Solving Low Enrollment Problems in Civil Engineering

Many civil engineering departments are facing low enrollments, despite excellent job opportunities and demand for both undergraduate and graduate degree recipients. The main problem in attracting students to civil engineering is a poor image or, even worse, a lack of image. Civil engineering has always been the broadest and least understood discipline and has not been perceived as a “hightech” area. This paper outlines some ideas, many of which have been tried at Auburn University to help accelerate the slow process of improving the image of civil engineers and reestablishing the desired enrollment levels. Included are active promotional ideas as well as passive programs that indirectly affect the department's image and improve the recruitment environment. Ideas are presented for both undergraduate and graduate student recruitment. These same types of recruitment programs would also apply to other departments that are experiencing low enrollments, by identifying the strengths of the department and how to work them into their recruitment plan.