Adeeba Abdul Raheem
Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Construction Management
Dr. Adeeba Raheem is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at UTEP's College of Engineering and teaches in the online construction management program. Dr. Raheem joined UTEP in 2014 after earning her Ph.D. at the University of Florida. She brings her passion for learning and using the most efficient techniques/tools to manage construction projects into the classroom.
Subjects she teaches:
I teach construction management, construction planning and scheduling, cost analysis and bidding, sustainable construction and construction safety.
Where her passion comes from:
I have always been passionate about learning and using the most efficient techniques/tools to manage construction projects. Today the construction industry is working in a much different manner and on a bigger scale as compared to 20 years ago. The planning process is more detailed now to complete projects on time, within budget, better in quality and safer for the workers. Technology has also played an important role in changing the industry’s way of operation in recent years and is revolutionizing almost all phases in the life-cycle of a built asset, from conceptualization to demolition. To prepare our students for successfully take on the future challenges, it is important to design courses that equip them with key technical knowledge, professional skills and modern technological tools.
Her proudest accomplishment and biggest challenge:
Teaching online is quite a challenge and it requires more preparation time and attention to minor details. Online courses move quickly so the biggest challenge is to cover the regular full-semester course material in a shorter period of time. As an instructor, I have to create a delicate balance between theoretical concepts, industry practices/standards, and professional preparation while designing each online course as 7-week modules. Another challenge is to keep students motivated while working in teams having members thousands of miles away from each other in different time zones and with dynamic schedules.
On what makes a successful online student:
In my opinion, a successful online student is the one who can manage his time effectively and doesn’t wait until the last minute to complete his assignments. The student must be a self-disciplined and goal-oriented self-starter. The online learning environment is flexible but places an emphasis on students taking responsibility for their learning process. It is utmost important for those students who are also working full-time to create a balance between their work and online study hours.
Communication is the key to success to avoid any confusions that lead towards missing deadlines and ultimately impacting grades.
One piece of advice she has for her students:
Don’t assume anything and communicate in a timely manner. If you have any confusion (related to weekly assignments) or uncertainty (to meet the deadlines) or need special accommodation/support service, please contact your instructor as soon as possible. I have seen students suffered greatly in the past just because they waited too long to discuss their concerns/issues and at that point, it was impossible to provide any assistance.
