USUCGER History and Mission

HISTORY OF USUCGER

The United States Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research (USUCGER) was born during the 1985 San Francisco International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering in order to preserve an important source of research funding to the Geomechanical, Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental community; that is NSF’s program in these areas in the Directorate of Engineering. The first national meeting of USUCGER took place in Houston, Texas in 1986 with funding from NSF which led to formal organization and development of the constitution.

The second meeting of USUCGER in Arlington, Texas in 1991 has become an extremely effective means of looking into the future and setting the long-range course, as well as defining specific attainable objectives for the coming years. A strategic plan was formulated for 1992-1997 based on the ideas developed by the various working groups organized during this meeting. In the same meeting, USUCGER began to build strong coalitions and official liaisons with other organizations with compatible goals, namely, the Association of Engineering Firms Practicing in the Geosciences (ASFE), American Society of Civil Engineers – Geotechnical Engineering Division (ASCE-GED), and the International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC).

USUCGER MISSION

It is USUCGER’s mission to provide advocacy for the continued development and expansion of high quality geomechanical, geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering research and education which will enhance the welfare of humankind and meet the needs of the nation.

LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES

  • To become a strong and effective advocate for funding of innovative geomechanical, geotechnical and geo environmental research and development through proper representation at federal, state and industrial/private agencies.
  • To be a forum for its members in gathering and disseminating information regarding funding opportunities and results of the completed research and development projects in the geomechanical, geotechnical and geo environmental areas.
  • To foster cooperation with other organizations with common goals in coordinating efforts in identifying research and development needs and providing a unified representation in expanding the funding base and resources.
  • To effect long-term positive changes in funding of civil engineering research and development through legislation by involving the construction industry directly in the funding process.

COMPOSITION OF THE ORGANIZATION

USUCGER has over 100 dues-paying institutional geotechnical engineering member programs with additional international representatives. The email list reaches approximately 500 members throughout the nation and abroad. USUCGER currently receives financial support from Member University dues. The USUCGER Board is comprised of elected members from the geotechnical faculty pool across the nation.