Over the last year, ASCE members have discussed many interesting concepts, including the inception of the 1st Professional Degree as the Master's Degree, the training of unseasoned engineers, the mentoring of students, and the undertaking of advisory roles at public and private universities. These four instrumental topics are a clear indication that ASCE members are willing to assist others and thereby strengthen the civil engineering profession.

Currently, a growing number of universities are not adequately preparing civil engineering students for the professional challenges which lie ahead. A lack of communication skills, managerial skills, business skills, and technical skills plague entry-level engineers. Striving for a solution, project managers are swiftly analyzing the shortcomings of the training process and developing preferred educational criteria.

While it is practical to solve the problem analytically, perhaps one fundamental question has not yet been addressed: Are there institutions that foster exemplary proficiencies in civil engineering students? Unbeknownst to some, there are many fine, educational establishments that are providing a solid engineering curriculum for tomorrow's engineers.

These outstanding scholastic institutions tend to focus on the fundamental requirements of the program, as well as progressions in practical applications. Instructors at these facilities are strongly encouraged to participate in the professional development of engineering students. With the assistance of smaller student-to-professor ratios, educators are also able to play an active role in the mentoring of the rising professionals. Furthermore, at technology-based universities, graduate students are not allowed to lecture or run labs.

In general, institutes of technology require instructors to have 10 years of professional experience and a professional engineering license. However, research grants are rarely placed as a condition of employment. Moreover, these universities provide educators with not only the tools of success, the latitude to achieve such goals as well. With the efficiency of this type of scholastic institution, instructors are also able to emphasize other subjects besides traditional engineering courses. Other fields of study, which help to capitalize a future manager's success, include business, management, economics, and psychology.

Advanced degrees are valuable and should be encouraged. However, more can be demanded from BSCE programs. Therefore, before implementing the 1st Professional Degree for civil engineers, support must be given to universities in their effort to cultivate our future leaders. As conflicting demands challenge today's educators, it becomes necessary for the engineering profession to formulate a clear and concise plan for universities to implement. Solutions are available. They must only be evaluated, prioritized, and executed for our profession to succeed.

In short, while many colleagues have formulated well thought-out solutions, the process seems to stop here. Implementation of such ideas is rarely achieved or fully self-sustaining. The ASCE Seattle Section - University Advisory Committee is in great need of support and participation. This is your chance to assist others and strengthen the profession. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, I would enjoy hearing from you. Please feel free to contact me at dsmith@parametrix.com. All comments will be forwarded to the University Advisory Committee.

The ASCE University Advisory Committee, in conjunction with the University of Washington and Seattle University Civil Engineering Departments, is looking for guest lecturers. The guest lecturers will be asked to teach, on a one-time basis, a specialized topic as part of a regular engineering course. The specialized topics and contact persons are listed below:

University of Washington

1. Topic: Traffic Engineering: What do traffic engineers do in Seattle?
Contact: Nancy L. Nihan, Professor, Civil Engineering and Director, Transportation Northwest, USDOT University Transportation Center for Federal Region 10
Phone: (206) 543-9639
Fax: (206) 543-5965
E-mail: nihan@u.washington.edu

2. Topics: CIVE 390: Financing of Civil Projects - Civil Engineering Systems
CIVE 490: Optimization of Water Distribution-Deterministic Systems
CIVE 557: Water Resources Management
CIVE 559: Water Resources Systems Management
Contact: Richard N. Palmer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Phone: (206) 685-2658
Fax: (206) 685-9185
E-mail: palmer@u.washington.edu

3. Topic: Application of basic fluid mechanics to civil engineering projects.
Contact: Dr. Timothy V. Larson, Professor, Environmental Engineering & Sciences
Phone: (206) 543-6815
Fax: (206) 685-3836
E-mail: tlarson@u.washington.edu

4. Topic: Reinforced Concrete Course - Structural Engineer
Contact: Dawn Lehman, Acting Assistant Professor
Phone: (206) 616-3530
Fax: (206) 543-1543
E-mail: delehman@u.washington.edu

5. Topic: Bridge Design
Contact: John Stanton, Professor, Civil Engineering
E-mail: stanton@u.washington.edu

Seattle University

1. Topic: Endangered Species Act - (City of Seattle's Cedar River Habitat Conservation Plan With Respect to Water Supply and Hydroelectric Operation).
Contact: Jean Jacoby, Associate Professor, Civil and Env. Engineering
Phone: 206-296-5526
Fax: 206-296-2173
E-mail: jacoby@seattleu.edu

