The Del E. Webb School of Construction (DEWSC) at Arizona State University (ASU) with funding from the National Science Foundation has developed a site for providing research experiences to undergraduate students in the field of construction management. The site is designed to attract high-caliber undergraduate students from civil engineering, construction engineering/management, and architectural engineering programs from across the nation and to impart research training to them through a focused and well-supported ten-week on-site research program. Faculty members at the DEWSC will provide access to on going research projects for the student participants. The Del E. Webb Foundation Eminent Scholar Program that attracts an eminent individual from academia or industry for the summer session each year will also participate in providing research experiences to the student participants.

Research activities that selected students will undertake include an orientation workshop, participating faculty presentations, individual research program, interaction with current graduate students, workshop on construction management, biweekly research seminars, final research presentation, and final technical report. In addition the students will participate in two construction project site visits, and a panel discussion of construction industry experts describing the current status of the industry and its research needs. Students with diverse backgrounds and career aspirations are encouraged to apply to the program. Through well-designed group and individual research training the participating undergraduate students will be exposed to research opportunities in the construction industry thus motivating them to consider graduate education.