BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State University (MSU) is giving its civil engineering students an edge in the job market through a new partnership with RDO Equipment Co. that combines classroom learning with real-world machine control training.

The hands-on training module, which launched this summer, was developed by MSU civil engineering faculty and RDO technology experts to expose students to the same advanced tools they’ll use on modern construction sites.

Over the course of four weeks, students get direct experience with Topcon Positioning Systems and SmartGrade machine control technology, covering everything from site layout to equipment operation and data management.

“MSU aims to provide authentic exposure to jobsite experiences whenever possible,” said Bret Martin, associate professor in MSU’s civil engineering department. “This course gives students practical skills they’ll use daily, while raising their awareness of tech solutions that will make them better decision-makers on future projects.”

The module is the product of a growing collaboration between Martin and Jake Michels, an MSU alumnus and technology solutions manager at RDO Equipment Co. To make the training possible, Topcon donated state-of-the-art surveying equipment, and local contractor Williams Civil opened its quarry near Bozeman as a real-world training site.

Students practiced setting up base stations, localizing projects, staking out lines and points, and operating GPS-guided John Deere SmartGrade machines — the same kind of equipment that’s becoming standard on today’s heavy civil construction sites.

RDO technology specialists worked alongside students in the field to simulate the day-to-day work of entry-level field engineers.

“The students were energized by the experience,” Martin said. “Many asked to stay late, and our RDO partners were more than willing to keep working until sunset.”

The training not only equips students with practical machine control skills but also gives them valuable exposure to industry partners and jobsite safety practices that many graduates don’t encounter until they’re on the clock.

Martin and Michels see this as just the beginning. They’re already making plans to expand the module into a full two-credit course, which could allow students to earn professional machine control certifications alongside their degree.

For students like senior civil engineering major Jessica Reed, the experience offered more than just technical know-how. “It helped me see how all the design work in the classroom connects directly to what happens on site,” Reed said. “It made me more confident that I can step onto a real project and add value right away.”

RDO Equipment Co., which supplies construction and agricultural machinery across the region, says investing in workforce readiness like this benefits the entire industry by helping bridge the skills gap between college and the field.

The university plans to offer the course each year and hopes to expand it to include more local contractors and technology partners willing to open up real projects and sites for student learning.

MSU leaders say the initiative reflects a broader push to integrate hands-on, industry-supported learning into its engineering programs — preparing graduates to hit the ground running in a fast-changing construction sector where advanced technology is becoming the norm.

Originally reported by RDO Equipment Co. in For Construction Pros.