Strengthening the civil engineering workforce is not a snap-your-fingers-and-fix-it situation. It will take many years of work by many people across many fronts.
ASCE has taken a big step forward in those efforts with the launch of a new pilot program to better connect civil engineers in academia with those in the heavy engineering-construction industry.
The summer 2026 pilot of the Civil Engineering Industry-Faculty Engagement Program, a joint initiative of ASCE and noted heavy engineering-construction organization The Beavers, puts faculty members in 8- to 12-week summer paid positions at engineering companies.
The goal is for faculty to gain up-to-the-minute industry experience so that they can bring real-world lessons back to the classroom to share with their students while building positive relationships with engineering companies.
“Providing faculty members the opportunity to experience engineering in action gives them a vision of how one organization is using academic knowledge on the ground in real time,” said ASCE President Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., AICP, ENV SP, H.ITE, NAE, F.ASCE, who herself has taught and worked in both the public and private sectors.
“It also gives the faculty members stories to bring back to the classroom, which will be very engaging for their students. The bridge it builds for future collaborations for both faculty and students is a treasure trove.”
Full-time faculty at colleges and universities in the U.S. are eligible to apply. Participating companies will review applications, select the applicants to interview and employ, and be responsible for engagement and supervision of those selected faculty.
Information about the participating companies and open positions for the summer 2026 pilot is available now at https://careers.asce.org/landingpage/530919/industry-faculty-program/.
The application period closes March 4.
The initiative has been in development for several years by the ASCE Committee on Workforce and Education and its Innovation in Civil Engineering Education Working Group, as an outgrowth of the ASCE Civil Engineering Education Summit and the related 2021 Action Plan. Representing ASCE on the joint ASCE/Beavers program committee are Joel Burken, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, of the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Sonya Cooper, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, of New Mexico State University, David Dzombak, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, BC.WRE, NAE, Dist.M.ASCE of Carnegie Mellon University, Col. Aaron Hill, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, of the U.S. Military Academy, and Lucio Soibelman, P.Eng, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE, of the University of Southern California.
Hill has similar firsthand experience, going back to a sabbatical – or operational experience to use the military term – he spent from January through May 2019 working for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“This experience was beneficial in several ways, both personally and professionally, and for USACE and West Point,” Hill said.
“Professionally, it served as real-world experience with industry, undoubtedly enhancing credibility with students, faculty, and industry partners. And I significantly grew my professional network.”
Learn more about the program and apply today.