Roofing Alliance, Clemson Launch Minor in Roofing

New program pioneers academic roofing education

Clemson and Roofing Alliance logos — Image edited by Tanja Kern/Roofing Contractor

The Roofing Alliance has partnered with Clemson University to launch the nation’s first minor in roofing—a groundbreaking academic program designed to elevate roofing education nationwide.

Funded and developed by the Roofing Alliance, the 12-credit-hour program encompasses specialized courses in roofing fundamentals, management, business leadership, and sustainable practices, marking a significant step forward in workforce development and professional training for the roofing sector.

“Our members recognized the need to integrate roofing education into construction management programs nationwide, and the Roofing Alliance took the lead to make it happen,” said Alison L. LaValley, CAE, executive director of the Roofing Alliance. “Through our collaboration with Clemson University, we created specialized courses that are already reshaping the educational landscape of our industry.”

Since the program’s inception, more than 250 undergraduate and graduate students have enrolled. The effort has also engaged more than 90 companies as guest lecturers, with over 50 donating roofing materials—further showcasing the industry’s investment in its future leaders.

To expand the program’s reach beyond Clemson, the Roofing Alliance also developed roofing-specific manuals aligned with these courses. The manuals are now available to all construction management programs accredited by the American Council for Construction Education, ensuring that the Roofing Alliance’s vision for roofing education can be implemented at universities nationwide. The manuals can be purchased using the links below:

Course 1: Roofing Fundamentals. Purchase this course manual.

Course 2: Roofing Management. Purchase this course manual.

Course 3: Roofing Business and Leadership. Purchase this course manual.

Course Overviews:

Roofing Fundamentals: Materials, systems, safety, estimating, and technology.
Roofing Management: Codes, scheduling, risk, crew management, and quality control.
Roofing Business Principles and Leadership: Business operations, leadership, sales, procurement, and innovation
Sustainable Roofing Practices: Sustainability and resiliency in roofing.

Enroll in the classes via the Clemson website.