College of Engineering and Office of Facility Management Partner through the Engineering Structured Apprenticeship Program to Provide Construction Management Students with a Unique On-Campus Learning Experience

The College of Engineering is partnering with the University’s Office of Facility Management as part of the new Engineering Structured Apprenticeship Program (ESAP) to provide construction management students with a unique on-campus construction experience. Through this collaboration, students will be hired to work directly on active construction projects across campus. The College and the Office of Facility Management have begun the interview process and anticipate hiring 10 students before the end of November 2025.

ESAP is a fully integrated model in which coursework, work experience, and professional certification and credentials are designed to reinforce one another. Each student is supported by both an academic advisor and an industry mentor, ensuring meaningful engagement in the classroom and on the job site, ensuring they gain meaningful hands-on training while employers benefit from a pipeline of skilled talent.

This innovative opportunity provides students with a perspective rarely seen by future contractors, the owner’s viewpoint. By working alongside Facility Management staff, students will gain insight into how large-scale projects are planned, managed, and overseen by the customer, giving them an edge in understanding expectations and navigating challenges once they enter the construction industry.

“This partnership offers our students an exceptional learning opportunity,” said Dr. Ahmed Khattab, Dean of the College of Engineering. “By experiencing projects through the lens of the client, they develop skills and awareness that will make them stronger, more effective construction managers.”

“This collaboration gives our students a professional advantage,” said Scott Hebert, Director for Facility Management. “They graduate with both technical expertise, hands on experience, and customer insight, a combination that makes them highly effective construction managers equipped to excel immediately in the construction industry.”

The program not only benefits students but also enhances the University’s ability to manage its own campus projects with additional talent and fresh perspectives. Facility Management staff benefit from student support while helping shape the next generation of construction professionals.

The partnership underscores the College of Engineering’s commitment to preparing students who are ready to lead in Louisiana’s workforce and Facility Management’s unwavering support of our University’s outstanding academic programs.  By blending apprenticeship-style experiences with real-world projects on campus, the program creates graduates who are equipped to serve their communities with technical skill, practical knowledge, and professional confidence.

Photo credit: University of Louisiana at Lafayette