Assuring Quality Civil Engineering Education

Abstract

Two aspects of the support needed for a quality civil engineering education are examined: Services, including staff and operations; and facilities, particularly as related to equipment needs. At major research universities, facility needs for civil engineering are greater than those for electrical and mechanical engineering. Civil engineering's laboratories serve as this nation's applied technology laboratories, which is not the case for electrical and mechanical engineering. Only a dynamic “hands‐on” educational program produces graduates that are knowledgeable technically, responsive socially, and programmed for change in both areas. Such a program requires budgets per yer per faculty of at least $5,000 for operations and $10,000 for equipment. Typical university budgets are $3,000 for operations and $1,500 for equipment, and such budgets provide only an outdated “hands‐off” education.