The increased cost and complexity of many construction projects have enhanced the importance of project management in the construction industry. Industry and government now seek managerial as well as technical capabilities in the engineers they employ. However, civil and construction engineering students often have few opportunities for exposure to the conceptual and practical issues involved with project management. This paper describes a game that was developed to simulate the management of a design and construction project, and discusses how the game was used to teach project management to civil engineering students at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.

The perceived decline of a particular civil engineering program is documented based on the personal observations and appraisal by a former student (a practicing engineer who has trained and worked closely with the program's graduates for more than 20 years and who has been a close supporter of student activities on campus for more than 10 years) and a collaboration with several of the program's former and current professors and students. Personal observations and discussions with academicians from other programs indicate that this local experience may be more typical than unique not only in civil engineering departments but throughout colleges of engineering as well. Some symptoms of decline of the civil engineering profession are linked to the decline of civil engineering education. A detailed estimate of the motives and mechanisms that have led to the decline are examined. Some considerations believed to be critical to the reversal of the trend are discussed.

Workmen's compensation insurance laws were enacted in the United States to protect injured employees, who were often unable to attain restitution from employers because they could not afford the costs of litigation. Also, several common‐law defenses available to employers allowed them to avoid payment to injured workers. By 1948 workmen's compensation protection was available in all states, and both workers and employers enjoyed a reasonable system for handling employee injuries and compensation. Today, however, the cost of workmen's compensation insurance has soared, with the construction industry paying an average rate of more than $22.00 per $100.00 of payroll. Also, the costs and the benefits paid vary widely from state to state, often to the detriment of both employers and employees. This paper reviews the basic principles of workers' compensation insurance and some of the key problems associated with it in today's construction industrv.

The paper discusses the evolution of advanced technology, from before the Industrial Revolution to today, with particular reference to the computer revolution, responsibility, economic development, technological achievement, international competitiveness, and the global importance of advanced technology. When a developed country is compared with a lesser‐developed country, the paramount reason for the advancement and relative advantage of the developed country is its technological capabilities. Technological failures (e.g., Chernobyl), are also discussed, in general, with the intent of saying that advanced technology, per se, was not the cause. It must be understood that advanced technology only provides tools—ignorant tools. How we, as engineers, use these tools is our responsibility, for better or worse. Also discussed are the public services benefits attributable to advanced technology, vis‐à‐vis services provided by the legal, medical, and other professions. In conclusion, confidence and encouragement is expressed for the engineerirng profession, which seems not to laud itself. Simply put, engineers aim to serve the public with the utmost integrity.

The engineer acts both as a rational agent and as a moral agent in the execution of professional responsibilities. The moral view of most engineers tends toward utilitarianism. The utilitarian concept of moral action holds that the consequences of an action alone determine whether or not the action is right. The engineer will most likely resolve an ethical dilemma by acting in accordance with an assessment of the consequences of alternative actions. The professional engineering society, through its code of ethics, offers a set of moral guidelines intended to transcend particular circumstances or consequences. The ethical review board of the society will tend to approach enforcement decisions from a deontological point of view. This dichotomy of moral viewpoints within the professional engineering community is healthy. The code of ethics, and a conscientious commitment to its enforcement, provides a component of restraint upon the utilitarian morality of the typical engineering professional. Recommendations for improving awareness of the code of ethics and for strengthening its application are included.

Recent political upheavals that have occurred throughout the world will be followed by significant changes in the global economic order. The changes in the global economy will change engineering practice. Engineers from the United States will have greater access to work in formerly closed societies. While there may be new technological problems to overcome, practice in a multicultural global company will require engineers to handle a broader array of ethical dilemmas. Specifically, cultural influences on business practices will need addressing. This may require engineers to act at a higher level of moral development and to respect the values of other cultures. Values such as efficiency, timeliness, family responsibilities, and the value of land and nature have different levels of importance in different cultures. Different evaluations of risk and the issue of women engineers practicing may require adjustments to the business practices of other cultures. Addressing these issues as part of engineering practice adds a new dimension to business conduct in a multicultural global economy.

Participation in a healthy and vibrant ASCE Student Chapter or Club enables a civil engineering undergraduate to become better prepared for professional practice. A survey of 230 ASCE Student Chapters and Clubs is conducted to determine: (1) Student Chapter demographics; (2) the characteristiccs of the academic environments within which the Chapters operate; and (3) the perceptions held by Chapter and Club advisors regarding their various responsibilities and roles. Chi‐square analyses are performed to establish whether significant relations exist between any of these characteristics and perceptions. The results of this survey suggest that ASCE's student organizations and advisory personnel share a common set of roles and goals that is largely independent of the academic environment.

A survey of 230 ASCE Faculty Advisors was conducted to identify the level of institutional support available to Student Chapters; the degree of academic credit awarded to Faculty Advisors; and the environmental characteristics associated with successful Chapters. The survey reveals that Chapter Advisors are most concerned about the relatively low level of faculty colleague involvement in Student Chapter activities and the academic community's perception of Faculty Advisor service as a “committee‐type” rather than a “teaching” activity. A comparison of award‐winning and non‐award‐winning Student Chapters reveals that successful Chapters are characterized by a much higher degree of faculty involvement in Chapter activities, a perception that Faculty Advisor service is indeed a “teaching” activity, and a more satisfactory degree of academic recognition of the Faculty Advisor's efforts.

The results of a survey of Duke University civil engineering graduates is reported. Over 40% responded to a questionnaire by mail requesting information on the usefulness of various subject areas in their first job and in their present position. The results show that management skills are increasingly important in engineering careers, far outstripping the need for engineering during later stages of professional careers. The usefulness of environmental engineering and water resources engineering seems to be increasing for both first jobs as well as present positions. Structural engineering continues to be strong, while surveying and graphics are far less important now than in decades past. The results may be useful in the redesign of civil engineering curricula to meet the needs of modern engineers.

This paper looks at the essentials beyond mere knowledge of C‐SCSC formulas, to the successful implementation of C‐SCSC (cost‐schedule control systems criteria). The paper dwells on the management issues prevalent, and the managerial requisites for the implementation of C‐SCSC. To be able to successfully use the variance and index analyses of C‐SCSC, an immense, concerted project effort is needed. Although the arithmetical formulas used in C‐SCSC and forecasting are few and easy to understand, the management principles involved are deeper, demanding modified management attitudes. Systems planning and systems integration are emphasized as potent tools for the successful development, implementation, and use of C‐SCSC. Properly organizing, directing, and controlling C‐SCSC system development are dwelt upon in detail. Various human‐management concerns and state‐of‐the‐art drawbacks in construction management philosophy are highlighted. People problems during the implementation process frequently center around professional caliber, professional ethics, and professional and not‐so‐professional interests. Negative forces are associated with both the agent of change and its recipient. The paper examines the U.S. departments of Defense and Energy's use of C‐SCSC during the last decade and a half. It gives construction companies the means to achieve successful, state‐of‐the‐art construction management practices in the area of cost control.