Improving Colorado's engineering workforce: CSU and Community College System help civil engineering students find their path

For the second time in two years, Colorado State University has signed an agreement to help the state's community college system students transition more easily into engineering bachelor's degree programs.

On Tuesday, CSU and the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) forged a new civil engineering pathway that streamlines the transfer process. CSU and CCCS signed a similar agreement in 2021 for mechanical engineering.

CSU President Amy Parsons and CCCS Chancellor Joe Garcia on Tuesday signed the civil engineering agreement at Ditesco, a leading civil engineering firm based in Fort Collins. The transfer pathway ensures all credits earned through an Associate of Engineering Science degree at any of CCCS's 13 colleges will transfer to CSU's Civil Engineering bachelor's degree program, potentially affecting thousands of community college students across Colorado.

"This important partnership lays the groundwork for many more community college students to seamlessly pursue a four-year degree in civil engineering at CSU, preparing them for successful in-demand careers in our state," President Parsons said. "Partnerships like this further our mission of access to academic excellence for any student with the desire and talent to earn a degree, and we will do all we can to support them on their journey to graduation and success."

CSU faculty collaborated with colleagues at CCCS to develop a seamless two-year curriculum that prepares community college students for advanced courses in civil engineering. Upon transferring, associate degree graduates will be able to complete a bachelor's degree with CSU in two to three years.

"As the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the state, we're always looking to expand transfer opportunities for our students and to support their academic and professional goals," said Chancellor Garcia. "We are excited to launch this new pathway to simplify the transfer process and deliver a skilled civil engineering workforce to the state."

The agreement comes as the state looks to fill significant shortages for civil engineers. About 1,200 positions go unfilled every year and are expected to grow by 25% over the decade, according to the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report.

"Ditesco is eager to see the impact this agreement will have on Colorado students pursuing civil engineering," said Jill Burrell, Senior Project Manager at Ditesco. "Our firm has a long-standing relationship with CSU. We were founded by a CSU Ram; our staff is made up of a majority of CSU alumni, and we are routinely fortunate to have a successful internship program that cultivates CSU interns into graduates that join Ditesco. This is a significant milestone and will make a distinguished difference in the civil engineering industry."

Visit the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering for more transfer student information.

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