The professional civil engineer of the future must be a leader in society. The 200‐year heritage of civil engineering in the United States is that of a great technological provider of shelter, transportation, and sanitation. Yet these needs are increasingly taken for granted, a mark of success of the civil engineer's task; in the process the profession has become a mature one. Together with this circumstance the perception has grown that civil engineering does not offer sufficient career excitement to potential young engineers. The current typical student view of civil engineering is presented, along with implications this has for the future. The real role of technology, and especially high technology, in many civil engineering problems of today and tomorrow is reviewed. A clear conclusion is that the profession must raise its image, and in doing so differentiate between an applied technologist and a true professional. The latter will, increasingly, be a leader and decision maker in society, no longer content to serve just as a technical consultant to others. The role of education, and engineering schools in particular, in producing this new professional is examined. It is recommended that a few universities make a commitment to review their curricula and accommodate this technologically and culturally educated individual. These exemplars will undoubtedly be programs involving both undergraduate and at least one graduate degree.

Mr. DeFraites, a former COFPAES Chairman, discusses the quality of the design product as it relates to an owner's professional selection and procurement procedure. Project quality, the level of professional services to be provided, and fee are all related to the procurement process. Bidding establishes an adversarial relationship between the owner and the design professional; it is expensive and time‐consuming. The innovative ability of the design professional is not evaluated in a bidding process. The qualification‐based selection process results in a compatible owner/design professional team truly representing the best interest of the owner. “Price‐as‐a‐factor” procurement procedures have all of the disadvantages of straight bidding plus considerable additional cost to the design professionals involved.

The civil engineering education of 50 years ago was excellent for its time. Changes since that time were good when they were evolutionary in response to needs and knowledge, not so good when they were forced for various reasons. The undergraduate curriculum needs to be reassessed in light of true conditions and needs, and programs for professional continuing education open to all and readily available need to be established or strengthened. Correspondence courses especially are needed. Graduate programs would change if professional programs flourished.

The professional liability crisis has reached historic heights and there has been a marked increase in interest in the character of lawsuits filed. A number of states have enacted “frivolous lawsuit” legislation that attempts to curb those suits that have no merit. Lawsuits are filed for reasons other than liability and legislation enacted attempts to remedy those cases where there is not a justified cause for action. To minimize lawsuits there has also been a surge of interest in loss prevention activities. A resource survey has been compiled for the publications and programs presently available in the engineering and construction industry. The survey is presented with a request for input from the membership on resources not listed.

The success of future direct potable reuse projects is dependent on potential consumer acceptance. All of the other problems associated with potable reuse may be resolved, i.e., public health concerns, but the issue of public acceptance remains. In the future it will be necessary to develop strategies to deal with public unwillingness to drink reclaimed water. One promising strategy incorporates the principles of applied behavioral analysis and social marketing to achieve results. The purpose of this paper is to propose a detailed strategy, based on applied behavioral analysis and social marketing, that can be used to influence public opinion on the direct potable water reuse issue. Techniques used by social scientists will be explored in depth regarding this important issue.

Rebuilding the nation's highways is a challenge facing our highway engineers and contractors. Changes in materials, evolving construction practices, major turnovers of experienced personnel in both the private and public sector, and accomplishing large volumes of work under increasing traffic loads contribute to this challenge. Maintaining and improving the quality of the completed work can be addressed through the development and implementation of quality management programs. These programs must be broad and answer four basic questions: (1) What do we want?; (2) how do we order it?; (3) how do we determine that we got what we ordered?; and (4) what do we do if we don't get what we ordered? Designs, specifications, production controls, inspection, and materials acceptance procedures must be carefully developed to provide for high quality, and individuals involved in the processes must be well trained and motivated toward providing a quality product.

Unlike other professionals, engineers are not prepared to expect to go into business for themselves. As a result, many engineers establish a consulting firm without giving adequate consideration to the business requirements of the practice. The basic groundwork, including the selection of the legal structure and establishment of internal systems to create management information, should be the first step in establishing the firm. Serious thought and planning in these areas will provide the practice with a solid foundation for success.

Demographic estimates and short‐ as well as long‐term projections for minority students between the ages of fifteen and nineteen years are discussed. These estimates and projections indicate significant shifts in the distribution of minority youths, giving rise to large gains in the Pacific region and particularly within already highly populated California. While the existing ASCE‐supported summer institutes reach but a small fraction of potential civil engineers across the nation, it is concluded that additional institutes are urgently needed in California, should the creative potential of 25% of all of the nation's minority students residing in California be fully explored.

The future members and leaders of the civil engineering profession are today's high school students. Two main problems confront the profession as it tries to attract excellent students to the field of civil engineering: (1) The lack of student awareness; and (2) the notion that civil engineering is not a challenging field. This paper outlines the need for civil engineering to attract bright high school students, focusing on four major areas: (1) Communication; (2) student involvement; (3) field trips; and (4) the adequate training of high school teachers and counselors.

Technology policy is an idea whose time has come. It has touched a responsive chord in the body politic in the face of the Japanese business challenge. It is provoking debates in Congress and the media as to the best modus operandi, and everyone seems to have a checklist of ideas that are important. Debates are focusing on status quo versus national industrial policy, yet a third option is apparent, that of a fourth or technological branch of government. These options are discussed, and the third may be the compromise people are searching for.

The biennial salary survey of the civil engineering profession conducted by the Committee on Employment Conditions during the fourth quarter of 1987 is presented. Results are analyzed on the basis of ASCE professional grades for consulting firms; construction firms; design/construction firms; industry, railroad or utility; state department or agency; and municipality or county, and compared to 1981–1985 survey data.