes it as learning everything about building the road and everything below it. Lancaster City is eventually repaving Broad Street along campus, so the students volunteered to replace the curb and sidewalk as part of their classwork.

"We know that it's critical to give our students as much as possible a real-world experience. So we try to make sure that our labs are built in a way that we can replicate what they will see in the workforce," said Antonio Jackson, the Thaddeus Stevens VP of Academic Advancement.

It offers those skills in just two years and at a lower cost compared to tuition at other colleges. Plus, each grad from this program who wants a job has a job offer at a life-sustainable wage.

"The program gives them a foundation and a background for faster advancement," Kauffman said.

"I've learned a lot. I came in here honestly knowing nothing. I'm leaving with more than I ever could have imagined," said Michael Keene, a student about to graduate.

"I'm beyond proud of the way they are growing, the way they are developing, and I’m excited for them, to see what they do," said Kauffman.

In addition to the 17 students graduating from the "Civil Engineering Construction Technology" major on May 18, Thaddeus Stevens will graduate in its largest class ever with more than 500 students.

More than 90% of those students receive some sort of financial aid to attend.

Thaddeus Stevens College to graduate first class of new construction major

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