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CERTIFICATION
We began refining the CST
Level 2 Course at TSPS Retreat and is still in a draft format at this
time. Completion is scheduled for March 2007.
The Central Chapter has a
Calculator Course scheduled in July for those who need more
familiarization with their computers to be success in the Math Courses
that TSPS has offered. We have found that the majority of applicants that
show up did not know how to take full use of their calculators and
consequently held back the amount the instructor was able to present.
Joe D. Webber, Jr.
Chairman
EDUCATION
Activities since the last
Board Meeting in June include:
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Completion of the Texas
Height Modernization (THM) seminars in San Antonio and Arlington. All
were well attended and received.
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Scheduling of the Deep
Valley seminar in Weslaco, August 26, 2006, program by Ken Gold on
“Surveying Boundary Law Essentials”.
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Scheduling for the
Course Development Workshop (CDW) follow-up session in September. Sept.
9 and 30 are target dates, Shannan Carrozza will be facilitating along
with Fred Crawford.
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Scheduling for the
speaker development workshop is anticipated for November or January, in
time to assist in the presentation of the new courses at Symposium, Feb
22-23, 2007 in South Padre.
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Development and release
of a Course Development survey to the membership to drum up comments for
the planned course curriculum review slated for the Strategic Planning
session in August.
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Both December CEU
seminars are set and on the calendar.
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The Advanced Survey
Technicians’ Short Course is currently underway at TAMU-CC.
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Registration has begun
for the “Locating Original Corners Seminar” in Concan, Sept. 14-16,
2006.
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Several dates and
location for CST exams have been placed on the TSPS calendar.
In addition to the
activities outlined above, the committee is working on several initiatives
with other committees such as University Advisory and TLTA Laison.
A detailed report will be
given at the board meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Wm. M. Coleman, RPLS
TRIG*STAR
I received the results
for the National Exam. Our state winner, Jeffery Zou, finished
sixteenth. I think that is very good and he should be congratulated. AS
soon as I receive the packet for next year I will get to everyone.
Respectively Submitted,
John F.
Watson, RPLS
Trig Star Chairman
UNIVERSITY ADVISORY
The University Advisory
Committee met at the June Board meeting in Austin to discuss several items
of business. In attendance were Dr. Gary Jeffress with Texas A & M
University Corpus Christi, Patti Williams with Tyler Junior College, Lee Hilliard
with Texas State Technical College Waco, Mary Chruszczak, Advisory Board
member for Montgomery College Conroe, George Griffith, Chairman of the
Advisory Board for Montgomery College,
Michael Parker, Bud Thompson and myself.
We discussed the results
of the questionnaires that were sent out to surveying colleges across
Texas and possible solutions to the problems facing these programs. The
main obstacles facing the programs are recruiting students and finding
qualified instructors.
It was pointed out that
our ideal surveying student will be strong in the math, science, physics
and computers but we are facing stiff competition for this pool of
students with many other technical industries and professions. We are
also losing some of our students and employees to the construction
industry. Some of the colleges are finding it increasingly difficult
competing for qualified instructors because of the high demand for
professional surveyors and the increased income available to them in the
surveying profession.
We did however discuss
some ideas that may help our recruitment of students. It was suggested
that rather than having a reception for surveying students at this year’s
convention that we would instead have a reception for local high school
teachers. Our committee felt that if we can make connections with high
school teachers they will be much more likely to guide students or at
least make them aware of the potential for surveying as a career path.
Another suggestion along
the same train of thought is for TSPS to sponsor a survey summer camp for
high school teachers. This would be a fun event and get-a-way for
teachers with education credits for professional development. Programs
would be given by professional surveyors, surveying instructors and others
to give an overview of the surveying profession. Teachers would be given
actual problems and teaching materials showing some of the practical
applications of history, science, geography, trigonometry, geometry and
physics as it relates to the surveying profession.
Respectfully submitted,
Joey Stanger, Chairman
University Advisory
Committee
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