2015
The Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity (SE3) Project began in 2015 as a grassroots effort in the San Francisco structural engineering community. Inspired by similar work from Bay Area architects, we set out to understand the underlying reasons why people, especially female structural engineers, choose to leave our profession.
2016
Established as a special project by the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), we conducted our first survey in 2016, and collected 2,100 responses from currently practicing and former structural engineers.
2017
SE3 became a national committee through the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) and committed to repeating the study on the structural engineering community on a biennial basis.
2019
The NCSEA SE3 Committee held their first national symposium in conjunction with the 2019 NCSEA Summit in Anaheim, CA on November 12th, 2019. The attendance list included over 150 people in various stages of their career from across the AEC industry.
2018
Launched SE3 survey and received 2,925 completed responses.
Key finding: Did you know that roughly 60% of survey respondents have considered leaving the profession at some point in their career?
2020
Created the Insight Development Group and started Read.Watch.Listen.
Published the 2020 SE3 Survey.
2021 – Present
The Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity (SE3) Committee is composed of a diverse group of professionals. Based on key survey findings, the committee utilizes presentations, panel discussions, and networking events to provide actionable information for industry improvement. Survey topics include career development, compensation, work flexibility, and overall engagement up of engineers across the United States.
In 2025, SE3 launched another survey for the profession; click here to take it.