2. Topic: Financing of Civil Engineering Projects - Especially the Selling of Municipal Bonds
&
3. Topic: Environmental Issues Related to Hanford Nuclear Facility
Contact: Phil Thompson, Assistant Professor, Civil and Env. Engineering
Phone: 206-296-5521
Fax: 206-296-2173
E-mail: thompson@seattleu.edu

4. Topic: GIS-Use/Engineering Applications/Case Histories
Contact: Nimmy Gnanapragasam, Assistant Professor, Civil & Env. Engineering
Phone: (206) 296-5522
Fax: 206-296-2173
E-mail: nirmalag@seattleu.edu

If you have the expertise requested, you are invited to contact the course lecturer directly. This is an excellent opportunity for the local ASCE community to contribute to the universities and for individuals to experience the local universities and today's engineering students.

ASCE-Student Chapter Guest Lecturers: Evening Program?

If you have further questions or comments, please contact Cliff Williams at (425) 822-2525 or e-mail cwill@horton-dennis.com

Cliff Williams Chair - ASCE University Advisory Committee

In reply to your December 1998 President's Column, I must offer my opinion regarding the "Concept of the First Professional Degree being the Master's Degree". Actually, an academic degree is nothing more than a symbol of achievement. In this case, deifying it implies that only a person holding a Master's Degree is qualified for registration. If our country accepted such a concept, Abraham Lincoln could never have become President of the USA and we might still be saddled with slavery.

I agree that engineers should study history, communication and management skills, financial subjects, accounting, etc. That can all be done after graduation.

Albert A. Mathews
Fellow and Life Member of ASCE

On Saturday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m., the local chapter of Water For People will be hosting the Fourth Annual Water For Life fundraising reception in the Dome Room in the Arctic Building (700 Third Avenue) in downtown Seattle. This enjoyable, lively event will be co-hosted by Water Partners International. Sponsors include Seattle Public Utilities, the Everett Public Works, and Tacoma Water. Funds raised at the reception will be used to assist the community of San Pablo de Consolacion in Honduras which, along with the rest of the country, is still coming to terms with the devastation left behind by Hurricane Mitch.

If you have questions or would like to RSVP, contact AWWA-WFP 11327-17th Avenue NE/Seattle, WA 98125, call 206-297-3024, or e-mail msmith@water.org.

Today in developing countries, more than 1.2 billion people lack access to safe and adequate water supplies. Come be part of the solution. Please RSVP so that adequate food and beverage can be ensured.

Samuel A. L. Perry, P.E.
HDR Inc.

To register for a course, please call Engineering Professional Programs at 206/543-5539. Early registration fees are applicable up until two weeks before the date of the course.

Additional information is available on the internet at:
http://www.engr.washington.edu/epp/Pepl/peplcal.html

Storm and Surface Water Monitoring
January 12 and 13, 1999: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
$345 (early registration)/$375

New Technologies and Concepts in Stormwater Treatment
February 10 and 11, 1999: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
$345 (early registration)/$375

How to Successfully Use Value Engineering in Capital Projects
February 17 and 18, 1999: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
$345 (early registration)/$375

Effective Writing for Technical Professionals
February 25 and March 2, 4, 9 and 11, 1999 (five sessions): 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
$320 (early registration)/$345

Groundwater Monitoring for Water Purveyors
March 17 and 18, 1999: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
$345 (early registration)/$375

Alternative On-Site Stormwater Management Techniques
March 25 and 26, 1999: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
$345 (early registration)/$375

Stormwater Treatment by Media Filtration
April 7 and 8, 1999: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
$345 (early registration)/$375

Quaternary and Engineering Geology of the Central and Southern Puget Sound Lowland
April 15, 16 and 17, 1999: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
$380 (earl registration)/$420

Design and Retrofit of Culverts for Fish Passage in the Northwest
May 12 and 13, 1999: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
$345 (early registration)/$375

ASCE Legislative Committee is gearing up for action during the 1999 Washington State legislative session. This committee reviews and comments on initiatives and bills being considered by each house of the legislature.

Our input is then combined with opinions of other professional organizations represented by Architect Engineers Legislative Council (AELC). An Olympia law firm represents AELC by presenting our combined input and opinions to key decision-makers, tracking issues as they move through the legislature, and gathering related information. Some of the issues we expect to be considered in the upcoming session include: Taxation; A&E Selection; Government Contracting; Infrastructure Funding; Liability Reform; and Licensing.

