Q&A with CSU’s Steve Jaouen

After 32 years working in the field and 17 years teaching at Colorado State University, Steve Jaouen earned national recognition for excellence in the classroom. In March the Associated Builders and Contractors presented the CSU assistant professor with the 2007 John Trimmer Excellence in Teaching Award.

Colorado Construction talked with Jaouen about winning the award, teaching construction management and overcoming challenges both in the classroom and in the field.

By Kelly Davidson

Colorado Construction Magazine: How does your teaching style reflect your experiences in the field?

Jaouen: ‘Entertain greatly. Educate gently.’ I tell a lot of stories from my days in the field to validate my points, and I think my students appreciate these examples because they go beyond theory. I try to give them different points-of-view—some I may agree with and some I may not. I think it’s important to teach them problem-solving and analytical thinking, so they can make their own decisions.

CCM: What prompted you to leave the field and move into the classroom?

Jaouen: This may sound a little corny. I was about 7 years old when I first visited the campus. My uncle was getting his degree at the engineering school here at CSU. I remember driving down Laurel Street in my grandfather’s red Nash and drove by the university’s north entrance. I didn’t know what all the buildings were, but I looked across the oval and said, ‘I would like to go there or work there someday.’ Sure enough, years later, after my tour in Vietnam, I came here for my master’s degree in 1976.

Then, about 1990, I got a call from the industrial sciences department about overseeing a technology education program between CSU and Western State [College]. I was getting a little tired of chasing subcontractors for time, money and materials, so I jumped at the chance. That program closed in 1995, and then the university folded me into the construction management program. And here I am. It’s been a great transition.

CCM: What are some of the challenges of teaching construction management?

Jaouen: Sometimes it’s frustrating. In building, whether horizontal or vertical, you can see your progress at the end of the day—what has or hasn’t been accomplished. But here at the end of the day, you’re not too sure what you’ve accomplished—whether you’ve reached the students or if you’ve made any progress at all. 

CCM: How do you keep students focused on pursuing a degree when they can begin earning decent wages in the field?

Jaouen: I’ve had very few, if any, students leave the program, but I try to emphasize planning. Usually, we plan a road trip more than we do our lives. I tell my students they need to think about what they want 10 years from now and that a degree will lead them to their final destination.

When you’re young, swinging a hammer, slinging mud or pushing concrete doesn’t seem so bad, and a degree may not seem all that important when wages are good. But when your body starts to wear out, air conditioning or heating is more comfortable than working outside in the elements. With a degree, you can get into management and advance more easily.

CCM: What would an ideal industry/academic partnership look like?

Jaouen: It would look somewhat like our [CSU’s] model. The participation and support is second to none. The Colorado asphalt industry has supported a new lab for our program. Other industry partners have helped remodel classrooms and buildings. Still others have helped fund student competition teams with travel monies and expert ‘applied’ instruction.

CCM: What is the most important lesson in construction management?

Jaouen: Construction is not just about sticks and bricks; it is relationships. We work with so many different people and personalities in the field—subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, civic leaders and controlling agencies. Communication is key. It is truly the most important skill any student can take away from this program. Relationship building is what sets a good manager apart from the others, and what gets the job done—on time and at cost.

CCM: If you could be any tool or machine on site, what would you be and why?

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