The field of Structural Engineering is blossoming with seemingly limitless opportunities to get involved in both the building and bridge design and construction industries. A large majority of undergraduate students are immediately entering the workforce and significantly contributing to the success of their company's projects. But the question stands, are we adequately preparing these students for professional success? This is not just a question for educators, but for industry leaders, as well, because it is your company's success which hinges on the quality of the engineers entering the field. 

If the expectations are for students to make an immediate impact when they enter the industry, it is critical for students to get exposure prior to graduation. As a graduate student and Instructor at the University of Connecticut, the importance of student involvement and outreach became very apparent to me. I encouraged my students to engage engineering professionals outside of what was expected of them through their daily courses and not just at the annual career fairs. I started an SEI Graduate Student Chapter at UConn whose primary mission was to advance and serve the structural engineering profession by enhancing the education of students to allow for a smooth transition from college to career. This organization was formed not only to serve graduate students but also undergraduate students. The idea is to provide students with an outlet to learn and grow outside of the classroom through networking events, workshops, and technical presentations. 

I recently brought my Design of Steel Structures course at UConn to the construction site of the new three-story 191,000 square foot LEED Gold certified Student Recreation Facility on campus. During the hour site visit, the students had the chance to meet with the structural designer, BVH Integrated Services, the construction management team, Turner Construction Co., and tour the entire site. This experience was truly eye-opening to my students. Back in the classroom, it was clear that the students were more engaged and interested because they could relate first-hand to the material that they were learning in the classroom. Calculations, drawings, and project photos do not do justice to the magnitude and complexity of structural engineering projects.

The opportunities for student involvement, such as this, cannot be successful without the support and involvement of representatives from the profession. Students benefit tremendously when they learn about projects. I highly encourage you to reach out to an SEI Grad Student Chapter, local university or college ASCE/SEI student chapter to network with and mentor students, perhaps serve as a practitioner adviser. Developing an interactive experience to engage students with practicing engineers will provide students with invaluable insight into the field, while also giving you a chance to meet the leaders of the future. This will not only benefit the students and the profession but will improve the long term success of your company as well. 

By: Kevin McMullen, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE
United States Military Academy

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