ACEC, Northwestern University Team Up For Business Management Master's Degree Jeff Beard, ACEC Vice President and Institute for Business Management Director: "Important opportunity." A new partnership between ACEC and Northwestern University in Chicago will result in the nation's first-ever graduate program in business management specifically for the A/E/C professional. The 36-credit Master of A/E/C Business Management program is designed to prepare industry practitioners for management roles in the design, construction and operation of projects. The program will focus on advanced skills including: entrepreneurship and business administration; program and project management; leadership and public policy; and systems integration. "This unique program marks the next stage in the advancement of ACEC's educational offerings and our Institute for Business Management," said ACEC President Dave Raymond. "We are extremely proud of this collaboration with Northwestern University in being able to offer a new management degree never before available, but of vital interest to our members," said ACEC Vice President and Institute for Business Management Director Jeff Beard. "This provides an important opportunity for industry practitioners seeking a management program specifically for the engineering industry, as opposed to a generic MBA program." Northwestern University, which is coordinating the new program through its McCormick School of Engineering and Kellogg School of Management, will provide the actual courses. ACEC will provide direction on course content and access to industry practitioners. Additional information about the new Master's Degree program will be published in Last Word as it becomes available.

ACEC Presses Senate To Act On WRDA; Call For Action Issued To Members ACEC Chairman Ed Mulcahy: "WRDA passage long overdue." After final passage of major highway and energy legislation last month, ACEC is now urging Congress to make water infrastructure a priority in the fall. ACEC member-action is needed to urge quick Senate attention to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). WRDA authorizes funding for Army Corps of Engineers flood control, navigation and environmental restoration projects which are critical to sustaining the nation's waterway transportation system, and important to the many ACEC member firms that focus on water resources. WRDA is traditionally reauthorized on a biannual cycle, but has not been reauthorized since 2000 due primarily to conflicts over Corps environmental policies. The House passed a $10 billion WRDA bill (H.R. 2864) in July. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed a $7 billion version of the bill (S. 728) in April. Both bills include "Corps reform" policy provisions supported by ACEC and industry allies that create a new review process to enhance oversight on major proposed projects. It is now up to the full Senate to take up the measure and move it to conference, and ACEC is initiating a grassroots campaign for immediate Senate action on WRDA when lawmakers return in September. "Passage of a WRDA bill this year is critical to many ACEC members," said ACEC Chairman Ed Mulcahy. "We need to let the Senate know that this is long overdue." ACEC members are urged to send a letter to their senators urging them to pass WRDA as soon as possible. Click here for a sample letter. Members are advised to FAX letters to Senate offices—Click here for contact information.

Wisconsin Joins Ranks Of ACEC/PAC Goal Achievers Ted Richards, ACEC/WI PAC Trustee   ACEC/Wisconsin is the latest State Member Organization to reach its ACEC/PAC fundraising target for 2005. Wisconsin becomes the sixth state to meet its 2005 fundraising goal, joining North Dakota, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, and Alaska. A number of other states are coming close, including Indiana, South Carolina, Washington, and Wyoming. Rajan Sheth, incoming ACEC/WI PAC Trustee The ACEC/PAC Trustee for Wisconsin, Ted Richards of Strand Associates, as well as the incoming PAC Trustee, Rajan Sheth of Mead and Hunt, led the successful fundraising campaign that enabled the state to reach its target well ahead of schedule. "Our business success depends in part on an active and effective political program to protect our interests at the national level," said Richards. Added Sheth: "Giving to ACEC/PAC should be a priority for every principal in every ACEC member firm." ACEC/PAC trustees have set fundraising targets each year for State Member Organizations based on membership strength. Click here to see the progress to date for each state. For more information about ACEC/PAC, contact Corie Simmons at 202-682-4314 or csimmons@acec.org.

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