Posted: 02/06/2009
Author:
Public Relations
LeTourneau University
News Release
LeTourneau University, P.O. Box 7001, Longview, TX 75607
Fax: (903) 233-3801
Contact: Janet Ragland (903)233-3815 or (903) 241-5109 cell JanetRagland@letu.edu
Feb. 6, 2009
LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY TO OFFER NEW CIVIL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
(Longview, TX) — LeTourneau University will begin a new engineering program in the fall, offering a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering with a concentration in civil engineering. From rebuilding aging U.S. infrastructure to meeting the needs of building structures and pure water, civil engineering is currently one of the top careers in the United States and the world.
LETU’s program will focus on structural and water resources engineering. Structural engineering focuses on design and safety of buildings and bridges, while water resources engineering centers around water supply and purification systems, flood prevention, wastewater treatment, and irrigation.
“The three pillars of modern engineering are electrical, mechanical and civil,” said Stephen Ayers, who developed the curriculum for the new program and will be the lead professor of civil engineering at LETU. “What this new civil engineering program does is give us the third pillar to be a truly comprehensive engineering school. This is the first time we’ve ever offered civil engineering, even though our founder R.G. LeTourneau built his reputation in the civil engineering arena of earth moving.”
Ayers earned his Doctorate in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Australia. Prior to joining LeTourneau University in 2004, he served as Chief Research Engineer at Fibre Composites Design and Development. He has nearly 15 years experience in the field of infrastructure composites and has 21 publications in the area of advanced materials and manufacturing.
Ayers is also involved with the university’s LEGS program, which provides low-cost prosthetics to amputees in developing countries.
“Civil engineering offers significant opportunities to expand our work in the developing world as many countries suffer from a chronic lack of physical infrastructure – the primary workplace of the civil engineer,” Ayers said. “Civil engineering offers new paths to fulfill the university’s vision of “claiming every workplace in every nation as our mission field.”
09020-nr-02/06/2009-jr