This is a great opportunity to gain insight to the legislative process and make your voice heard. Most of our work and coordination is done via email, FAX and phone calls, so don't let lack of time for another meeting discourage you from participating. If you are interested in participating please contact Dan Dixon, ASCE Legislative Committee Chair, at ddixon@hntb.com or (425) 450-2529. The annual Washington Construction Industry Council and AELC "Day On The Hill" event will be on February 3, 1999.

The Geotechnical Group annual spring seminar will be held on Saturday, April 10, 1999, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University of Washington Hub Auditorium. The topic this year will be Excavation Support and Dewatering. Innovative shoring systems to be presented include the GeoCon "VERT" vertical reinforcement system, the Golder "Suspension Wall" system, ground freezing, and the use of prestressed small diameter soil nails. High profile local and national shoring and dewatering case histories will be presented. Speakers include prominent local engineers and contractors as well as Peter Nicholson of GeoCon and David Weatherby of Schnabel Foundation Company, both internationally recognized authorities on excavation support.

The day will close with a panel discussion of construction and design issues related to excavation support systems. The discussion will address actual instances of failures, excessive deformations, construction problems, difficult design details, unrealistic design of construction details, and how these issues were remedied or overcome. The panel will consist of representatives from three shoring contractors (Tom Armour, DBM, Alan MacNab, Condon-Johnson, and Al Rasband, Malcolm Drilling), two geotechnical engineers (Chris Wolschlag, Golder and Ted Sheppard, Terra), and a structural engineer (Bruce Erickson, KPFF). Peter Nicholson will serve as moderator

.

Registration forms will be available in early February. Contact Ms. Stephanie Thatcher at Golder Associates for to obtain registration information: 425-883-0777, sthatcher@golder.com.

The University Advisory Committee is coordinating a student mentoring program. We are looking for practicing engineers within ASCE who would be willing to volunteer some of their time to assist and advise University of Washington (UW) and Seattle University (SU) civil engineering (CE)students. The time commitment and issues addressed will depend on the mentor's availability and the student's individual concerns. The following is a brief outline prepared by Chris M. Yeargin, a CE student at UW. Chris has assembled this outline to illuminate the areas of his young career where he fells a mentor could make a positive difference.

As a student, I believe guidance from a practicing civil engineer could help in many ways. First, Civil Engineering is a very broad profession. Deciding what to do within "Civil" is not an easy choice, especially since most undergraduate courses don't provide information about what professional life is like when one works within a particular field. I believe it would be very helpful to have contact with a mentor who could provide a perspective on what the daily life of a practicing engineer might be like within the different disciplines.

Suppose for a minute, that I have already decided which CE discipline to pursue. How do I go about making it happen? There are many faculty advisors here at UW, but I feel that advice about potential courses from a practicing engineer would really benefit my career. One particular question has crossed my mind; if I were to go into hydrology, should I spend that extra elective in a geotechnical course or an environmental course? A perspective from a professional could be crucial for these choices.

Another benefit of having a mentor could be help in finding a job. Practicing engineers would have the best idea of where to look for a job and who might be looking for graduates. It is very difficult for a student to do that kind of forecasting.

This isn't a complete list as any student you ask could have several additional reasons for having a mentor, but in the end, it has to do with preparing ourselves for the practicing community, which you are a part of.

If you are interested in receiving more information about the ASCE student mentoring program or wish to volunteer, please contact Cathy Smith at 425-883-5100 (crsmith@Golder.com) or Michael McAdams at 425-228-0777(mcadams@trinityconsultants.com).

PROJECT MANAGER AND WATER RESOURCES ENGINEER - Specialty hydraulic and environmental engineering firm seeks qualified individual with experience in open channel hydraulics, ground and surface water hydrology, sedimentation and erosion, water quality modeling and river mechanics. MS preferred. Familiarity with numerical modeling, particularly HEC models and other 1 and 2-D codes a plus. Primarily positions available in Phoenix, but also availability in Bellevue and San Diego Send resume to WEST Consultants, Inc., 12509 Bel-Red Road, Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98005 or email: jbradley@westconsultants.com. Visit our website: http://www.westconsultants.com

Civil Engineering SWMB, a prominent civil and structural engineering firm, has exciting job opportunities available for civil project managers and civil senior design engineers. Must have BSCE with experience in site development and infrastructure improvements. Knowledge of Microstation and SiteWorks a plus. Excellent compensation and benefit package. Send resume to: SWMB, 1301 5th Ave., Suite 3200, Seattle, WA, 98101. E-mail: rsm@skilling.com

The Seattle Section has been notified of the election of nine Section member to the grade of Life Member of ASCE effective January 1, 1999. The new life members from the Seattle area are:
Mr. Rolf. F. Amundson
Professor Ziad M. Elias
Mr. Martin C. Dirks
Mr. Robert F. Mast
Mr. Philip Pedrichizzi
Professor Richard T. Schwaegler
Mr. Larry E. Shannon

From the North Branch:
Mr. Ryan Kingma

From the Kitsap Branch:
Mr. Robert G. Nesbitt

The qualifications for Life membership are: Age 65 or older Society member for 25 or more years Combination of age plus years of membership must total 95.

