ROCKVILLE, Md. - The board of trustees of the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) approved $277,000 in industry program funding at its annual business meeting.

The programs funded include: the Funding Educational Excellence (FEE) Initiative, which supports the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) student chapter program and a national faculty "boot camp;" Green Building Fundamentals for Mechanical/Service/Plumbing Contractors, a contractor education project on the fundamentals of green building technology and requirements; update of the Guideline for Quality Piping Installation Manual, which will become an Online Pipe Usage and Specification (OPUS) Resource for Industry; and the Mechanical-Electrical Academic Consortium (MEAC), which develops curricula for use by construction management faculty.

The board elected three new members to replace retiring vice president Robert A. Rimel, treasurer Charles L. Boyd, and academic advisor Tim Wentz. Joining MCERF president Bob FitzGerald are John B. Wilhelmi as vice president and Robert T. Armistead as treasurer. Michael Feutz of Ferris State University will serve as the foundation's new academic advisor.