Student Clubs and Groups

The American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter at UVA acts as a group where students from within the CEE department as well as other disciplines can come together to learn more about the industry. Around 5 times a semester, a different civil engineering firm will come in and talk to UVA students about their careers and what paths their firm has to offer. This provides valuable networking experiences for students as well as insights into an ever-changing industry. At ASCE Student Chapter meetings, the different competitions at the regional symposium are also discussed and students are encouraged to get involved with a project. Students in the ASCE student chapter meeting also gather for a variety of social events throughout the year such as Civil Semi-Formal and Bodo’s bagel parties!

The Cavalier Construction Team at UVA is comprised of a group of individuals who collaborate on construction projects and regularly attend conferences and competitions. At these events, work is often separated into Commercial and Preconstruction teams. Although the majority of the team’s students come from the CEE department, students from the Architecture school as well as the Mechanical & Aerospace department and other disciplines join to aid in design and building. Members on the team have the privilege to attend workshops from top construction companies such as Whiting-Turner, Gilbane, Barton-Malow, DPR, Clark Construction, and Hourigan to get advice from industry professionals before competing.

The CEE-GSC serves as a voice for graduate students, advocating for their needs while fostering a sense of community. It works to improve student experiences by addressing concerns related to policies, funding, workload expectations, and overall well-being, ensuring that student voices are heard in departmental decisions. Also, through hosting social and academic events, the GSC strengthens connections among students, creating an inclusive and supportive environment.

The Concrete Canoe team at UVA designs, builds, and races canoes out of concrete–yes, they float! After a five-year hiatus, the team won second place at the Virginias Regional Symposium in both 2023 and 2024. The team is divided into four subteams: hull design, mix design, construction, and aesthetics. Hull Design optimizes the canoe's shape for buoyancy, Mix Design ensures the concrete's strength and durability, Construction focuses on mold creation and structural support, and Aesthetics enhances the canoe’s visual appeal. The team combines engineering innovation with creativity to build and race these unique concrete canoes.

The UVA Steel Bridge team is a project team that creates a model bridge that can withstand various external pressures. This team is comprised of fourth year students completing their capstone projects as well as other eager students interested in steel construction, structural engineering, and infrastructure. This steel bridge is then tested against those from other schools at the regional symposium each spring to see which model can withstand the most loading and deflection tests without failing.