Recently I have inquired on the professional opinion of certificates given by both universities and the NSPS. Now another thought has come to mind. With the onset of online certificates and the like, could the vicinity of an educational facility come into play? Most states with an accredited university also have sister colleges that offer equivalent courses without the drive. However, if one is situated in an area where it is not reasonable to work and attend class +1hr drive from home should there be an alternative? I have read time and time again that, "I did it while having 'x' kids and a family" or "I did it while.." the list goes on. Not to take anything away from those that stake those claims, because if anyone earned it they did, but is that feasible for everyone? This post is not intended to stir the pot or beat a dead horse, but to extend the idea for an alternative for those that work to prolong and progress the profession.
You have hit on a major problem for many, many people. Something akin to Phoenix U. needs to be available to the extent possible. I admire anyone who can pull it off while raising a family even if the full-fledged instructional institution is across the street from their house.
I had to make the decision to move 95mi from where I had a home to take some classes to benefit my future.
At the time I gave up some things that I could not keep and in return gained many new things to base the future of my life and profession.
The required courses to become a surveyor are not offered in many universities and sacrifices are needed in every pursuit of ones dreams.
It is not just the drive time, but the actual start time of classes.
When I looked at advancing my survey education beyond my 6 college credits as a Civil Engineering student, I drove to the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus for a sit down with Professor Chuck Ghilani. The 90 minute plus drive was a consideration, especially the fact I would be driving through the Poconos in the Winter, but more importantly was that classes were only scheduled during the day. That meant even one class a day was a day that I could not work. Ghilani mentioned that they were accepting transfer students from County College of Morris in New Jersey, so I looked into that Since I was working part time with a surveyor in NJ, I was almost half way to CCM. I signed up for one 3 credit evening class and then convinced that surveyor to sign up for the next evening class as a way of getting continuing education credits. He did and so that commute together made classes more a pleasure. with 12 survey credits I met one of the education credits in PA, a BS CE plus 10 surveying credits but was still short on boundary line field experience. I took some time and picked up legal courses through various local community colleges.
Eventually enrolled at NJIT which had set up it's class schedules to accommodate working students, with evening and Saturday classes. The one hour commute was all highway and I was also doing some part time engineering work t company rather close to Newark, further reducing commute time for some classes. I will note that a typical class there was 1/3 traditional students, 1/3 survey field crew members and 1/3 engineers expanding their education. I also note that NJIT had a tuition program to encourage enrollment by allowing any student in the New York Metropolitan area to get in state tuition rates. Since there was a large quantity of PA workers regularly commuting to NYC I eventually was qualified. I was totally surprised when NJIT issued a credit for my previous full rate tuition.
Things that become important, commute time, class schedule times, time off of work, time away from family and tuition expense.
Most college programs have a minimum of school specific courses required for a degree and can be flexible for other credits, but get an arrangement in writing before doing so.
As to time away from family, I did not begin my education in earnest until both my children graduated college. For me Surveying is my second career but it was always a part of my first career, Engineering.
Good luck with whatever form of education you choose.
Paul in PA
I am currently in my first semester at Great Basin College. Several others on this forum are also students, and a few fellow classmates. I will be able to finish my 4 year degree without setting foot on campus. The classes are at night, and very affordable.
If there is a will, there is a way.
The two schools that offer accredited survey programs in PA are far and farther for me. So after the last kid left the house, I drive 80 miles to go to school full time. That's probably not a option for most people. Similar to Paul in PA this is my encore career. 😉
mav1958, post: 413076, member: 12168 wrote: The two schools that offer accredited survey programs in PA are far and farther for me. So after the last kid left the house, I drive 80 miles to go to school full time. That's probably not a option for most people. Similar to Paul in PA this is my encore career. 😉
Welcome.
80 miles? one way or round trip? How many days a week? Williamsport or Lehman? Two years or four?
What has been your career to date?
Where in this fine commonwealth do you be?
Paul in PA
Thanks. One way. 4 days a week this semester. Home of the millionaires. 4" snow, college closed today, sheesh! Previous career, carpenter in commercial construction. Surveying, rod man, I-man, mostly natural gas pipeline. Worked this past summer for a firm in Camp Hill, construction staking, anchor bolt as-builts, a couple of small boundary surveys. I be in northern Huntingdon County. 😉
Education?
What's that?
It's what happens, in various quantities, when you discover that NS SPM (Single Proportionate Measure) is often more accurate, then DPM. (Double Proportionate Measure) in replacing missing GLO corners.
When you sit down, with a coordinate on EVERY monument, in several Sections of land, and many don't match each other, and wish to "publish the truth", when everything is "not quite right".
Pass the coffee, would ya? Thanks.
When surveying with transit and tape, you CAN do good work, it just takes a long time, and effort.
When surveying with total station, you can do good work, faster than transit and tape. Higher accuracies are achievable, with less work.
When budget constraints become a part of our boundary decisions, then we often find ourselves making desisions, based on LESS information.
So, this may take us to another place. Comparing a "low budget" survey, that is old, to a higher budget survey, performed more recently.
And, I have this to say: the general public hates "never ending boundary line changes".
This can affect our budgets, if a whole neighborhood is unhappy.
Say, anybody got a bit of real milk for this coffee? Thanks!
Then, we go and blow some 40-50 grand on GPS surveying gear. Now, the idea is to get more information, faster.
So we can "get more done, with less time and labor". We now have to make that payment. 1000-2500 a month.
Budget constraints will make us loose our place, in the general economic warfare.
Less time to get-er-done. Less time to think. Less time to be sure Mr RTK did not lie. Less time, more data. And some data is questionable, because it was collected in a hurry, in marginal locations, with trees.
Ok, now YOU write the next installment...
N
