Date: April 13, 2016
News - Frank Chaney Helps to Connect Virginia Tech with College of Southern Maryland for Bachelor's Degrees in Construction, Real Estate
GAMBRILLS, Md. (April 13, 2016) – Fueled by a desire to help more individuals achieve the American Dream, Chaney Enterprises Chairman Francis H. Chaney, II, has helped to pave a smoother pathway to a bachelor’s degree at the renowned Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) for College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students pursuing careers in the real estate and construction industries.
Under an articulation agreement signed on March 30, CSM students who have earned an associate degree in general studies or arts and sciences will now be able to transfer seamlessly to Virginia Tech where they can earn a bachelor’s degree in either building construction or real estate. This means for CSM students planning to transfer to Virginia Tech, the credits earned in their associate degree programs will transfer toward the specified bachelor’s degree, making completing their education more affordable and efficient.
"We are privileged to be the first out-of-state institution that has an (undergraduate) agreement with Virginia Tech. Why this is so important is that as a transfer institution, over half of our students - close to 60 percent - expect to transfer. It is our responsibility to have a pathway for them (to complete their bachelor's degree)," CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried said in a CSM press release.
When many consider a two-year degree, at most, to be the pathway to a job in construction, Frank Chaney saw a career in the industry to be much more. It has been his long-time vision to create an “articulating career path” for those pursuing careers in the construction, building and mining industries. This led him to share his idea with Virginia Tech’s provost.
“With my dream, at least the industries would have an easy map to show how diverse, exciting and flexible these industries are,” Chaney said in his email to the provost. “A high school student should be able to intern in these industries, jump from one blue collar segment such as carpentry to one white collar segment such as engineering with ease. All in all, they should have the ability to find a job they love in order to achieve the American dream."
According to U.S. employment projections, Virginia Tech reports job prospects are excellent for students with construction experience who also hold a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management or construction/civil engineering. Over the past five years, Virginia Tech's Department of Building Construction has reported 100 percent job placement by its graduates in positions such as field engineers, project managers, estimators and field superintendents among others – with a median starting salary of $60,000.
CSM’s president praised Chaney, a graduate of Virginia Tech, for bringing the schools together and for being such a good friend to the college.
“Frank has been a strong advocate of the college and a believer in supporting educational opportunities for the community through scholarships, equipment donations for training purposes and the essential funds to further develop our programs. We are especially grateful for his focus on partnering with his alma mater, offering our students an opportunity to partner with a standout division I research institution," Gottfried said.
During the official signing ceremony, Maryland Higher Education Commission Secretary James C. Fielder Jr. also hailed Chaney for his long-time commitment in making the agreement possible.
“Thanks also to Frank for the long-term commitment he made to get this started,” Fielder said. “You saw the barren field and said, 'Okay, what can we put there?' You had this vision, and now we're getting ready to pour the foundation."
In addition to Gottfried, Fielder and Chaney, on hand for the signing agreement were
Virginia Tech Vice Provost for Enrollment and Degree Management Wanda Hankins Dean; Myers-Lawson School of Construction Associate Director Dr. Andrew McCoy; Building Construction Department Head Yvan J. Beliveau; and CSM Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Eileen Abel.