Gray Construction is making a $2 million endowed gift to Eastern Kentucky University to support the university’s construction management program and strengthen the construction workforce.
The gift establishes an endowed chair, funding a tenured faculty position in EKU’s construction management program. The endowed chair will allow EKU to recruit and hire a new faculty member and ensure the role will remain in perpetuity, the company said in a statement.
The Richmond, Ky., The university reports that enrollment in the program has increased by 41% over the past two years, reflecting growing student interest and demand for skilled industry professionals. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction management industry is expected to grow 9%, much faster than the average for other occupations.
“We attribute our growth to program consistency, word of mouth from alumni and industry participation,” said Justin Dodd, associate professor of construction management at EKU. “We have retained our faculty, made program improvements in a cohesive manner, and worked with our students to ensure that 99% of them have a placement within three months of graduation.”
The university also maintains industry connections, hosting a dozen student and classroom events with industry professionals each semester.
The university said more than 90 percent of construction management graduates earn an average starting salary of $65,000.
“[This] marks the beginning of a broader effort to bring alumni and industry partners together in support of our students, expanding scholarship opportunities, hands-on learning spaces and internships that ensure graduates are workforce ready,” University President David McFaddin said in a press release.
Gray, ranked No. 36 on ENR’s Top 400 Contractors list, employs nearly 150 EKU alumni, with 25 percent of them starting their careers at Gray through internships.
“We are very proud of this partnership and the role EKU has played in shaping many of the people who make Gray what it is today,” Stephen Gray, the firm’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “As we look forward, we are excited about what we can continue to build together, to create a stronger workforce for the industry and for Kentucky.”
Chris Schumacher, an EKU construction management major and business unit leader at Gray, said the program emphasizes real-world industry experience and preparing students for the future.
“To see Gray, the company I’m proud to be a part of, invest in the same program that helped shape my path — it really does come full circle,” he said.
