WESTERN
Illinois
University
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT: Knoblauch 135, 1 University
Circle, Macomb, Il 61455-1390
COLLEGE of BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
CSTM 345 (3) Construction Scheduling
Mon & Weds: 10:00-11:15 KH 105
Dr. Denise Gravitt
OFFICE HOURS: (Office location KNBL B-9) Tues & Thurs 10-11:30 and 1:30-4:00; Fri 1:303:00. Other times available by appointment; call or email me to set up a day & time.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: 345 Scheduling for Construction (3). A study of planning and
scheduling practices used by the construction industry. Scheduling logic, productivity and
durations, resource leveling, cost loading, critical path issues, and applications of computer
software for the creation of construction project schedules are covered.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Project Scheduling and Management for Construction, 4th ed. by Pierce, D. Reed Construction
Data.
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY DEPT: Goals for Student Learning
Technology (Engineering Technology, Graphic Communication, and Construction Management) is
a field of study designed to prepare technical, technical management, and technical entrepreneurial
professionals for employment in business, industry, education, and government.
By graduation, Engineering Technology students should be able to:
1.
Think critically and creatively;
2.
Understand the theoretical principles of the profession;
3.
Understand and apply relevant technology in the solution of technical problems;
4.
Develop an appreciation for ethical and professional practices;
5.
Develop and refine oral, written, and visual communication skills; and
6.
Demonstrate an overall competency in the program objectives.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course, students will Students will be able to identify, read, understand,
and apply knowledge gained from basic construction documents for projects in order to create
schedules including pertinent information relating to:
specifications and submittals,
productivity,
durations,
logic and precedence,
preparing basic schedules by hand as well as using computer software.
To help with writing skills:
"The University Writing Center is available to assist you with general and specific questions on
writing assigned in any discipline and at any academic level. The one-on-one assistance available at
the Writing Center is valuable for generating ideas, talking about global-level issues such as
organization, and even working through grammatical problems. The University Writing Center is
located in Simpkins Hall 341. Call for an appointment (298-2815) and be sure to bring a copy of
your assignment."
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CSTM Program Objectives & Goals
Understand how to organize, manage, and maintain projects;
Understand the theoretical principles involved in soil mechanics, foundations and structural
forces, electrical and mechanical systems and how these systems affect building design;
Be familiar with construction methods and materials composition, properties, terminology,
standard designations, building codes and standards, and green/sustainable options;
Be able to create computer drawings, read and interpret working drawings and construction
documentation;
Be familiar with plane surveying equipment and techniques for construction for site layout,
organization and development;
Be able to do basic quantity take-off, estimating and knowledge of bidding preparation;
General knowledge of accounting, bidding and procurement practices, records and reporting,
and economics;
General knowledge of the Construction Industry- types of construction etc.;
Legal knowledge of construction contracts, roles and responsibilities, regulatory environment
and licensing, lien laws, labor laws and construction administrative procedures to avoid
disputes; professional ethics;
10 Knowledge of OSHA, Construction Safety and Health rules & regulations;
11 Knowledge ofConstruction Project Management concepts, roles and responsibilities,
administrative systems and procedures, cost control procedures, job site documentation, quality
control procedures and computer applications.
COURSE TOPICS:
Reading Construction documents including all discipline drawings, specifications, bid forms,
addenda, general and special conditions. In addition, basic quantity take-off will be used to identify
activities, durations from productivity factors, logic for schedule creation and the use of schedules
in project management.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
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Each student is expected to read all assignments. Two copies of the assigned homework should be
printed- one to turn in at the BEGINNING of the class, one for the student to keep and update as the
class progresses. Grades will be assigned based upon completeness of work, grammar, spelling etc.
Each student is expected to attend class lectures, sessions with speakers, and exams when
scheduled.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Optional. See Course Calendar. Open book, notes etc.
The student will complete all assigned individual activities and turn them in via paper on the due
date. I will not accept excuses such as the computer lab was out of paper, the printer wasn’t
working, I lost my file……..etc. Plan ahead so you have time to go to another lab if necessary to
print out your work. Late work and emailed work will not be accepted for grading unless the
student has a WIU approved absence.
It is the instructor’s responsibility to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning. This means that
I will not allow cell phones or iPODs (any MP3 players) to be used during class- if I see them or
hear them they will be mine for the duration of the class. Nor will I allow eating or reading of
papers, or side discussions with other students. Late students may not be admitted to the classroom.
I expect everyone to act professionally. Thus, I will also not allow swearing or profanity, rude or
disparaging jokes or behavior in class. You will get one warning, and after that if you do not
correct your speech or behavior you will be asked to leave the classroom.
