Although I don't speak for most of my faculty colleagues, I'm an advocate of student competitions such as the National Concrete Canoe Competition and the National Student Steel Bridge Competition. In each, student teams compete to build the fastest, sturdiest concrete canoes and the strongest, most efficient models of steel bridges. The participants gain valuable hands-on experience, but unfortunately they do not receive enough support. Too few faculty will advise a team, or organize a course that touches on either of these competitions in a meaningful way.
SINKS? Many faculty see such mentorship roles as time sinks with nominal value to the pursuit of tenure or the building of a research program. Likewise, few registered engineers will take the time to mentor at a local college. But almost everyone agrees that civil engineering education is nearing a crisis.