2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering Inclusion: Understanding Faculty and Student Views

Having an up-to-date understanding of the perceptions held by both students and faculty regarding diversity and inclusion within the educational environment is paramount for the effective development and execution of diversity and inclusion initiatives. This study, conducted in the College of Engineering at a mid-size public regional university near the Gulf Coast in the southern United States, aims to assess the current perceptions of diversity among engineering students and faculty members. The study encompasses comprehensive surveys comprising 27 questions that explore various facets of diversity and inclusion within the school, in the engineering curriculum, student organizations, and the engineering workforce. The survey analysis provides valuable insights, which were used to provide recommendations for faculty members, instructors, and other stakeholders in the engineering education sector. These recommendations aim to foster an academic environment where everyone can thrive, contribute, and fulfill their potential regardless of their gender and race.

Authors

Dr. Shenghua Wu University of South Alabama [biography]

Dr. Shenghua Wu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Alabama. His research areas include civil engineering materials characterization, pavement performance evaluation and modeling, design, and maintenance, multidisciplinary approach to address complex engineering issues, as well as STEM education. He holds multiple leadership roles, including the Director for Interdisciplinary Center for Sustainable Engineering (ICSE), Executive Director for Gulf Coast Environmental Equity Center (GCEEC), Director for the Solid Waste Sustainability Hub, Director for the Gulf Coast Center for Addressing Microplastics Pollution (GC-CAMP), and Director for the Sustainable Asphalt Materials Laboratory, as well as the founding faculty advisor for the Society of Sustainable Engineering. He teaches a mixture of undergraduate and graduate engineering courses. Dr. Wu is a committee member for Transportation Research Board (TRB) AJE35 and AKM 90, a member of American Society of Civil Engineer (ASCE), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and Academy of Pavement Science and Engineering (APSE), as well as an editorial member for Journal of Testing and Evaluation and International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology. He serves panel member for several NCHRP and ACRP projects. He is also a registered professional engineer in Alabama and LEED AP.
Drew Gossen University of South Alabama

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025