“To begin,” Region 3 Director Ken Mika told his fellow ASCE Board of Direction members, “I want you to close your eyes.”
The board prides itself on guiding ASCE’s future, eyes wide open, so this was a surprising request from the chair of the Board Strategic Advisory Committee. But each member followed Mika’s instructions. Eyes closed, and the July board meeting at ASCE headquarters in Reston, Virginia, took on an almost mystic tone in the room.
“Fast-forward to 2031,” Mika continued. “We’re seven years into the future. … What’s happening around ASCE?
“Today, our Center for Infrastructure Innovation has published its newest pre-standard on Portable Landing Pads for Uncrewed Aerial Systems. …
“Meanwhile, halfway around the globe, members of ASCE’s MENA region prepare to host a webinar featuring a case study on the world’s first linear, smart city. …
“And closer to headquarters, an elected official – inspired to join ASCE by the Cities of the Future film – is testifying before Congress on the need for continued infrastructure investment.”
It was an intriguing picture of the not-so-far-off future and one the board will continue to explore through the Reimagine ASCE initiative.
“As technology and environmental conditions have evolved so greatly, there is a need to focus on how things interact with each other and take a more holistic view and approach, rather than analyzing parts of the system in isolation,” said ASCE President Marsia Geldert-Murphey. “And the opportunity I see is to take the same approach at ASCE, to take that holistic view of how all our vital components fit together and affect one another rather than focusing on the isolated parts.”
While the presentation at the board meeting had elements of creativity and even whimsy to it, the BSAC Task Committee on Reassessing and Reimagining ASCE’s Organizational Structure and Budget Process has taken the work very seriously. Its charge is to examine the entire organization with an eye toward ensuring that the Society accomplishes the outcomes outlined in the new ASCE Strategic Plan.
It’s no small task and – as evidenced by Mika’s board presentation – one that requires open minds (if occasionally closed eyes). The board voted to approve the task committee’s three emerging trends:
- The profession of civil engineering is transforming to serve humanity’s evolving needs and ASCE must change to align with the evolving needs and values of the civil engineering profession.
- ASCE must become inclusive of the entire infrastructure project team.
- The future governance and structure of ASCE must align with the Society’s strategic aspirations, in support of our efforts to serve humanity.
The task committee will continue developing recommendations around these themes, with plans to present specifics to the board in 2025.
No, ASCE won’t be changing its name, Mika made sure to reaffirm, but many wide-reaching options for improved efficiency and connectivity are on the table. Mika emphasized at the board meeting that the task committee will continue to think and work strategically and “at a high level.”
“We look at ASCE as one complex system designed to support and advance the civil engineering profession, rather than a loose association of pieces and parts,” Geldert-Murphey said.
“This allows us to create a more adaptable organization that can thrive in a world where conditions are constantly changing. I am really excited about being a part of reimagining ASCE to ensure we continue to be the same strong voice of support and technical excellence for our profession in the next 172 years that we have been for the last 172 years.”
The Reimagine ASCE work is happening in parallel with similarly holistic work various committees are doing around an expanded ASCE 2027 Convention, possible consolidated leadership events, new offices for grants and contracts and for standards, and reassessed member grades.
“There are always challenges when implementing change,” Geldert-Murphey said. “The first response tends to be an inward reflection of how it affects the individual or the constituency they identify with. It takes collaboration and open discussion to understand diverse perspectives within a large community.
“Each of these initiatives has significant individual merit, but when viewed through the lenses of interconnectedness and adaptability, they paint a picture of a more inclusive and robust organization poised to meet the needs of the next generations of our profession.”
A vote of confidence
The board voted to approve the requested fiscal year 2025 budget for Civil Engineering Certification. It marked both a financial investment and a vote of confidence from the board as CEC works to further establish and expand its certification programs.
“CEC has developed a revised business plan to go beyond professional eminence into meeting the practical technical needs within several disciplines with our profession,” Geldert-Murphey said. “The board recognizes this shift as both a value to our members and a sustainable source of revenue in the years to come.”
CEC boasted a 96.2% retention rate for the 2024 credential renewal period. Last year, the program announced the launch of a new certification for pipeline engineers–water based on CEC’s first computer-based written examination. CEC’s newly approved budget includes funding for continued exam development as well as marketing and communication efforts to reach certification stakeholders.
CEC recently approved a certification proposal for pipeline utility engineering and is working to develop certifications in construction, transportation, and for early-career professionals and members of the engineering team.
Maybe most significantly, as the program looks forward, CEC has signed memoranda of understanding with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and PIANC – The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure. In an additional agreement with Shell Oil, CEC will pre-qualify their engineers to apply for board-certification based on completion of their internal training program.
Other highlights
- The board voted to approve fiscal year 2025 operating, institute, and capital budgets as presented by the Program and Finance Committee. The budgets included revised business plans for CEC, the grants and contracts office, the standards office, and digital strategy, as PFC increasingly emphasizes grounding budget decisions on conservative projections.
- The Future World Vision update highlighted, among many successes, the launch of ASCE’s giant-screen film Cities of the Future earlier this year. More than 165,000 people have seen the film across 26 theaters between the Feb. 16 debut and June 30.
- The board approved four new policy statements: PS 573 – Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Responsibility; PS 574 – Education Requirements for Licensure; PS 575 – Nature Based Solution; and PS 576 – Civil Infrastructure Systems and Water-Energy-Food Nexus. Additionally, the board approved revisions to 60 existing policies and rescinded five outdated policies.
