Pulte Homes, Inc., a residential construction company based in Michigan, announced a donation of $300,000 Tuesday to the University Department of Construction Management to create another professor position.
Joel Freeland, vice president of construction in the company’s Tampa division, said Pulte made the donation because of the large number of high quality employees the University produces. He said Pulte has hired 16 University graduates in the past six months.
Harriet Pooler, executive director of the construction industry advisory council, a group which fundraises for the Construction Management Department, said it could be one to three years before the slot is awarded.
She said the waiting period is not in connection to the hiring freeze ordered by Gov. Kathleen Blanco after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Pooler said the state must match the money donated by Pulte, and the request will be put on a list for similar requests. The state will contribute $200,000 in addition to the money donated by Pulte.
Pooler said he hopes by the time the state matches the donation, the hiring freeze will be over.
Ken Naquin, president of the construction industry advising council, said the council is happy to welcome Pulte into the LSU family.
“We’re happy our partners in the industry recognize that the education of our youth creates the leaders of tomorrow,” Naquin said.
Jeff Hale, senior director of corporate and foundation relations with the LSU Foundation, said the professor will teach construction management with an emphasis in residential construction.
“[The donation] is based on value,” Hale said. “[Pulte] invests in the University that gives them value back.”
Freeland said Pulte focuses on residential construction and does not work in Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama.
According to an LSU Foundation news release Pulte is a Fortune 500 company with operations in 28 states. Richard Dugas, CEO for Pulte, is an LSU alumnus.
Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]