The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute-affiliated PCI Foundation has announced a five-year commitment to the Concrete Industry Management Program and will join other industry groups on the CIM National Steering Committee. Chartered in 1996 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, the program offers students a four-year degree combining general business and concrete-specific studies. With enrollment nearing 400, MTSU's four-year degree program has spawned CIM extensions in the past two years at Arizona State University, California State University at Chico, and New Jersey Institute of Technology.

“This mission fits perfectly with [our] goals to cultivate productive relationships between the industry and the academic community and to develop and attract high-potential students to productive careers within our industry,” says PCI Foundation Chairman Thomas D'Arcy (CEG). “We are pleased to join forces with the Concrete Industry Management Program in their efforts to develop concrete industry-related courses and internships within the academic community. Such programs can go a long way to provide for the future success of the concrete industry.”

The CIM curriculum includes general studies requirements, business and engineering classes, construction management coursework, and concrete industry-related courses. The latter address fundamentals of aggregates, cement and admixtures; mix proportioning and strength testing; concrete construction methods and applications; industry codes and standards; plant management; and, problem diagnosis and prevention.