Recommended Free Tools
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
MSU Denver is turning an active campus construction site into a paid, part-time classroom. Construction project management students can work morning shifts with the crew, then walk to class or practice, applying lessons to inspections, schedules and real deadlines. The site is the new Gina and Frank Day Health Institute Tower, a five-story facility of about 70,000 square feet that the university plans to open for the fall 2027 semester.
The arrangement gives students something a conventional lab cannot: supervised responsibility on a public building they will see serving classmates for decades. River Jackson, a senior construction project management major and baseball player, illustrates how the model works.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →How are MSU Denver students learning construction on campus?
They are learning through work-integrated education: students join the construction team during the school day, receive direction from site supervisors and connect those assignments to their academic coursework. The project is on Auraria Campus, so students who live nearby can avoid a long commute between a job and their classes.
Carolyn McGary, who leads MSU Denver’s construction project management program, described a schedule in which a student can attend class, work part time on campus, return for another class and continue that pattern. That proximity makes it practical to gain experience without giving up a full academic or athletic schedule.
Popular on Amazon
- Country Of Origin : United States
- The Package Height Of The Product Is 9 Inches
- The Package Length Of The Product Is 14 Inches
- The Package Width Of The Product Is 13 Inches
What River Jackson does on the job
Jackson is the only intern identified in Denver7’s report. His regular shift runs from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m.; afterward he goes to class or baseball. The construction site is about a 10-minute walk from his campus housing.
His responsibilities expanded during the summer. Instead of handling only basic assignments, he took charge of inspection scheduling: walking inspectors through the site and confirming which work was ready for review. That task requires organization and communication as well as knowledge of the construction sequence.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchProject superintendent Garrett Vidal said supervisors initially gave Jackson many tasks and held him accountable for completing them. Jackson characterized the teaching method as being pushed into the deep end and learning to solve problems under guidance. He also compared the discipline required on the site with baseball: a mistake is a chance to learn, but the work still has to be done carefully.
What building are MSU Denver students helping construct?
Students are working on the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute Tower, a five-story health-education facility planned for the Auraria Campus.
| Project detail | University description |
|---|---|
| Size | About 70,000 square feet (some university descriptions say 70,000-plus) |
| Stories | Five |
| Anticipated construction start | November 2025 |
| Anticipated construction end | May 2027 on the project page; an operations notice says work continues through summer 2027 |
| Planned opening | Fall 2027 semester |
| Budget | $65 million |
| Contractor | Adolfson & Peterson Construction |
The differing end-date descriptions are not necessarily contradictory. The official project page gives an anticipated May 2027 construction end, while the university’s operations notice describes construction continuing through summer 2027. In both accounts, the student-facing target is an opening for the fall 2027 semester.
What will the Health Institute Tower include?
The tower is intended to bring health programs together in classrooms, simulation spaces and clinical environments. MSU Denver says its Health Institute spans 10 academic departments. The university also says the new facility is designed to increase the number of students accepted and graduated each year by 32 percent.
Also popular on Amazon
- Constructed from ABS material — Strong, yet ultra-light for seemingly weightless protection
- Ratchet suspension is easy to adjust and allows the wearer to modify the fit while wearing hard hat
- Replaceable soft brow pad, suspensions and headbands also available. Provides protection at low temperatures -22°F. Provides protection at high temperatures 140°F
- 4-Point suspensions can be converted to a 6-point suspension with the HP6PTSUS
- Meets ANSI Z89.1-2009 standards, type 1, Class C, G, and E. General dimensions- 12 13/64 X 10 5/8 X 5 63/64 Inches. Shell thickness- 0.07 To 0.16 Inches
For construction students, that mission gives the internship a direct connection to the building’s eventual users. They are not working on an abstract training project; they are helping deliver spaces where future health professionals will learn and practice.
Why does an on-campus construction internship matter?
The main advantage is that the job fits around college rather than forcing students to choose between employment and coursework. A nearby site removes transportation time, while a part-time morning shift leaves room for classes and extracurricular commitments.
- Immediate application: scheduling, drawings, coordination and inspection concepts from class can be applied to active work.
- Progressive responsibility: students can move from assigned tasks to coordination duties such as arranging inspections.
- Supervised risk: site leaders provide accountability and feedback while the student remains a learner.
- Visible professional record: participants can identify a completed campus building they helped construct after graduation.
- Industry relevance: the experience reflects the deadlines, handoffs and documentation that define construction careers.
McGary has linked the approach to workforce demand in areas including affordable housing and campus projects. Denver7 reported that Colorado added 1,900 construction jobs in September 2026, citing the Associated General Contractors of America and describing it as the nation’s second-largest increase. That employment figure is secondary reporting attributed to AGC, not an independently verified AGC release in the available material.
Can college students get real construction-site experience before graduating?
Yes, when a program has a partner project, defined supervision and a schedule compatible with classes. MSU Denver’s example shows that “real experience” can include more than observing trades: an intern may coordinate inspections, communicate with inspectors and be held to project deadlines.
Students considering a similar opportunity should ask about the site’s safety orientation, required personal protective equipment, paid hours, reporting structure, permitted duties and how work connects to course credit. A hard hat and other site PPE are part of the physical setting, but the educational value comes from responsibility paired with supervision.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When will the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute open?
MSU Denver’s stated target is the fall 2027 semester. University materials place the main construction period between an anticipated November 2025 start and either a May 2027 anticipated completion or continued work through summer 2027, so the opening date should be understood as a planned schedule rather than a guarantee.
Also popular on Amazon
- Low profile design
- Tested and marked for reverse donning
- Shell constructed from high density polyethylene materials
- The Package Weight Of The Product Is 4 Pounds
What can other construction programs learn from MSU Denver’s model?
The model is most transferable when programs evaluate six practical factors: how close the job is to classrooms, whether shifts are paid and part time, how much responsibility students receive, how directly they work with supervisors and inspectors, whether the project matches their field and whether they can point to a finished public building.
Those conditions turn a campus project into a structured bridge between coursework and employment. The student earns experience while the university gains a workforce pipeline tied to its own capital investment.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFrequently Asked Questions
Is River Jackson a full-time employee on the tower project?
The available account identifies him as an intern working a morning shift from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. It does not state his pay rate, employment classification or total weekly hours.
Do all MSU Denver construction students work on the Health Institute Tower?
No. The report specifically identifies Jackson as the site’s only intern. It does not say that every student in the construction project management program is assigned to this project.
What safety training do students need before entering a construction site?
The account establishes a hard-hat job-site setting but does not list MSU Denver’s orientation, certifications or complete PPE requirements. Prospective interns should confirm those requirements with the program and contractor before accepting a placement.
Will the tower serve only construction project management students?
No. The facility is planned for health education, including classrooms, simulation spaces and clinical environments serving programs across 10 academic departments. Construction students are helping build it, but they are not its sole intended users.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
