Approved by Committee on Licensure July 21, 2018
Approved by the Committee on Advancing the Profession on October 22, 2018
Approved by the Public Policy Committee on March 12, 2019
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 13, 2019
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) considers civil engineering faculty members to be an integral part of the civil engineering profession and encourages all to become licensed professional engineers. ASCE supports the need for all licensed engineers to demonstrate qualifications through education, examination, and experience, including passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination.
Further, EAC/ABET accreditation criteria for civil engineering programs should require that faculty teaching courses that are primarily design in content 1) be qualified to teach the subject matter by virtue of professional licensure or by education and design experience, or 2) teach under the responsible charge of a licensed faculty member.
Issue
Evaluation systems at most universities typically only consider a faculty member's teaching, scholarship, and service in the promotion and/or tenure review processes. Most promotion systems do not recognize the value of professional licensure for faculty and therefore do not encourage faculty licensure. Consequently, faculty have greater incentive to devote their time and attention to research and teaching rather than seeking licensure.
Rationale
Every civil engineering educator serves as a role model for the profession throughout the student's academic career. By the example they set, licensed educators communicate the importance of licensure to students. Teaching under the responsible charge of a licensed engineer is a provision necessary to allow entry level faculty without design experience to be able to teach courses that are primarily design in content.
ASCE supports the licensure of all practicing engineers including those in civil engineering education. ASCE highly values the contributions of civil engineering faculty in colleges and universities. Faculty contributions to society through the education of engineering students are invaluable to the entire country and world.
ASCE Policy Statement 559
First Approved 2019