Want to learn about the civil engineering technology and surveying technology programs at Southwestern Community College and see their modern lab and latest equipment? An open house for the programs will be held Monday, April 7, from 2-4 p.m. in the Summit Building on the Jackson Campus.

Southwestern has operated a surveying program for the past four years and just recently added a sister program of civil engineering technology. While the two fields are closely aligned, today everything has become so specialized, said instructor Peter Messier.

Civil engineering uses technical and management skills to help design, build and manage facilities for the habitation, health and movement of people in well-planned communities, according to Messier.

The curriculum provides the relevant theory of engineering needed by technicians and includes the communication and computational skills to support the various areas. Those areas, Messier pointed out, are materials testing, estimating, project management, hydraulics and hydrology, environmental technology and surveying. Additional course work covers the operation of computers and application software, including computer-aided drafting.

Even though the disciplines are separate, SCC has structured the programs so that with just five more courses surveying technology student like Mike Hall of Franklin can double major in civil engineering technology.

"We also tailor courses to fit our students' needs," said Messier. "For those who already work during the day, we have evening and weekend courses. And for some courses, we're exploring offering a course all in one day per week. It saves commute time and expense."

"The community response has been excellent," said Messier. "That's why we wanted to hold an open house and let more members of the community see what we are doing."

For more information, contact Messier at 586-4091, ext. 402 or e-mail pmessier@southwesterncc.edu.