M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction

        This page contains important information about the M.E. Rinker School of Building Construction.  Please read before visitng the pages that contain the individual programs for Building Construction and Fire and Emergency Services.

www.bcn.ufl.edu

        The school had its beginning through the architecture program in 1935 and became a department in 1957. In 1976, the School of Building Construction was established. The school was named the M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction in 1989 and is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education.

        The school has an enrollment of 250. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction or a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services and begin work immediately as assistant project managers, field engineers, schedulers, cost engineers, assistant superintendents, quality controllers and estimators and fire and emergency service unit leaders.

Honorary and Professional Organizations

College Council:

        The School of Building Construction College Council represents building construction students and acts as a liaison among students, the school’s faculty and administration, university administration, Student Government and the Gainesville community. The council’s primary responsibility is to support financially the students’ educational activities and to bring student concerns and recommendations to the school’s director.

Sigma Lambda Chi:

        Sigma Lambda Chi is the national honorary society of building construction. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding students for scholastic achievements, leadership abilities and extracurricular activities. Sigma Lambda Chi provides services to students and promotes a channel of communication between students and the construction industry. The society is a source of required blueprints for construction course work. The society also provides a computerized job search file and tutoring for building construction students and performs volunteer work for the community.

American Association of Cost Engineers, International:

        The American Association of Cost Engineers is a nonprofit professional association of cost engineers, cost estimators, project managers, planners, schedulers and other professionals engaged in work related to construction business costs and profits. The school has a student chapter sponsored by the Mid-Florida chapter in Orlando. Through the student chapter, building construction students may begin to develop professional careers. Student memberships may be enhanced later through the ACCE certification program for recognition as a certified cost engineer (CCE) or certified cost consultant (CCC). Both are internationally recognized certifications.

Student Contractors and Builders Association (SCBA):

        This is the student chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). SCBA increases knowledge of the construction industry, promotes fellowship and professionalism and provides service to the school, the university and the community. Membership is open to all building construction students. SCBA activities include community service projects, guest speakers, social gatherings and attendance at the AGC and NAHB National Conventions.

Student Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC):

        The student chapter of ABC increases student knowledge of the construction industry, promotes fellowship and professionalism and provides service to the school, the university and the community. Membership is open to all construction-related majors.

        ABC’s chief purpose is to create a work climate where independent and union firms can work together in harmony. An important goal is to the promotion of the merit shop philosophy and the right to choose between independent and union work environments.

        Chapter functions include sponsoring guest speakers at each meeting and sending representatives to both state and national ABC conventions. Other chapter activities include attending monthly Gulf Coast chapter meetings, fund raisers, assisting in homecoming activities and organizing social gatherings.

National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC):

        The student chapter of NAMC helps recruit and retain minority and female students, and promotes fellowship, equality and professionalism among all students. Membership is open to all building construction students. One of the most important goals of NAMC is academic improvement. NAMC provides tutors and incentives to motivate students to excel in construction education.

Construction Management Association of America (CMAA):

        CMAA is the only construction association devoted to promoting professional construction management and is open to all students. The student chapter sponsors guest speakers, social gatherings, presentation of papers at regional and national meetings and assists in the annual M.E. Rinker Sr. Distinguished Lecture on Construction Management. CMAA has 200 corporate members who specialize in construction management and 1,000 individual members who are construction managers.

American Institute of Constructors (AIC):

        The student chapter is the entry level into the professional AIC. AIC promotes professionalism through education, communication within the profession and establishment of ethical codes and rules of professional conduct. The student chapter promotes these ideals through service to the school, university and the community. Membership is open to all building construction students. Individual membership in the student chapter of AIC may be transferred to an associate professional membership after graduation. The chapter takes monthly trips to the Orlando and Tampa meetings and participate as a full member in the programs.

Christians in Construction:

        CIC provides a means for students to strengthen their relationships with God and helps them prepare to honor God in their construction careers.

        CIC hosts guest speakers who are Christian business people from the construction industry, including contractors, architects, engineers and attorneys. CIC also engages in construction project field trips and participates in philanthropic events.

Computer Requirement

        Personal computer design and graphic and operational competence is an essential component of the professional environment. Computer skills now are required for most entrylevel opportunities in construction. Competency in the basic use of a computer is a requirement for graduation. Course content increasingly relies on student computer skills and access to computers. Academic advising and registration can be done by computer and official university correspondence is often sent via e-mail. The demands on university computer facilities are significant.

        Students entering the junior year of professional course work are required to purchase, lease or otherwise obtain continuing access to a personal computer that is capable of dial-up or network connection to the Internet, graphical access to the World Wide Web, and productivity functions such as word processing and spreadsheet calculation.

        Information concerning computer hardware and software is available on the university’s web page at http://www.ufl.edu or from CIRCA at http://www.circa.ufl.edu/computers, which has a link to the school’s web page.

Programs of Study

Building Construction
Major:  Building Construction
Degree Awarded:  B.S.B.C.
Minor:  No
Total Credits Required:  126

        The Bachelor of Science in Building Construction is a four-year program for students interested in careers in construction management, techniques, operations and related areas in the construction industry. The degree draws upon skills in communication and interpersonal relations, rather than architectural and engineering design.

        The freshman and sophomore programs of study are designed to provide easy transfer for junior and community college graduates. Prospective transfer students should consult their advisers or write to the School of Building Construction for a pre-building construction program of local study.

        Opportunities for advancement and increasing responsibility exist in all areas of the construction industry, including land development, home building, public building and industrialized building systems; commercial, industrial, marine and heavy construction; underwater and space-age facilities; materials and equipment sales and installations; and construction product research, development, sales and applications.

