Strategic Plan
Mission Statement
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department provides excellent undergraduate and graduate instruction as well as design experiences for its students, conducts research that is relevant to societal needs, and assists the public in understanding civil engineering issues.
Vision Statement
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department will be nationally and internationally recognized for producing well-prepared graduates, developing visible research programs, and advancing knowledge through public outreach and professional service.
Goals, Critical Success Factors, and Objectives
Goal 1. Academic Excellence: The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department will provide excellent instruction and design experiences that prepare its graduates both for the practice of civil and environmental engineering and for the pursuit of lifelong professional development.
Critical Success Factors:
- Replace retiring faculty members in a timely fashion to minimize loss of leadership and experience.
- Hire six additional CEE faculty members, including two strategic hires of national reputation.
- Maintain and expand teaching laboratories with university and college financial support.
- Achieve continued ABET accreditation for BSCE and MENVE programs.
- Achieve recognition of proper workload balance by the university and college.
Objectives:
Objective 1.1: Identify, assess, and impart essential knowledge, tools, and skills necessary for civil and environmental engineering graduates to become successful engineers and lifelong learners.
Strategies:
- Revise curriculum on a regular basis and implement revisions in a timely manner.
- Mentor new faculty.
- Encourage faculty to participate in conferences and meetings.
Assessments:
- Alumni satisfaction with programs.
- ABET accreditation review.
- Pass rate on FE exam.
- BSCE graduates who elect to go to graduate school.
- Number of conferences and meetings attended by faculty.
Objective 1.2: Recruit a highly qualified and diverse student body.
Strategies:
- Collaborate with university and college recruiting efforts.
- Provide recruiting materials through the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department web site.
- Increase departmental scholarships from external funds
Assessments:
- Quality of entering freshmen and transfer students.
- Number of minority and female students in program.
- Number of graduate students in program and their qualifications
Objective 1.3: Continually strive to improve student performance and graduation rates.
Strategies:
- Maintain a friendly environment with an open door policy.
- Direct students performing poorly to assistance and/or mentoring.
- Provide faculty advising for undergraduate students.
- Provide excellent instruction.
Assessments:
- Number of teaching awards.
- Retention rate.
- Graduation rate of students entering junior year.
- Constituent’s satisfaction with program.
Objective 1.4: Encourage students to become licensed professional engineers.
Strategies:
- Emphasize the importance of registration.
- Encourage students to take the FE examination in their senior year.
Assessments:
- Pass rate on FE exam.
- Number of graduates who register as professional engineers.
- Number of faculty registered as professional engineers.
Goal 2. Research Excellence: The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department will enhance its nationally and internationally recognized research programs.
Critical Success Factors:
- Replace retiring faculty members in a timely fashion to minimize loss of leadership and experience.
- Hire six additional faculty members, including two strategic hires of national reputation.
- Maintain and expand laboratory space and equipment with university and college support.
- Administer and promote functions of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Research Centers with university and college financial support.
- Achieve recognition of proper workload balance by the university and college.
- Retain new faculty through the tenure track.
Objectives:
Objective 2.1: Recognize and pursue opportunities for significant contributions in basic and applied engineering research topics.
Strategies:
- Reward faculty who obtain externally funded research.
- Encourage faculty teamwork through departmental research centers.
- Facilitate faculty travel to conferences and professional meetings.
- Maintain and improve research facilities.
- Increase the number of nationally recognized faculty.
Assessments:
- Research dollars expended per faculty member per year.
- Center and Institute expenditures by CEE PI’s and Co-PI’s.
- Number of tenured faculty.
Objective 2.2: Provide a meaningful research experience for our students.
Strategies:
- Employ graduates and undergraduates on research projects.
- Maintain close interaction between faculty and students.
- Encourage student involvement in conferences and meetings.
Assessments:
- Number of undergraduate and graduate students involved with research projects.
- Student presentations of research.
Objective 2.3: Communicate research accomplishments through scholarly research publications, educational outreach, and professional activities.
Strategies:
- Adjust workloads to facilitate scholarly activities.
- Encourage the presentation of short courses.
- Support faculty and student involvement in professional activities.
- Recognize scholarly achievements among faculty and students.
Assessments:
- Papers published in refereed journals.
- Short courses taught by faculty.
- Invited presentations by faculty.
- National research awards garnered by faculty.
Goal 3. Service Excellence: The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department will foster a spirit of service and leadership among faculty and students.
Critical Success Factors:
- Enhance fund raising efforts in cooperation with the university and college.
- Obtain university and college support for professional activities.
- Encourage social interactions between faculty, students, and alumni.
- Achieve recognition of proper workload balance by the university and college.
Objectives:
Objective 3.1: Promote active and effective participation of students and faculty in service activities at campus, local, regional and national levels.
Strategies:
- Maintain departmental financial support for student professional organizations.
- Encourage faculty involvement in professional organizations.
Assessments:
- Faculty service activities.
- Student participation in community service projects undertaken by student organizations.
Objective 3.2: Support faculty and student leadership in professional and service organizations.
Strategies:
- Identify and nominate candidates for leadership positions.
- Recognize accomplishment of leadership positions.
Assessments:
- Leadership positions held by students and faculty in service organizations.
- Service activities undertaken by students and faculty.
- Service awards garnered by faculty.
Objective 3.3: Instill pride and loyalty in our graduates that will result in a natural desire to support the department through service and gifts.
Strategies:
- Demonstrate faculty commitment to students.
- Keep in touch with alumni through regular communications.
Assessments:
- Survey alumni satisfaction with their Texas Tech degree.
- Success of alumni receptions, CEE Academy, and CEE Advisory Board.
- Annual giving.
