ASCE Strategy Management

To stay on top of the issues facing civil engineers and the civil engineering profession, and to set priorities for action, ASCE makes use of an ongoing strategy management process--a rolling cycle of scanning the environment for strategic issues, winnowing down and prioritizing the issues on a “radar screen,” determining what the Society wants to accomplish for a few top priority issues, and creating action plans to achieve the outcomes. (Note: "Strategy management" is used in place of "strategic planning" since the latter often implies the creation of a static document perhaps appropriate for a shelf rather than an ongoing driver of actions.)

The goal is to become focused and flexible in identifying and addressing a few top priorities while continuing to provide the ongoing broad range of products, services, and initiatives for the members and the profession.

The ASCE vision, mission, goals, and priority strategies follow, along with additional background and detail on the strategy management process and priorities.

ASCE Vision
Engineers as global leaders building a better quality of life

ASCE Mission
To provide essential value to our members, their careers, our partners, and the public, ASCE will:

• Facilitate the advancement of technology
• Encourage and provide the tools for lifelong learning
• Promote professionalism and the profession
• Develop and support civil engineer leaders
• Advocate infrastructure and environmental stewardship.

ASCE Goals

• Facilitate the advancement of technology to enhance quality, knowledge, competitiveness, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
• Encourage and provide the tools for lifelong learning to aid our members' continued growth throughout their careers.
• Promote professionalism and the profession throughout society to enhance the stature of civil engineers and to influence public policy.
• Develop and support civil engineer leaders to broaden our members' perspectives, enhance their career growth, and promote the public interest.
• Advocate infrastructure and environmental stewardship to protect the public health and safety and improve the quality of life.

ASCE Priority Strategies

Infrastructure

The issue:

For years the U.S. has neglected its infrastructure, placing the public health and safety at risk and holding back the nation’s economic growth and competitiveness.

The future ASCE wants to see:

The public and its elected and appointed officials understand the role of infrastructure in the nation’s well being and advancement. Policies and funding are in place and implemented to enhance the capacity and condition of infrastructure in all its aspects.

How ASCE plans to get there:

Upgrade ASCE’s advocacy at all levels; continue to report on the condition of the nation’s infrastructure; and help civil engineers serve as leaders in proposing practical solutions and funding mechanisms.

 

Competency

The issue:

The current path to enter the professional practice of civil engineering--a four-year civil engineering degree coupled with today’s pre-licensure experience--inadequately prepares practitioners to protect the public’s health and safety in the future.

The future ASCE wants to see:

Those entering the professional practice of civil engineering will have attained a recognized body of knowledge, typically fulfilled by an accredited baccalaureate degree in civil engineering, a master’s degree or approximately 30 credits of graduate or upper level course work, and appropriate pre-licensure experience.

How ASCE plans to get there:

Establish appropriate civil engineering curricula at the undergraduate and graduate levels, pre-licensure experience guidelines for the workplace, and legal standards for professional engineer licensure across the 56 different licensure jurisdictions.

 

Role of the Civil Engineer

The issue:

The civil engineer’s role as a true professional and leader for public good has been put into question by new roles for paraprofessionals; off-shoring options for delivering services; the hourly, low-bid pricing of services; and the limited public understanding of civil engineers’ roles.

The future ASCE wants to see:

Civil engineering services are delivered through a well-defined, multi-tiered system of professionals and paraprofessionals, led by civil engineers as master builders, stewards of the environment, innovators and integrators of technology, managers of risk, and shapers of public policy.

How ASCE plans to get there:

In partnership with relevant organizations, implement an ambitious “roadmap” to achieve what the civil engineering profession calls Vision 2025, implementing broad tactics to achieve the desired future.

Sustainability

The issue:

A sustainable built and natural environment is achievable. That fact underscores the opportunity for civil engineers to embrace their evolving role as environmental stewards, life-cycle planners, and policy leaders and to become significant contributors to a sustainable world. 

The future ASCE wants to see:

Civil engineers fully understand, embrace, and apply the principles and practices of sustainability in their work and serve as trusted, sought-after leaders and advisors in delivering sustainable civil infrastructure.

How ASCE plans to get there:

Foster sustainable practices in civil infrastructure through project and professional credentialing, integrating sustainability into engineering education, advocating for research, sharing knowledge worldwide, and fully integrating sustainability into ASCE policies.

ASCE's Ongoing Strategy Management Process (PDF Format)
Read about the process in more detail (includes a glossary of terms).

ASCE's Strategy Management Documents to Date (PDF Format)
Vision
Mission
Goals
Radar Screen of Strategic Issues (Prioritized)
Desired Outcomes for Top-Priority Strategic Issues
Value Propositions