The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association’s (CMHA) SRW Curriculum for Professors is a brand-new initiative designed to enhance the education of undergraduate Civil and Architectural Engineering students. Through this program, students gain valuable exposure to geogrid reinforced and gravity segmental retaining walls (SRWs), critical components in modern infrastructure. Created through the support of the NCMA Foundation Grant and spearheaded by Professor Walter Schneider, this program empowers educators to seamlessly integrate SRW content into existing curricula, ensuring future engineers are well-versed in this essential topic.
What The Program Offers
The program equips university teaching staff with the knowledge, resources, and tools needed to incorporate SRW concepts into their courses. By focusing on undergraduate education, it ensures that foundational knowledge of SRWs is accessible to students before they enter the workforce. Furthermore, the program is flexible enough to be expanded for use in graduate-level courses.
Workshops under this program emphasize core SRW content, making it a perfect addition to the Foundations Design Class or similar subjects within civil and architectural engineering programs.
How It Works
Delivered through two engaging 3-hour webinars, this initiative is tailored for university teaching staff who shape their institution’s curricula. Participants need to register at no cost for the January 30 webinar and the February 20 webinar and will receive:
- Comprehensive PowerPoint presentations
- Access to CMHA electronic literature
- An exam bank to aid in student assessments
These resources provide geotechnical engineering professors with the pedagogical tools to integrate SRW topics into existing classes seamlessly. The course ensures that students—who have completed a prerequisite soils class—gain exposure to the principles and applications of SRWs.
Target Audience
This program is specifically designed for university teaching staff specializing in Geotechnical, Soils, or Foundation Design. By targeting educators, the program ensures that SRW content reaches students in a structured and impactful way, shaping the next generation of civil and architectural engineers.
Why It Matters
As infrastructure demands evolve, the need for engineers with a solid understanding of SRW principles becomes increasingly critical. The CMHA SRW Curriculum for Professors addresses this gap by equipping educators with the tools to prepare their students for real-world challenges. By participating in this program, professors contribute to raising the standard of engineering education and ensuring their students are industry-ready.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance the impact of your teaching and shape the future of your institution’s curricula. These webinars provide valuable insights and practical tools to help you make a lasting difference. Reserve your spot and register today!
About the Speaker
Walter G. M. Schneider III
Ph.D., P.E., CFO, FM, MCP, CBO, MiFireE, CPT, F.ASCE
Walter G. M. Schneider III, Ph.D., P.E., CFO, FM, MCP, CBO, MiFireE, CPT, F.ASCE is the Agency Director for the Centre Region Code Administration, a 31-person full-service code agency administering a complete new construction code administration program for 7 municipalities and administering a comprehensive rental housing and fire code program for 6 municipalities in and around State College, Pennsylvania. He has both Bachelors and Master of Science degrees in Architectural Engineering and an earned Doctorate in Structural Engineering all from the Pennsylvania State University where he teaches senior-level structural engineering design courses for the College of Engineering and the College of Agricultural Sciences. He is currently licensed to practice engineering in six states and holds certifications through the International Code Council and Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry as a building code official. In addition, Dr. Schneider is very involved in local government and the emergency services, serving as a former member of Bellefonte Borough Council for four years, the chair of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council appointed by the Governor, a retired Department Chief of the Bellefonte Fire Department, a hazardous materials technician, a structural specialist with Pennsylvania Taskforce 1, and is a Pennsylvania State Suppression Adjunct Instructor for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and other local level ETA’s. He resides in the State College area with his family.