One exam can carry a great deal of weight for civil and environmental engineering students. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam can strengthen job prospects and mark the start of the path toward licensure, but the cost can still be a hurdle. Launching next academic year, the BRIDGE Program is intended to help more students take that step.
Short for Building Readiness & Inclusion in Development of Great Engineers, the BRIDGE Program is designed to help offset the cost of the FE exam, one of the first major professional milestones for students entering the field. Bing Qu, professor and department chair of Cal Poly’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, said an estimated 25% to 35% of students in the department may benefit from added support as they prepare for the profession.
BRIDGE also reflects a broader shift in the department’s student population, including growing numbers of students from groups underrepresented in engineering, as well as more first-generation and lower-income students. The effort is meant to address those realities as students move toward careers in the field.
The initial funding for the program was generously donated by Joanna (Fox) Dachs, Class of 2006, and Michael Dachs and the MBD & JFD Foundation. Joanna Dachs said, “As a Cal Poly civil engineering alumna, I know how important it is to have the FE exam on your resume after graduation. It is a critical milestone for future engineers, but the associated costs can create barriers for some students as they are just starting their careers. I’m proud to support the BRIDGE Program to ensure that talented, hardworking students have the resources and encouragement they need to succeed.”
Under the program’s preliminary model, BRIDGE would begin by reimbursing the $225 FE exam fee for students with financial need who pass the exam, with the program expanding over time as funding allows. Qu described the effort as a relay, with future engineers supported by those before them. That image helps capture the spirit behind BRIDGE: a modest investment at the right moment can remove one obstacle and help students move toward internships, jobs and eventual licensure with more confidence.
Department survey results help show why that investment matters. In a 2024-25 survey of employers participating in the department’s Industrial Partnership Program and Society of Civil Engineers career fairs, 70.4% of respondents said it is very or somewhat important for prospective employees to have passed the FE/EIT exam. Another 77.2% said the credential somewhat or significantly improves job or internship opportunities and long-term career advancement.
To help support the BRIDGE Program and expand access for future civil and environmental engineers, visit here.