        Courses also are offered leading to the Master of Building Construction or Master of Science in Building Construction. The normal graduate enrollment is 55. The College of Architecture began offering a Ph.D. program in 1988. For requirements for these degrees and admission to graduate school, consult the Graduate Catalog.

        Students planning to enter the Graduate School should maintain a 3.0 (B) average in junior and senior level work.

Fire and Emergency Services
New Degree to be Implemented Fall 1999
Major:  Fire and Emergency Services
Degree Awarded:  B.S.F.E.S.
Minor:  No
Total Credits Required:  124

        This is a new degree program scheduled for implementation fall semester 1999. Please contact the school to verify the information provided: visit 101 Fine Arts Building C, write to P.O. Box 115703, UF, Gainesville, FL 32611-5703, or e-mail dirbcn@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu.

        The Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services is designed to build on the student’s experience in the fire service and to add the academic substance to prepare graduates to lead public or private sector fire and emergency service units.

        Students who begin their studies at the University of Florida will enter the program in the junior year and complete the program at the university or they can enter the university at the junior year after taking courses at a Florida community college as part of an Associate of Arts degree.

        After earning the Associate of Arts degree from a Florida community college or other accredited academic institution, transfer students may then apply for admission to the University of Florida.

        Once accepted, students can pursue a Bachelor of Science without moving to Gainesville. Course work for the junior and senior years will be offered via electronic distance learning and UF faculty will teach and advise students in the program.

        Students will need access to a personal computer capable of connecting to the World Wide Web and sending and receiving electronic mail.  It is recommended but not required that the student’s computer have a video conferencing
capability.  Upon completion of the requirements for the degree, the degree is conferred by the university.

Application Deadlines

    Students are admitted for third-year professional course work in the fall and spring semesters. Application procedures, receipt of transcripts and school requirements for admission should be completed by the deadline.

Building Construction:
Fall Semester – March 1, 1999
Spring Semester – September 1, 1999

Fire and Emergency Services:
Fall Semester – June 1, 1999
Spring Semester – October 1, 1999

Requirements for Admission

Building Construction

        The school’s minimum requirements for admission follow. It should be understood that admission to the school is selective.

All Students

University of Florida Students

        Students entering the school are required to comply with the admission criteria as indicated in the Academic Advising section.

Transfer Students

        To be eligible for admission to the School of Building Construction, a transfer student must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

        Students attending four-year colleges should follow a program of general education and pre-professional courses equivalent to the basic curriculum for entry to the school.

        Junior college and community college students should:

Scholarships and Assistantships

        Information about general financial aid can be obtained from the Office for Student Financial Affairs, Box 114025, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-4025. Information concerning scholarships available for third- and fourth-year building construction students is available at the school.

Job Placement

        The Building Construction Job Placement office is located in Fine Arts Complex C. This office helps seniors and graduate students obtain employment upon graduation. Traditionally, the majority of graduating BCN students acquire employment before they graduate and the job placement office is largely responsible for this outstanding achievement. This office also provides summer employment listings and opportunities.

Fire and Emergency Services

The school’s minimum requirements for admission follow.

All  Students

University of Florida Students

        Students entering the school are required to comply with all admission criteria.

Transfer Students

        To be eligible for admission to the School of Building Construction, a transfer student must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

        Students attending four-year colleges should follow a program of general education and pre-professional courses equivalent to the basic curriculum for entry to the school.

        Junior college and community college students should:

Scholarships and Assistantships

        Electronic Distance Learning students are eligible for University of Florida scholarships.

School Regulations

        The student must assume full responsibility for maintaining normal academic progress, registering for and completing the proper courses and for fulfilling all requirements for the degree.

Course Drops and Changes

        Courses may be dropped with adviser approval and without petitioning until the end of the first week of the semester. After the first week, courses may be dropped or changed without penalty through the administrative office of the school (by petition) and the Office of the University Registrar.

Normal Loads

        The average course load for building construction students is 16 hours. A student may register for additional hours if the academic adviser and the student’s academic record justifies this. Students who wish to take fewer than 12 hours should be aware that certain university privileges and benefits require a minimum registration. It is the student’s responsibility to verify the minimum registration necessary for these privileges and benefits.

Normal Academic Progress

        Students must maintain normal academic progress with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) for all courses attempted in the junior and senior years. In addition, the student must take courses in the sequence specified. Students may be excluded from the program if they fail or refuse to maintain normal academic progress.

Student Work

        The school reserves the right to retain all student work for the purpose of record, exhibition or instruction.

Probation and Dismissal

        Students who do not make satisfactory academic progress may be excluded from further registration.

Graduation Requirements

        Seniors must file formal application for a degree in the Office of the University Registrar early in the semester in which they expect to receive the degree. The university calendar lists the deadline.

        To receive the Bachelor of Science in Building Construction, a student must complete all of the following satisfactorily:

        A minimum of 126 semester hours is required for graduation. The waiving of any required course does not reduce the hours required for graduation.

        To receive the Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services, a student must complete all of the following satisfactorily:

        A minimum 124 semester hours is required for graduation.  The waiving of any required course does not reduce the hours required for graduation.

Dean’s List & Graduating with Honors

Dean’s List:

        Students in the school who carry a minimum of 12 hours per semester with a grade point average of at least 3.7 will be placed on the Dean’s List that semester.

Honors:

        To graduate with honors, a building construction student must achieve a 3.3 average on all course work accepted as a junior/senior and all course work (exceptions noted below) attempted while in the junior/senior years.

High and Highest Honors:

        To graduate with high or highest honors, a building construction student must achieve a 3.6 or 3.75 average, respectively, on all work accepted as a junior/senior and all course work (except as noted below) attempted while in the junior/senior years. In addition, for high and highest honors, the student must complete a project or other creative work.

        In calculating requirements for graduating with honors, high honors or highest honors, the following restrictions apply: