The National Society of Black Engineers, which claims to be the largest student-governed engineering organization in the country, and the American Society of Civil Engineers have renewed a strategic partnership.

The organizations’ leaders earlier this year signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to combine their resources and expertise to increase the retention, representation, and development of African-American civil engineers in the U.S. workforce. 

“NSBE recognizes that it cannot fulfill its mission without strategic partnerships with the U.S. engineering community,” says NSBE national chairwoman Sossena Wood. “This MOU with our first strategic partner, the American Society of Civil Engineers, is another major step toward supporting our members, building our organizations, growing the number of underrepresented engineers, and accomplishing much for the U.S. engineering profession.”

ASCE President Robert D. Stevens says, “As leading engineering professional societies, ASCE and NSBE are uniquely and strategically positioned to address the U.S. engineering workforce and innovation challenges our nation faces. This MOU represents the collaborative actions ASCE and NSBE are undertaking to attract, develop, and retain current and future black civil engineers.”

U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics say that in 2013, African-Americans represented 5.5 percent of the country’s engineering workforce and 5.4 percent of the civil engineering workforce. The statistics also showed that African-Americans represented only 3.4 percent of college students who earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and 3.3 percent of those earning a master’s degree in the same discipline. 

Under the terms of the MOU, NSBE & ASCE will offer reciprocal memberships; co-sponsor frequent professional development, continuing education, mentoring and leadership development programming; and promote and support student and local chapter collaborations. The organizations also will engage in large-scale efforts aimed at promoting awareness and interest in engineering careers, such as an upcoming IMAX film and educational project, DreamBig.

Founded in 1975, the National Society of Black Engineers touts itself as one of the largest student-governed organizations in the United States. With more than 31,000 members and more than 300 chapters in the U.S. and abroad, NSBE supports and promotes the aspirations of collegiate and pre-collegiate students and technical professionals in engineering and technology. NSBE’s mission is “to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professional and positively impact the community.”

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 146,000 civil engineers worldwide and claims to be America’s oldest national engineering society.