This summer marks a pivotal moment for the future of offsite education. In collaboration with the Modular Building Institute (MBI), the Center for Offsite Construction (CfOC) has reached the halfway point of a six-week exploratory Task Force charged with investigating the feasibility of establishing a dedicated accrediting body for offsite construction degree programs.

At this midpoint, the CfOC takes a moment to celebrate the decision that made this work possible and the people who are doing the work.

A Bold Step by the MBI Board of Directors

The origin of the Task Force lies in a decision made earlier this year by the MBI Board of Directors. Recognizing the growing complexity of modular delivery systems, the persistence of industry-wide training gaps, and the emerging need for specialized educational pathways, the Board voted to authorize a formal investigation into whether a new kind of accreditation body could serve this sector more effectively than current models allow.

That vote was not symbolic. It was a practical, strategic commitment to advance the field. It demonstrated that the MBI Board understood that offsite construction is evolving faster than the educational structures designed to support it—and that the industry must now lead in shaping its own future.

An Unusually Skilled and Committed Group

Since its formation, the Task Force has drawn together an extraordinary group of professionals. The members include design and development leaders, educators, product manufacturers, and workforce specialists. Every member brings a different perspective, and nearly all carry institutional experience that bridges construction, education, and modular practice.

Current Task Force members include:

• Stuart Emmons (Emmons Design)
• Sara-Ann Logan (Volumetric Building Companies)
• Mike Roman (Reliant Asset Management)
• Randall Thompson (Nibbi Brothers General Contractor)
• Brent Doucette (Axis Construction)
• Apoorva Pasricha (Cloud Apartments)
• Heather Packard (Modular Building Institute)
• Matt Ford and Jason Van Nest (CfOC, NY Tech)
• Pamela Karp (NY Tech)

What sets this Task Force apart is not just the caliber of expertise, but the seriousness of intent. Members have brought disciplined attention to each chapter of the report, balancing vision with operational realism. Discussions have not been abstract; they have been grounded in project realities, market conditions, and the institutional challenges of delivering education at scale.

“I’m really enjoying working with this distinguished group of industry professionals,” said Jason Van Nest, Executive Director of the Center for Offsite Construction. “They’re eager to make critical points and equally as eager to listen to the points of others. I’ve had the pleasure of having one-on-one conversations with many Task Force members and walked away grateful to have shared in their wisdom.”

A Preview of the Final Report

The Task Force’s work is structured around ten chapters, each focused on a core element of what it would take to launch a new accrediting body. Topics include:

• A review of industry needs and the case for a new professional category
• The misalignment between current AEC education and modular practice
• A critique of current accreditation models (e.g., NAAB, ABET, ACCE)
• Legal structures and governance models for new accreditors
• Market demand and institutional readiness
• Financial model, metrics, and growth projections

The early drafts of these chapters reflect not consensus but investigation. The goal at this stage is not to make final decisions, but to expose assumptions, test ideas, and chart possible directions. The result will be a document that serves two purposes: a summary of what we have learned so far, and a blueprint for what the next phase of implementation could look like.

What Comes Next

Over the remaining weeks of the Task Force’s timeline, members will continue to refine each chapter, identify points of agreement, and articulate questions that require further exploration. The report will be finalized and presented to the MBI Board of Directors, as well as to academic leadership at New York Tech.

Matthew Ford, Managing Director of CfOC, noted the exceptional foundation of this particular group: “Normally, any task force will start with a difficult administrative footing. Sometimes they don’t have a clear charge, and other times they have no methods to sort through a difference of opinion. This task force is different. The charge that Heather at the MBI helped craft is precise and explicit. Further, this group of professionals shares a singular goal to advance off-site construction workforce development at an accelerated pace that has never been seen before in our industry.”

But more than any single deliverable, the value of this work lies in the process itself. By convening this team, the MBI and CfOC have created a structured environment where the future of offsite education can be defined on its own terms—not borrowed from adjacent fields, not imported from legacy institutions, but authored by the people building the future of construction.

As we pass the halfway point, we thank the members of the Task Force for their time, insight, and commitment. Their work is already shaping the future of the field.