State DOT workers ‘upskilling’ with UB engineering courses

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A partnership between the University at Buffalo and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is providing state transportation workers with valuable, in-demand skills.

These continuing education programs began in the spring of 2024 with 10 NYSDOT employees who enrolled in UB graduate level online courses in either bridge engineering or engineering management. Since then, dozens of NYSDOT employees have taken a total of 105 classes at UB.

The programs are popular, UB officials say, because NYSDOT employees are able to tap into the university’s expertise in subjects that enable them to advance in their careers.

The engineering management program, for example, is ranked among the top 10 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report. It is designed for working professionals who want to enhance their technical competence to more effectively take leadership roles within an organization. 

“The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has long maintained a strong relationship with the New York State Department of Transportation. Our graduates have played a central role in many of the department’s most ambitious and critical projects,” said Kemper E. Lewis, dean of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “We expect the relationship to continue to grow under this innovative program.”

The partnership, which is supported by federal and state funds, is helping to address the shortage of transportation employees – both in New York State and nationwide. It is administered by the engineering school’s Office of Academic Affairs.