Undergraduate Research: The Lafayette Experience

Lafayette College is an undergraduate institution with approximately 2200 students. On average, approximately 80 of those students are civil engineering majors; the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering graduates anywhere from 12-25 students per class. The opportunity for students to conduct one-on-one research with a faculty member is a strength of the Lafayette College environment. Lafayette encourages undergraduate research in all disciplines through a variety of programs, including independent studies, honors theses, and paid research assistantships (called the EXCEL Scholars program). The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been highly successful in involving students in research experiences through independent studies and as EXCEL scholars, and moderately successful at graduating students with honors theses. On average, approximately one quarter of the students in the department are involved in research with faculty in any given semester, and a higher percentage participate at some time during their Lafayette careers.