Contract Documents and Construction Law
Class Syllabus
Introduction
Learning Objectives
Class Organization and Grading
Grading Policies
Textbook and Order Form
Reading Ahead
Withdrawl/Refund Policy
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Introduction
This
course focuses on understanding the relationship between
contract documents
and the construction process.
We will explore contractual relationships,
legal roles and responsibilities, and contract types.
Legal issues will be studied including regulatory
issues, liens, bonds, insurance, and how standardized
forms are used.
General conditions clauses that affect levels
of decision making authority, project close-out and
the superintendents role as agent of the contractor
will be studied.
We will study legal issues that often result
in construction disputes including differing site
conditions, time and schedule impacts, change orders
and changed conditions.
We will also study contract dispute resolution
including negotiations, alternative dispute resolutions,
and litigation of disputes.
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Learning
objectives:
By
the end of this class you should:
-
Understand
the importance of contract documents and construction
law as they pertain to on site construction supervisors.
-
Be
able to understand and use common legal terms.
-
Understand
the different forms of formal dispute resolution
including litigation, arbitration and mediation.
-
Understand
the roles of partnering in avoiding construction
conflicts by communicating and building trust
between contractual partied.
-
Be
able to differentiate between various contractual
relationships by understanding the roles and responsibilities
of contractual parties.
-
Understand
the different types of construction contracts
and how the construction supervisors role may
be affected by them.
-
Be
able to determine the levels of decision making
authority and relationships as defined by the
general conditions.
-
Learn
how to recognize, develop and manage a documentation
system
-
Understand
the effects of changes as they are encountered
and develop methods to react to potential conflicts
resulting from changes.
-
Know
how to recognize differing site conditions and
understand the importance of handling changed
conditions effectively.
-
Know
how to handle schedule impacts, delays, accelerations,
suspensions and disruption of time related work
activities.
-
Be
able to resolve conflicts and issues through negotiation.
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Class
Organization and Grading
The
following table lists the learning modules, the maximum
value in points a student can receive within each
module, and the time in which the modules must be
finished.
| Module |
Point
Value |
By
End of Week |
| 0.
Student Orientation |
0 |
Before
start |
| 1.
Introduction to Contract Documents and Construction
Law |
25 |
1 |
| 2.
Creating a Positive Environment Through Partnering |
25 |
2 |
| 3.
Contractual Relationships |
25 |
3 |
| 4.
Contract Forms and Documents |
25 |
4 |
| 5.
Managing General Conditions |
25 |
5 |
| 6.
Good Documentations Practices |
25 |
6 |
| 7.
Changes |
25 |
7 |
| 8.
Differing Site Conditions |
25 |
8 |
| 9.
Time Impacts |
25 |
9 |
| 10.
Resolving Issues Through Negotiations |
25 |
10 |
| Total
Points |
250 |
|
It
is important that the student keep up with the class
and not fall behind. Course modules will
be made available to students on Sunday of each week.
Class work must be completed before the following
Monday. Students will not be able to work ahead
of the class although reading assignments will be
made available in advance. Actual dates
that modules will become available will be posted
in advance on the course calendar.
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Grading
Policies
Graded
assignments will consist of one quiz for each module
and participation in at least two class discussions.
Each quiz will count 10 points and class discussions
will count 15 points per module. You can see
that I consider class discussions to be a very important
part of this course. Students learn more and
learn better when they discuss the topic at hand.
For that reason, I consider the regular weekly discussions
to be even more important than the weekly quizzes.
Grades
will be posted on a weekly basis. You will have
full access to your grade sheet so you will be able
to keep track of how you are doing at all times.
Your
overall grade in the course will be determined by
the total number of points you have accumulated on
quizzes and assignments. The grading scale
is as follows:
You
will be given more information about the grading and
other course matters in the Orientation Module.
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The
Textbook
The
textbook for this class is Unit 4, Contract Documents
and Construction Law (S), 6th Edition
Order
Unit
4, Contract Documents and Construction Law (S), 6th
Edition directly from the AGC by clicking on the
link. Cost of the book is approximately $156.
We
are in no way associated with the AGC. The link
to the book is provided only for your convenience.
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Reading
Ahead
This
table details the reading assignments for the entire
course. This will give you opportunity to read
ahead and get a jump on upcoming modules.
| Module |
Reading
Assignment |
| 0.
Student Orientation |
None |
| 1.
Introduction to Contract Documents and Construction
Law |
Read
Unit 1 |
| 2.
Creating a Positive Environment Through Partnering |
Read
Unit 2, |
| 3. Contractual
Relationships |
Read
Unit 3 |
| 4.
Contract Forms and Documents |
Read
Unit 4 |
| 5.
Managing General Conditions |
Read
Unit 5 |
| 6. Good
Documentations Practices |
Read
Unit 6 |
| 7.
Changes |
Read
Unit 7 |
| 8.
Differing Site Conditions |
Read
Unit 8 |
| 9.
Time Impacts |
Read
Unit 9 |
| 10.
Resolving Issues Through Negotiations |
Read
Unit 10 |
| |
|
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