Providing engineering students the opportunity to work with licensed professional engineers strengthens the student experience. It teaches real-world lessons about professional practice and helps students discover what the engineering profession is really about.
In August 2014, the NCEES board of directors authorized a $200,000 contribution to Engineers Without Borders–USA (EWB–USA) to support projects for the upcoming year. EWB–USA Executive Director Cathy Leslie, P.E., described EWB as a project system that mimics private practice for engineers. It allows students to apply their knowledge to real-world situations and work under the guidance of professionals.
EWB teams are multidisciplined, meaning the teams include professions outside engineering, such as social scientists, public health officials, and anthropologists. As students move through the project process, they are able to work with licensed professional engineers and are exposed to the theories of professional practice and the quality control and quality assurance that are part of professional practice to ensure that designs have a standard level of care and are appropriate for the situation.
The NCEES Engineering Award recognizes engineering programs that encourage collaboration between college students and professional engineers. In 2014, the Seattle University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering won the $25,000 grand prize. Five other programs received $7,500 awards.
- The Citadel
- North Carolina State University
- Seattle University
- University of Evansville
- University of Notre Dame
