UA Recognized by the American Concrete Institute

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama was selected by the American Concrete Institute as an ACI Outstanding University for 2013.

UA is among only 13 schools chosen for recognition.

The ACI is an international organization committed to dispensing consensus-based standards, technical resources and educational programs for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction and materials.

Placement is based on points received by meeting criteria such as having a high number of student ACI members at the university. University chapters also earn points by attending ACI Conventions, participating in local meetings or events and by having an active ACI committee leader.

UA will be recognized during the ACI Spring 2014 Convention in Reno, Nev., which takes place in March at the Grand Sierra Resort in the Grand Ballroom, and will be featured in the organization’s magazine, Concrete International.

The UA chapter of ACI began last spring and offers students a chance to network with professionals in construction and structural engineering fields at conventions and chapter meetings. The chapter’s adviser is Dr. Eric Giannini, assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering.

UA ACI plans to make several field trips with local construction companies so students can observe the process of pouring and field testing concrete.

“Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world, and it can be quite complex,” said Stephanie Wood, chapter president and graduate student in civil engineering from Tuscaloosa. “The purpose of our chapter is to promote knowledge in the field of concrete so that future engineers will be better equipped to design and rehabilitate such a vital part of our infrastructure.”

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has nearly 4,500 students and about 120 faculty. Students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater, Hollings, Portz and Truman scholars.