The CASE, NCSEA, and SEI leadership announce that the three organizations have jointly endorsed the Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering. The endorsement is the result of a new Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in 2017 by all three organizations to work collaboratively for “…the betterment of the structural engineering profession…”
Since the creation of the three major U.S. structural engineering organizations, CASE, NCSEA, and SEI have informally collaborated on various issues. In 1998, they reached agreement on joint editorial production of STRUCTURE magazine, which NCSEA had launched in 1994, as well as additional distribution to all CASE and SEI members. In May 2006, the organizations held a meeting to address issues facing the SE profession and to avoid “…wasteful duplication of effort…A balance is necessary – some cooperation …” The September 2006 STRUCTURE editorial outlined the discussion and identified 25 shared issues or activities. The SEI Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering and Structural Engineers: A case for change (2013) had its roots in that meeting. Moreover, the 2006 list was a seed for establishing the joint Structural Engineering Licensure Coalition and the Structural Standards Coordination Council that all three organizations support.
In 2018, the SEI Board charged a task committee to review the progress of the 2013 Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering initiatives at the fifth anniversary of adopting the document. It seemed natural that the task committee’s update included a review by CASE and NCSEA. The review request led to a discussion and decision among the three organizations that perhaps an executive summary of the Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering could be adopted by all three organizations. These were the objectives of the new MOU agreement: “to create collaboration within the structural engineering profession, to use our strengths to advocate for our profession, and to ensure there is a future for our profession.” Each organization has specific strengths and initiatives, and collaboration can result in a better future for structural engineering, through a joint Vision.
The collective leadership met, reviewed, and created a joint Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering with 10 long-term goals that all three organizations are committed to investing in and cooperating on. This joint document includes the SEI 2013 Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering initiatives with the addition of two new, key initiatives through input from CASE and NCSEA: “Encouraging resilience in the built environment, including disaster response planning” and “Promoting diversity within the structural engineering profession.” These new initiatives were discussed in the 2013 SEI Vision for the Future document but were not identified as specific initiatives. By including diversity and resilience as stated goals, new and existing programs such as SEER (Structural Engineering Emergency Response) and SE3 (Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity) will be more successful in attracting and retaining young structural engineers.
The Vision will now be the starting agenda for biannual joint leadership meetings of CASE, NCSEA, and SEI. Tracking the initiatives will determine progress on how the professional structural engineering organizations are advancing and serving structural engineering. The Vision will also be used to start a discussion within NCSEA as they work on a new strategic plan, give guidance to funding decisions for SEI Futures Fund grants, and assist CASE in collaborating on common causes with related industry organizations in supporting legislation. The Vision is the basis for a long-term strategy to ensure a vibrant and dynamic future for structural engineering as stated in the first initiative: “to develop and position structural engineers as leaders and innovators on project teams and in society.”
“The profession of structural engineering is incredibly fortunate to have three organizations to lead, represent, and strengthen our practice. When CASE, NCSEA, and SEI are aligned on a joint vision and empower their membership to collaborate toward achieving that vision, our profession ensures its viability in an evolving world.” Emily Guglielmo, P.E., S.E, NCSEA Board Secretary
“This document is a very significant step for all three organizations and our profession–it will serve as a reminder to our future leaders and members of our common goals and vision. I am very proud to have been involved!” David Cocke, S.E., SEI President■
Learn about how YOU can engage with the Vision, at www.acec.org/case, www.ncsea.com, www.asce.org/SEI.
Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering
Adopted by CASE on May 7, 2019, NCSEA on April 23, 2019, and SEI on April 27, 2019
CASE, NCSEA, and SEI are united in envisioning a future where, as stewards of the built environment, structural engineers are widely recognized as making key contributions to the advancement of society on a national and global scale.
The profession is at a critical turning point. Increasing complexity, computer automation, onerous contractual requirements, and global interconnectivity are among the trends that are fundamentally changing the practice of structural engineering. The challenge is to foresee the impacts of these trends in a way that reinforces and expands the critical role of structural engineers in improving the safety and well-being of all. This vision is the basis for a long-term strategy to ensure a vibrant and dynamic future.
A unique, fully engaged profession with a strong identity will be realized when structural engineers:
- are viewed as an integrating factor in every project, rather than merely part of the supporting cast;
- routinely address policy, aesthetics, and finance as important aspects of their role;
- are renowned for their creativity and commitment to learning; and
- articulate their vision in a way that is understood, embraced, and admired by the public.
To achieve these long-term goals, CASE, NCSEA, and SEI are committed to cooperating on and investing in the following key initiatives:
- Develop and position structural engineers as leaders and innovators on project teams and in society.
- Reform structural engineering education.
- Improve mentoring of young structural engineers.
- Enhance the professional development of practicing structural engineers.
- Advocate structural engineering licensure.
- Implement performance-based codes and standards.
- Encourage resilience in the built environment, including disaster response planning.
- Promote diversity within the structural engineering profession.
- Collaborate on common causes with related industry organizations.
- Advance the structural engineering profession nationally and globally.