GRADING:
Exams - best 3 of 4
Final Exam * (optional)
Hmwk/Lab/Article Reviews
Project
Attendance**/Participation
45 %
25 %
25 %
5%
100%
* Final exam counts as one of the best 3 of 4 exams used to calculate student course grade.
** Attendance is mandatory. Everyone can have up to 2 absences excused and/or unexcused. If you
use up your absences for personal reasons and then get sick- too bad since no more than 2 will
be excused. No matter why you are absent homework/assignments are still due the day as
indicated in the syllabus. If you are sick email the assignment to show it is complete then turn
it in as a paper document the class period you return to class. If this isn’t done they will not
be graded. Any absences over 2 will count against your semester grade in addition to not
getting grades for assignments due that day. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what
they missed when not in attendance.
Online Absence Reporting System (OARS)
In accordance with WIU University Senate policy; students are to report any absences through OARS. Beu
Health Center will no longer issue documentation of absence due to illness.
Final grade scale is below. No rounding up of percentages will occur.
GRADES BREAKDOWN:
*A+
A
AB+
B
B-
(97.0% - 100%)
(93.0% - 96.9%)
(90.0% - 92.9%)
(87.0% - 89.9%)
(83.0% - 86.9%)
(80.0% - 82.9%)
C+
C
CD+
D
D-
(77.0% - 79.9%)
(73.0% - 76.9%)
(70.0% - 72.9%)
(67.0% - 69.9%)
(63.0% - 66.9%)
(60.0%- 62.9%)
*NOTE: WIU does not count A+. Any grade above 93% will be reported as an A. A temporary symbol of I
(Incomplete) for a course may be given only when a student, due to circumstances beyond his or her control,
has been unable to complete the course requirements within the official limits of the term. The
circumstances must be documented to the instructor’s satisfaction and requested by the student.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Preamble
Western Illinois University, like all communities, functions best when its members treat one
another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. Students have rights and responsibilities
(http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students/) and students should realize that deception for individual
gain is an offense against the members of the entire community, and it is the student's
responsibility to be informed and to abide by all University regulations and policies on Academic
Integrity.
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty constitute a serious violation of
University conduct regulations. Students who engage in dishonesty in any form shall be charged
with academic dishonesty.
It is a duty of faculty members to take measures to preserve and transmit the values of the
academic community in the learning environment that they create for their students and in their
own academic pursuits. To this end, they are expected to instill in their students a respect for
integrity and a desire to behave honestly. They are also expected to take measures to discourage
student academic dishonesty, to adjust grades appropriately if academic dishonesty is encountered,
and, when warranted, to recommend that additional administrative sanctions be considered.
Grading policies are the exclusive prerogative of the faculty; administrative sanctions are under the
authority of the Director of Student Judicial Programs. This document provides policies and
procedures to be followed when academic dishonesty is encountered.
Definitions of Academic Dishonesty
The following definitions and examples are not meant to be exhaustive. The University reserves
the right to determine, in a given instance, what action constitutes a violation of academic
integrity. (See www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php for complete descriptions of the following
topics:
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Plagiarism
Fabrication and Falsification
Cheating
Complicity in Academic Dishonesty
Abuse of Academic Materials
Multiple Submissions
Reporting Academic Dishonesty
All members of the University community share the responsibility and authority to challenge and
make known acts of apparent academic dishonesty. Any student, faculty member, or staff person
who has witnessed an apparent act of student academic dishonesty, or has information that
reasonably leads to the conclusion that such an act has occurred or has been attempted, has an
ethical responsibility for reporting said act(s). Confronting and reporting academic dishonesty can
be done in a variety of ways, and people should choose the manner most appropriate for the
circumstances. Acts of apparent academic dishonesty that occur in the classroom should be
reported directly to the course instructor, and/or the course instructor's Department Chair, and/or
the instructor's College Dean. The Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards
(CAGAS) or the Graduate Council will not accept or act upon anonymous reports, but will hold in
strict confidence the identity of any person reporting a suspected instance of academic dishonesty,
unless that person consents to having his/her identity revealed.
STUDENT ACCESS, DISABILITY SERVICES & Disputes:
“In accordance with University values and disability law, students with disabilities may request academic
accommodations where there are aspects of a course that result in barriers to inclusion or accurate assessment
of achievement. To file an official request for disability-related accommodations, please contact the Disability
Resource Center at 309-298-2515, disability@wiu.edu or in 143 Memorial Hall. Please notify the instructor
as soon as possible to ensure that this course is accessible to you in a timely manner.”
If you have emergency medical information to share with me, if you need special
arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, or if you need accommodations in this course
because of a disability, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. My office location
and hours are at the top of this syllabus. If you plan to request disability accommodations, you must
register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 298-2512.
