Civil and Environmental Engineering

Department History

The University of Toledo can trace a long association with technical and vocational studies since it began as The Toledo University of Arts and Trades in 1872. The College of Industrial Science was established in 1910. In 1911 Allen R. Cullimore, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was named Dean and Professor of Civil Engineering (CE), serving as the only full-time faculty member in the College. A two-year curriculum was offered with articulation agreements with The Ohio State University and The University of Michigan to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. The College of Industrial Science was absorbed as a department in the College of Arts and Sciences from 1922 until 1931 when it became a separate College of Engineering (COE). The COE initiated a four-year Bachelor of Engineering degree. The curriculum in general engineering was first accredited in 1942 by the Engineers Council for Professional Development (ECPD), a forerunner of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The College was departmentalized in 1950 and a separate Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering was authorized.

A curriculum in CE was developed in 1946, headed by Edwin L. Saxer. He served as the first chairman of the new Department of Civil Engineering until 1972. The Department has grown and matured over the years under the leadership of several chairs: Dr. David C. Colony (1972-1979), Dr. Colby V. Ardis, Jr. (1979-1989), Dr. George J. Murnen, interim (1989-1990), Dr. Naser Mostaghel (1990-1995), Dr. Jiwan D. Gupta, interim (1995-1997), Dr. Brian W. Randolph (1997-2002), Dr. Douglas Nims, interim (2002-2004), and Dr. Ashok Kumar (2004-2019). Dr. Defne Apul is the current chair of the Department. Currently, the Department has nine full-time faculty members who are responsible for teaching, research, and service activities: 

Faculty & Staff

Dr. George J. Murnen, Dr. Donald Anglebeck, Dr. Kuan-Chen Fu, Dr. Naser Mostaghel, Dr. Jiwan D. Gupta, Dr. Mark Pickett, Dr. Andrew Heydinger, and Dr. Brian W. Randolph received the designation of  Professor Emeritus status in the Department of CE.  The Department has ten part-time faculty members.

The undergraduate program first became ECPD accredited in 1950 and has been continuously accredited by ECPD (which became ABET in 1980) ever since. The Department has awarded 1726 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degrees since 1950, including 36 in the 2007-08 academic year.

The first Master of Science in CE was awarded in 1953 and the first Ph.D. in 1974. The early years of the graduate program were designed to accommodate part-time students from the local community. The scope and focus of graduate efforts have evolved to recruit globally and to concentrate primarily on full-time students, with course scheduling that accommodates professionals in the community pursuing part-time studies. The Department has awarded well over 426 Master of Science in Civil Engineering degrees since 1953 and 35 Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Engineering Science since 1974. The graduate program experienced tremendous growth during the 1995 to 2001 period due to the availability of tuition scholarships. However, the graduate program has stabilized during the last seven years. The Ph.D. students account for about 30% of the graduate student population.

Over the last 15 years, the graduate program emphasis has increasingly shifted toward research. Department faculty members conduct research in many key areas of civil engineering that provide meaningful results to government agencies and industries while supporting full-time graduate assistants and educating the next generation of practicing engineers. A reorganized department structure was instituted in the COE in 1994 when the roles of Director of Undergraduate Program, Director of Graduate Program and Academic Program Coordinator were established for each degree program by reallocating centralized responsibilities and positions, such as the pre-engineering program.

This structure mirrors those institutions that we compete with, as identified in strategic planning. The intention is to provide a greater degree of monitoring and accountability for the programs while increasing service to the students.  Mr. Kyle Sawyer, the Assistant Director of Department Student Services is your contact for all of your academic advising needs and is the go-to person for student-related issues.  Ms. Janelle Canard is the secretary of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

In summary, the undergraduate and graduate programs are healthy, with a strong, diverse student body. Our graduates and research have a wide beneficial effect on the region, state, country, and the world.

 

Last Updated: 10/21/22