Business leaders, educators team up to start school tech program

Students to study construction management, engineering, architecture

January 14, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Louis J. Coletti, president and CEO of the Building Trades Employers’ Association, has high hopes for the new program. Photo courtesy Building Trades Employers’ Association

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Teamwork between the public and private sectors has led to the development of an educational program that will give students a jump on careers in engineering and architecture, according to a group of educators and business leaders.

The Building Trades Employers’ Association, the CH2M Hill corporation, the New York City Department of Education (DOE), the City University of New York (CUNY) and New York City College of Technology have all entered into a partnership to establish a six-year program at City Polytechnic High School of Engineering, Architecture and Technology in Downtown Brooklyn.

The program is designed to prepare students for careers in construction management, architecture and civil engineering and funded through a grant under the New York State P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program.

Students will receive career and technical training toward a high school diploma as well as an associate degree. The Building Trades Employers’ Association, CH2M Hill and other industry players will be working with the DOE and CUNY to design a program of study that combines industry training and work experience.

The innovative program will begin at the Downtown Brooklyn school with incoming ninth graders this September, officials said.

The program’s developers hope that the combination of academics and real-life experiences will position the program’s students as top candidates for jobs in their desired fields.

“This new partnership is part of our commitment to pave new pathways and opportunities for students to succeed in careers, particularly in booming sectors of our city. This collaboration will provide high school students with a 21st century education that combines academic, technical and real-world learning experiences, all by leveraging the expertise of the vast networks of the Building Trades Employers’ Association,” said Deputy Schools Chancellor Phil Weinberg.

“Through this new program, hundreds of New York City young adults will gain the tools they need for a lifetime of success. Building on our already successful construction skills program, we will now train the next generation of managers in the field. In the most robust building and development market in the city’s history, a program like this to train the people who will manage construction is critical for our future,” said Louis J. Coletti, president and CEO of the Building Trades Employers’ Association.

The program will feature a work-based learning process that will include career panels, mentoring, job shadowing, internships and other student- professional interactions.

In addition to academic experiences, the program will support students outside the classroom with hands-on training at job sites.