Resolution of Problems
Should a problem occur, students should speak to their instructor first. If the problem is not resolved, meet
with the chair of the department. If the problem continues to be unresolved, go to the College of Business
and Technology’s Dean.
Students should observe the following sequence for the resolution of problems:
Student --- Instructor --- Chairperson --- Dean
COURSE CALENDAR/ BREAKDOWN OF ASSIGNMENTS:
Note: This syllabus may be revised by the instructor at any time due to class pace or delays- it is up to you
to make sure you are aware of what is due the next class period. Additional homework may be handed out in class
and not indicated on syllabus based upon class performance.
Homework is DUE on class day following the date when assigned at the BEGINNING of class. If you are late
your assignment will not be accepted unless for “excused” reasons. For example, Chpt. 1 is assigned on 8/25 and
due Jan 26. Emailed homework is not accepted for a grade.
Date
Jan 20
CSTM 345
Topics
covered
Introduction,
Project
Mgmt
Chpt 1
Homework Assignments
Hmwk: Chapter 1 : Write at least a 2 page double space paper, APA
format, using at least 3 sources (one can be your text book) to be
listed in your References section about what Project Management is
and is not. How does it fit in with Construction Management? What
are the components of any management plan- the steps that occur
anytime you have a new project?
Dept.
Program
Goals
Goals
Addressed Addressed
2, 4, 5, 6
1, 11
Jan 25
Chpt 2
Preplanning
Handout contract drwgs./specification book volume. Hmwk: Chpt 14, 7, 9, 10; Chapter 2 questions- from end of chpt: # 1
1, 2, 4, 6
1, 4
Jan 27
Chapter 3
Planning
1, 4
Feb 1
Chpt 3 / 4
Chapter 2- #2 in class start. Chapter 3 Hmwk: 1). Per the class 1, 2, 4, 6
discussion
and
your
text,
there
are
certain
concerns/issues/processes and procedures to be planned for during
the pre-construction phase for any project. List these things.
2). What additional issues/concerns/items would need to be
addressed for a project located: in downtown Chicago? in Macomb?
in Alaska? in Arizona? in Florida? out in the country 5 miles from a
small city or town in Montana and over 300 miles from a major city?
Hmwk: Using the drawings handed out, create a list of major
1, 2, 6
activities that should be in a schedule/bar chart and put them in a
logical time sequence. Have major group headings that make sense
for this type of building. What types of sub-categories based upon
the materials you know have to be in the building make sense? 4.1 &
4.3 from text book review problems.
1, 4
Feb 3
Chpt 4
Hmwk: Create a bar-chart schedule of the major events for the
building of a 2 car residential garage and guesses on time to
complete events (pgs 49-51).
Chpt 4
Scheduling &
Review Exam
#1
Feb 10 Exam #1
Draw an activity on Node CPM schedule using the same activities as
you used in the bar-chart from Feb 3 and do forward/backward
pass- det. CP
1, 2, 6
1, 4, 8,
11
Read Chpt 5.
1, 2, 6
1, 4
Feb 15 Chpt 5
Publishing
the
Schedule
Chpt 5 questions- explained in class
1, 2, 6
1, 4
Feb 17 Chpts 5/6
Chpt 6 questions- explained in class
1, 2, 6
1, 4
Feb 29 Exam #2
Read Chpt 7
Mar 2
Chpt 7
Hmwk: Chapter 7 questions - explained in class
Resource
Management
1, 2, 6
1, 2, 6
1, 4
1, 4
Mar 7
1, 2, 6
1, 4
1, 2, 6
1, 4
1, 2, 6
1, 4
1, 2, 6
3
1, 4
11
3
11
1, 3, 5, 6
1, 3, 4, 6,
8, 11
1, 3, 5, 6
1, 3, 4, 6,
8, 11
Feb 8
Feb 22 Chpt 6 – Monitoring & Controlling the Schedule. Hmwk explained in class.
Feb 24 Chpt 6
Mar 9
Mar 21
Mar 23
Mar 28
Mar 30
Review
Chpt 7/9
Hmwk: Chpt 9 Questions- explained in class
Line of
Balance
Chpt 9/8
Hmwk: Chapter 8
Procurement
Scheduling
Chpt 8
Hmwk: Chapter 8
Procurement
Scheduling
Chpt 10- Hmwk explained in class
Review Exam #3
Exam #3
Apr 3
Apr 4
Apr 6
Last Day to Drop
Computer Lab MS Project
Computer
Computer Lab- learn MS Project
Lab MS
Project
Apr 11- Project Schedule- See Project Deliverable Handout
May 4
May 9
Final Exam 10-11:50 PM
1,2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 3, 4, 6,
6
8, 11