2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

WIP: Impacts of BIM Instruction on Civil Engineering Student Learning, Workforce Readiness, and Equity in HBCU

Presented at Civil Engineering Division (CIVIL) Poster Session

Rapid digitization of civil engineering practice—especially the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and data-oriented design—has exposed persistent skills gaps at many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Limited access to advanced software training within coherent curricula can constrain students’ performance, employability, and educational equity. This work-in-progress evaluates the effectiveness of a civil-engineering digital training initiative that integrates BIM skills and data literacy on student competency, capstone performance, and early workforce outcomes at HBCUs. The study is guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), which models determinants of technology adoption—including performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions—in educational settings. Using a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods design, we compare intervention and comparison sections across participating HBCUs. Quantitative measures include standardized BIM skills assessments, capstone rubric scores, course performance, and short-interval internship/employment tracking, analysed with hierarchical models to account for course and institution effects. Complementary qualitative data from student and instructor interviews examine perceptions of usefulness, ease of use, and institutional supports that influence sustained digital engagement. Expected outcomes include gains in digital competency, improved internship and employment rates, and reduced skills disparities among underrepresented students. The project will produce an adaptable implementation toolkit with evidence-based guidance for embedding BIM-centered digital training in civil-engineering curricula at HBCUs, with the goal of advancing educational equity and workforce readiness in the U.S. infrastructure sector.

Authors

Adeyemi Jerry Ibiyemi Morgan State University [biography]

I am a civil engineer with expertise in pavement construction, materials testing, and safety management. From 2016 to 2020, I managed engineering projects for Aniyikaye General Contractor with Nigeria Breweries, ensuring timely delivery and strict safety compliance. From 2021 to 2025, I worked in quality assurance and engineering roles at Craneburg Construction. Currently, I am pursuing advanced civil engineering studies at Morgan State University with a focus on transportation and structures. I hold safety certifications and am a member of ASCE and ASEE.
Julius Ogaga Etuke http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2710-2803 Morgan State University [biography]

Julius Ogaga Etuke is a seasoned civil engineer and Ph.D. Candidate in Civil Engineering at Morgan State University, where his research focuses on sustainable and resilient infrastructure engineering. With over 15 years of consulting and project leadership experience, primarily in Nigeria's infrastructure landscape, he brings a robust, practical perspective to academic inquiry. His doctoral research is at the cutting edge of transportation resilience, integrating virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), climate adaptation modeling, and data-driven solutions to improve disaster preparedness and risk mitigation in complex transportation systems. As a COREN-registered engineer and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, his work emphasizes impactful research and consultancy that bridges structural design principles with urgent sustainability and resilience challenges.
Adeolu Victor Banjo http://orcid.org/0009-0009-2807-8065 Morgan State University [biography]

Banjo Adeolu Victor is a doctoral student and research assistant in the Department of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. With Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Architecture and years of professional practice in the architecture and construction industry, he combines academic teaching experience with industry expertise. His research explores the integration of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to advance sustainable infrastructure engineering. Passionate about innovation and education, he has participated in several conferences and workshops, contributing to immersive learning, sustainable construction, and infrastructure resilience initiatives.
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 director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development, Smart Innovation and Resilient Engineering Research Lab, Department of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University
Taiwo O Ogunlade Morgan State University [biography]

Taiwo O. Ogunlade is a Structural and Bridge Engineer at Century Engineering, a Kleinfelder Company, in Hunt Valley, Maryland, specializing in the design, inspection, and rehabilitation of highway bridge structures across Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. He holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering from Morgan State University Maryland and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the same institution, with research focused on infrastructure performance, sustainable materials, and applications of machine learning in Bridge Inspections.

With over eight years of engineering experience including four years in residential and highway infrastructure construction in Nigeria and four years in bridge design in the United States, Ogunlade brings a strong integration of field construction knowledge and structural engineering expertise. At Kleinfelder, he has contributed to significant regional bridge projects involving structural analysis, QA/QC oversight, and CADD-based design. Alongside his practice, he is actively engaged in doctoral research, including journal writing and reflecting his commitment to advancing civil and structural engineering through both professional practice and scholarly contribution.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology
engineering
engineering technology
information technology
professional
race/ethnicity
Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology
engineering
engineering technology
information technology
professional
race/ethnicity