These members of the Section are to be commended and congratulated for their dedication and significant contributions to society, our profession and ASCE. It has truly been a pleasure getting to know those who have attended the Section and Branch meetings to receive their certificates.

John D. Hastig, P.E. Past President

The Section's Awards Committee is soliciting nominations for the Outstanding Local Civil Engineering Achievement Award for 1999. All Civil Engineers who are subscribing members of the Seattle Section of ASCE are encouraged to submit their projects for consideration. The submittal deadline is April 1, 1999.

The rules for entry are as follows:

• Design must have been accomplished under the direction of a Civil Engineer who is a member of the Seattle Section. (This includes the Kitsap and North Branches.)
• The project must be located in the Seattle Section area.
• Project construction cost may not exceed $1.5 million.
• Work must have been completed in calendar year 1998.
• The project must be predominantly civil engineering work.

Submission packets must include: A standard application form, which includes a project description (200 words or less); a location map; and 8-1/2 x 11 copies of relevant engineering drawings and plans. The entry should also include four to six color photos.

The evaluation of the submitted project will consider the following elements: Excellence in design; innovation; compatibility with the environment; cost effectiveness; aesthetics; contribution to public welfare and/or safety, and; effective use of materials.

Contact John Hastig, at (425) 355-4141 ext. 225, or by e-mail at jhastig@aol.com for an official entry form and rules.

On Saturday, February 27, 1999, high school engineers, practicing engineers, celebrity judges, media personnel, volunteers, and thousands of spectators will convene at the Center House at the Seattle Center for the Fourth Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Building Competition. Please note this new date. Participating high schools, you have one extra week to prepare.

For the past four years, building bridges out of Popsicle sticks has been a strong tradition among regional high school students. While the contest is not yet organized on a national level, the strict dimension, assembly, and weight specifications to which the bridges must conform are the same nationwide. On a national scale, the Puget Sound region shines bright. Last years strength winner from Olympic High School held 1278 pounds, up from Henry Foss High School's national record breaker of just over 1000 pounds the year before.

The Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Building Competitions are put on by the Associate Member Forum (AMF) of ASCE to promote engineering careers among high school students. Planning typically begins around September of the previous year. November, December, and January are primarily dedicated to school visits where young practicing AMF engineers and college students (1) discuss civil engineering, (2) promote the contest, and (3) provide bridge building tips. Presentation sizes range from small engineering clubs to large assemblies. Once the school is visited, students are free to exercise their engineering skills and ingenuity to construct sturdy and attractive bridges using Popsicle sticks and white elmers glue. On contest day, all qualifying bridges are evaluated for aesthetics by a panel of celebrity judges. Then each one is individually tested under a hydraulic loading press. Once bridges are strength tested, the student teams have the opportunity to meet with AMF consultants to analyze the failure modes so they can improve on next year's design and construction. Since the event is held in conjunction with National Engineers Week, students also have the opportunity to learn about engineering through the numerous exhibits.

Each school is allowed to send up to two five-member teams. Last year's contest had thirty- seven teams representing twenty-four high schools. This year's figures are comparable. Awards will be given in two categories this year, strength and aesthetics.

Under the direction of PSB coordinator, Aeli Kim (Lin & Associates), AMF is finishing up the planning details for this year's contest. School visits are complete. Key tasks now include finalizing prizes and funding, and getting contest day volunteers. AMF very much appreciates the assistance and support from volunteers and companies as it plays a huge role in the success of the contest and in the lives of tomorrow's engineers. This year AMF is in need of this assistance and support. Last year's contest had over 2000 spectators and outstanding media coverage. Supporters will definitely benefit from the outstanding publicity. Please contact Aeli Kim at 206-621-1218 (email: af@isomedia.com) if you can assist in this regard. We really need help.

Please come out to the Center House at the Seattle Center on Saturday, February 27, 1999. I'm sure you'll be impressed by the engineering talent of our local high school students. Please pass the word about the contest and the new date. Thank you.