Role of consulting engineering experiences for civil engineering technology faculty and other engineering educators in the next century

Remaining current in one's field is a requirement for promotion and tenure in engineering and engineering technology faculty positions. Technology and engineering, however, are changing at an ever-increasing pace. In the next century, engineering educators will be challenged to keep up with an increasing number of new developments within their fields of expertise. Research and industrial experiences are often used to maintain currency. Incorporating these experiences into the curriculum keeps the education of future engineers and engineering technologists current as well. Industrial experiences for civil engineering faculty often involve relationships with local consulting engineering firms. Consulting experiences can provide multiple benefits for civil engineering faculty and their students. This paper discusses consulting engineering as a means of remaining current in the practice of civil engineering and integrating consulting experiences into the curriculum. Also discussed are the benefits of consulting experiences for professional development of civil engineering technology faculty.