Approved by the Members of Society Advancing an Inclusive Culture on January 27, 2026
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on May 27, 2026
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 21, 2026

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is committed to fostering fosters a fully inclusive culture that celebrates individual uniqueness, engendering a sense of belonging, and promoting equitable opportunity for all people to participate as members and stakeholders of the civil engineering community regardless of identity. ASCE and its members are committed to inclusive engineering problem solving that recognizes, values, and addresses the unique needs of diverse demographic, social, economic, and cultural groups when considering, balancing, and mitigating societal, environmental, and economic impacts of our work. 

The commitment includes: 

  • Eradicating discrimination and harassment in all its forms.
  • Building mutually beneficial partnerships with engineering and non-engineering organizations to bolster the collective impact of our efforts.
  • Advancing a research agenda centered on equitable and inclusive engineering education, research, and practice. 
  • Promoting accountability and the use of best practices for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in leadership, engagement, communications, policy, and partnerships.
  • Fulfilling our roles as leaders, major contributors, or supporters toward the attainment of each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Identifying and eliminating systemic barriers that create and perpetuate inequalities. 

Issue

The engineering profession and ASCE membership lack representation of people from identity groups that provide the diverse perspectives of the communities we serve. The lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the civil engineering profession limits capacity to effectively meet societal needs. Over the last several decades progress has been made to varying degrees through awareness, education, and action. However, more efforts are needed to fully realize inclusive and equitable practices in our profession, to assure representation of the rich diversity of our global communities, and to produce just societal outcomes from our work.

It is important to define Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. These definitions are from The JEDI Collaborative (justice) and the International Organization for Standardization - ISO-30415 (equity, diversity, inclusion).

  • Justice: Dismantling barriers to resources and opportunities in society so that all individuals and communities can live a full and dignified life.
  • Equity: Principle that policies, processes and practices should be fairly applied and individual needs recognized. 
  • Diversity: Characteristics of differences and similarities between people. 
  • Inclusion: Practice of including all stakeholders in organizational contexts. 

Rationale

The ASCE Code of Ethics of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) calls for  ASCE members of ASCE to “treat all persons with respect, dignity, and fairness in a manner that foster equitable participation with regard to personal identity,” to “acknowledge the diverse, historical, social, and cultural needs of the community, and incorporate these considerations in their work,” to “reject all forms of discrimination and harassment,” to “promote mentorship and knowledge sharing equitably with current and future engineers,” “promote and exhibit inclusive, equitable, and ethical behavior in all engagements with colleagues,” and to “supervise equitably and respectfully.”

The well-being of our global society will rely greatly upon the civil engineering profession to provide leadership, innovation, and stewardship of our changing world. ASCE recognizes the strategic and critical importance of equitable and inclusive engagement to develop and implement just, holistic solutions with the communities we serve throughout the world. 

With global membership and an evolving workforce that competes in the global market, it is important for ASCE to have a policy that communicates our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion while recognizing, respecting, and valuing the people and the unique cultures impacted by our profession worldwide. ASCE members, prospective members, and other stakeholders are hereby empowered to advance an inclusive and collaborative culture while sharing their expertise and perspectives toward the protection of public health, safety, and welfare.

This policy has worldwide application
ASCE Policy Statement 417
First Approved in 1993