By: Towerlight Staff

Towson University has introduced a construction major in order to accelerate the school’s ongoing renovations. The program is set to launch in fall of 2020.

After several complaints about construction cutting off popular routes on campus and causing noise throughout the day, students can now play a hands-on role in speeding up the renovations.

“This new program will not only provide students with a unique learning experience, but will also affirm the university’s mission to unify members of the Towson community,” said TU President Kim Schatzel.

Towson University Spokesperson Sean Welsh initially projected the renovations to the University Union and Glen Dining Hall to be completed anytime between fall of 2021 and the end of the 21st century.

Now, Welsh is confident that this construction major will help Towson complete its projects within the next 70 years.

“I don’t want to be too optimistic, but I’m pretty sure we’ll at least be close to being done before flying cars are invented,” Welsh said.

The construction major will offer a wide variety of disciplines for students to explore.

CNSTR101 covers the basics of construction such as loading building materials, removing debris and identifying hazards. CNSTR312, or “Scaffolding for Students,” will give students the chance to mount a scaffold and get a bird’s eye view of Towson’s perpetual construction.

“I was really unhappy with my previous major, but once I heard of this new construction program I immediately signed up,” said a Towson University junior. “It seems sort of dangerous, but I think it’s worth the risk to learn the ins and outs of the never ending renovations.”

Welsh said there are ongoing discussions about whether to hire new professors to teach the major or train internal faculty on how to instruct the mandated curriculum.

Some Towson professors seem on board with taking on the challenge of learning a new program.

“There’s no greater test of one’s teaching ability than being able to think on the fly,” said mass communication professor Elia Powers. “I think this is a great opportunity to find out just how well I can adapt.”

Some instructors did not share those sentiments.

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable with this unless I made my students sign some kind of waiver before enrolling in the course,” said political science professor Cynthia Cates. “As long as there are no legal repercussions, I’ll consider it.”

Following the completion of Towson’s primary construction projects, Schatzel will have to decide whether or not to keep the construction major.

“It’s going to be a tough call,” she said. “I have a feeling that students will grow to love the program, making it very difficult to get rid of without hearing backlash. We’ll have to gauge that when the time comes.”

Thankfully for Schatzel, Towson won’t have to worry about renovations being completed for a long, long time.

– Oh, by the way, April Fools!