Organizations & Associations

How can you make the most of your time at the University, gain experience, and network? Get involved!

Becoming involved in any of these organizations allows you to get to know fellow students and familiarize yourself with potential careers. Plus, it looks great on your resume to show that you were active outside of the classroom.

Take a look at our civil engineering organizations and the organizations open to all engineering students — and try one (or more!) on for size.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

All civil engineering students are invited to join the UL Lafayette chapter of ASCE. Our mission is to promote knowledge and understanding of the rich history of ASCE and the civil engineering profession, including the origins, core values, ethics, people, projects, and programs. We want to help prepare you for a career as a professional civil engineer, and help you form friendships and connections along the way.

We also maintain the Civil Engineering Student Lounge, located in Madison Hall, Room 254.

ASCE is the oldest national professional engineering society. Our core purpose is to advance the art, science, and profession of engineering to enhance the welfare of humanity.

Join ASCE by stopping by the lounge, or contact Mr. Wayne Sharp.

Chi Epsilon Honor Society

Chi Epsilon was organized to recognize the characteristics of the individual civil engineer deemed to be fundamental to the successful pursuit of an engineering career, and to aid in the development of those characteristics in the civil engineering student. Engineering, the application of scientific principles to the practical needs of society, is assuming a constantly increasing responsibility for the well-being of all people, and thus calling for competence of the highest order. This responsibility can be discharged only by a professional group whose members are possessed of a good basic technical ability, intelligence, moral integrity, and effective social poise in their relationship with the larger community of which they are part. To contribute to the improvement of the profession, Chi Epsilon fosters the development and exercise of sound traits of character and technical ability among civil engineers, and its members, by precept and example, toward an ever higher standard of professional service.

Chi Epsilon retains as its motto the Greek letters Chi Delta Chi, which formed the name of the junior honor society founded in 1922 at the University of Illinois and which is one of the roots of Chi Epsilon. Chi Delta Chi. These three letters symbolize our English motto: Conception, Design, and Construction. These are the three phases of every creative project. Conception is inventive; it perceives the opportunity to do something and recognizes the means of accomplishment. Fitting that means of accomplishment to the specific case and planning a definite method of work is design. Construction is the actual building. It makes a reality of the idea of conception and the plan of design. Conception requires imagination and intelligence. Design requires education and practical experience. Construction requires energy, determination, and perseverance. In these functions, your adherence to the principles of Chi Epsilon will serve you well.

Requirements:  An accumulative gpa of 3.0 and the completion of 60 cr hrs; including ENGR 219, ENGR 304 and MATH 350

To join, contact Civil Engineering Department.

Institute of Transportation Engineers

The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), an international individual member educational and scientific association, is one of the largest and fastest-growing multimodal professional transportation organizations in the world. ITE members are traffic engineers, transportation planners and other professionals who are responsible for meeting society's needs for safe and efficient surface transportation through planning, designing, implementing, operating and maintaining surface transportation systems worldwide.

UL Lafayette's student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers works with the following objectives:

• Promote the advancement of transportation and traffic engineering profession by fostering the close association of students with the profession and ITE;
• Acquaint students with topics of interest in transportation and traffic engineering through competent speakers and chapter-sponsored trips;
• Foster the development of professional spirit;
• Promote common interests among students; and
• Encourage the expansion of facilities for transportation and traffic engineering study.

To join, contact Dr. Xiaoduan Sun.