BLUEFIELD, W.VA: Frank Hart received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil
engineering from Virginia Tech, but if he were out in the industry, he’d likely hire
a Bluefield State College graduate.
Of course, he is dean of Bluefield State’s School of Engineering
Technology and Computer Science.
But so many employers agree with his endorsement of Bluefield State
civil engineering technology grads that they’re all snapped up months before
graduation. Anderson & Associates employs 5-10 of them at any given time, between its
Blacksburg, Va., and Beckley, W.Va. offices. In fact, Lance Morgan, A&A’s Beckley
regional manager, is a BSC alumnus, as are Stevie Steele, Joe Pack, Jennifer Belcher,
Richard Koger, Jason Patrick, Eli Sharp, and Heather Jessup.
Hart says their success is grounded in BSC’s strong relationship
with industry and the types of technological skills in demand. Department faculty bring an
average of 11 years industry experience to the classroom, and students graduate with 6
–12 months of actual work experience in their field. What’s more, through
generous industry support, the small college receives the latest hardware, software, and
GPS equipment for teaching purposes.
"Our graduates come out with a good technology background, good
communication skills, and a good work ethic. They hit the ground running," Hart says.
Hart likes to see his students employed at A&A because he knows they’re advancing
their technological education even further.
"Anderson & Associates has been a top technology civil
engineering firm in a wide, several-state region. They continually look for new
technology," he says. "A&A engineers are great on-the-job mentors for our
graduates."
As part of its continuous improvement process to determine whether its
education is meeting industry needs, BSC tracks its engineering graduates several years.
"They’re doing well," Hart says. "That’s partly why we’re so
successful in getting industry funding." Each year Carlson Software Company, a major
engineering/surveying-software company, provides BSC their latest software, loans the
latest data collectors for one year and replaces them a year later with new ones. The West
Virginia-based Swope Construction arranged for BSC to receive $50,000 GPS equipment for
$5,000 and is eager to hire new graduates trained in this technology. "It’s a
win-win situation," Hart says.
Hart was chairman of the Technology Accreditation Commission of the
Accreditation Board for
Engineering
and Technology (ABET) and gives ABET about 10 days of service each year. He serves on
ABET’s International Activities Committee and as a facilitator for the Technological
Education Initiative. He’s also active in the American Congress on Surveying and
Mapping, International Society for Mine Surveying, and American Society of Civil
Engineers, but manages to set aside time for golfing, fishing the New River, researching
his genealogy, and spending time with his three grandchildren, ages 3, 6, and 8. He and
his wife, Carol, live in Bluefield, Va.
BLUEFIELD, W.VA: Frank Hart received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil
engineering from Virginia Tech, but if he were out in the industry, he’d likely hire
a Bluefield State College graduate.
