Virginia Tech, one of Virginia’s leading educational institutions with almost 30,000 students, recently completed a community association management module as part of the school’s Residential Property Management (RPM) undergraduate degree program.

CAI staff and members worked closely with Virginia Tech administrators to incorporate the community association management curriculum into the RPM program. The curriculum was based on CAI’s popular M-100 course, The Essentials of Community Association Management.

The program was led by Brenda Harrington, a former community association management company executive and current leadership coach. CAI presenters included community managers Drew Mulhare, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, LSM, and Chris Melson, AMS, PCAM; insurance professional and former manager Theresa Melson, AMS, PCAM, CIRMS; and attorneys Lucia Anna "Pia" Trigiani and Jeremy Moss.

Students turning in their end-of-the-year assignments took the opportunity to comment on the community association curriculum:

• "Thank you so much again for taking the time to put the program together for us. I have learned so much about community associations… . I am sure that the knowledge will become very beneficial to my career and personal life in the future."
• "Thanks for coming to our class! You and the other speakers gave such great (presentations)."
• "Thank you so much for the presentations you put together for our class! This assignment really helped to bring (it all) together so I'm glad we had the chance to do that. …  The (materials) were very informative and I learned so much from them."

Harrington was equally pleased with the results, saying, "I believe the work we did really had an impact and served to move the needle with regard to our standing as part of the RPM program."

Tom Skiba, CAI’s Chief executive officer, represents CAI on the Advisory Board of the Virginia Tech Residential Property Management program, a four-year degree program.

"Our involvement is driven by the continuing need for more top-notch community association management professionals," Skiba said. "More and more U.S. homes are being built as part of common-interest communities, so that share of the U.S. housing market will continue to grow. So too will the need for well-trained and educated association managers."

CAI continues to pursue other opportunities with universities and colleges throughout the country to offer CAI’s established community management course curriculum.

With more than 32,000 members dedicated to building better communities, CAI works in partnership with 60 chapters, including a chapter in South Africa. CAI provides information, education and resources to community associations and the professionals who support them. CAI’s mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in communities that are preferred places to call home. Visit www.caionline.org or call (888) 224-4321.