2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Integrating Sustainability Principles into Civil Engineering Capstone Project: Strategies and Pedagogical Approaches at an HBCU

Presented at Minorities in Engineering Division(MIND) Technical Session 3

The global challenges of critical infrastructure and environmental concerns highlight
the urgent need to prioritize sustainability in civil engineering education. A key
strategy to address this is by cultivating a sustainability mindset among engineering
students early in their academic journey. Preliminary observations indicate that many
civil engineering students lack sufficient awareness of sustainability principles, often
leading to their exclusion from capstone projects. This study aims to: (1.) Assess the
integration of sustainability principles in civil engineering capstone projects at an
HBCU and (2.) Identify strategies and pedagogical approaches to encourage
students to incorporate sustainability into their projects. Employing a mixed-method
approach, quantitative data will be gathered using a Sustainable Design Rubric
Questionnaire for students, while semi-structured interviews will collect data from
faculty. Additionally, focus group discussions will be utilized to identify strategic
approaches for integrating sustainability principles into capstone projects. Education
for Sustainable Development (ESD) Theory will be applied to provide a framework
for curriculum reform and pedagogical strategies. This theory will guide the
development of recommendations for effectively integrating sustainability into the
engineering educational system at HBCUs. The anticipated findings will inform
recommendations for curriculum enhancements, including the introduction of
sustainability-focused courses and workshops designed to cultivate a strong interest
in sustainable engineering. These enhancements will propose pedagogical
approaches such as problem-based learning and interdisciplinary projects, aimed at
preparing future engineers to address both regional and global sustainability
challenges.

Authors

Mr. Pelumi Olaitan Abiodun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4969-9591 Morgan State University [biography]

Pelumi Abiodun is a current doctoral student and research assistant at the department of Civil Engineering, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. Pelumi got his BSc and MSc degree in Physics from Obafemi Awolowo University, where he also served as a research assistant at the Environmental Pollution Research unit, in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. As part of his contribution to science and engineering, Pelumi has taught as a teaching assistant both at Morgan State University and Obafemi Awolowo University. With passion to communicate research findings and gleaned from experts in the field as he advances his career, Olaitan has attended several in-persons and virtual conferences and workshop, and at some of them, made presentation on findings on air pollution, waste water reuse, and heavy metal contamination.
Dr. Oludare Adegbola Owolabi P.E. Morgan State University [biography]

Dr. Oludare Owolabi, a professional engineer in Maryland, joined the Morgan State University faculty in 2010. He is the assistant director of the Center for Advanced Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering Research (CATIER) at Morgan State Universit
Mr. Julius Ogaga Etuke Morgan State University [biography]

Julius Etuke is a COREN-registered civil engineer and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), with over 15 years of experience in structural design, construction, and consultancy. He has led major infrastructure projects across Nigeria and holds a BSc in Civil Engineering and an MSc in Civil Engineering (Construction Management). Julius is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Engineering at Morgan State University, where he serves as a graduate research assistant, focusing on sustainable transportation design. He has served as a STEM research judge, including at the University of Bridgeport, and previously lectured at Delta State University, Abraka, where he taught core civil engineering courses and held key departmental roles. His academic contributions include peer-reviewed publications on infrastructure resilience and engineering education, reflecting his strong commitment to sustainability, research, and capacity building in civil engineering.

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

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