Meeting & Agendas

Committee Chair Bill O’Hara welcomed Committee Members and meeting attendees to the video conference.

ACC GE Department Chair Sean Moran updated the Committee on enrollment and awards. Sean explained that enrollment is increasing. ACC’s GE departmental goal is to offer all level 1 and level 2 certificate courses every semester. Bill asked if we lost any students due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how the classes are being conducted now. ACC GE Program Assistant Jennifer Black stated that we only lost 2 students. ACC GE adjunct Adam Long explained that he’s using GoToMeeting to conduct his classes. ACC GE adjunct Mike Ritter explained how lab classes are working. About 1⁄3 of his class is advanced and they’ll be given an advanced problem they might see on the SIT exam. The other 2⁄3 of the class needs the hands-on element. They’ll be given incompletes and hopefully be able to spend a few Saturdays in the summer to finish up, provided that ACC has reopened campuses. Sean also discussed the awards and that he’s hoping to see more Level 2 certificates in 2020 and 2021. Sean discussed the GE assessment test that we’ll be administering to students by Summer 2020.

Sean reviewed the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on ACC GE Spring Semester and discussed plans for the Summer and Fall Semesters. Bill asked about the format of the internship course. Adam explained that students are employed by the surveying firms and working through the internship.

Committee Member Coleen Johnson gave a report on PE&LS Board activity on educational requirements for RPLS certification. She explained that HB1523 passed, which resulted in the merger of the engineering and surveying boards, therefore creating the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS). She also explained that the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) has postponed all exams with hopes to move forward in October 2020. She noted that beginning as early as January 2021, they are considering using the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam along with a state-specific exam. Bill supported the new exam format. Coleen explained that a Bachelor’s degree is no longer required to become a Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS). Committee member Joe Webber asked if the degree requirement topic would be readdressed at the next TBPELS legislative session in May. Bill commented that the legislature will begin its next session in January and that TSPS will likely try to make changes to the Sunset Bill from last year that consolidated the Surveying board with the Engineering board. Coleen mentioned that the SIT exams for April have been canceled.

ACC GE Adjunct faculty Anna Rios discussed the possibility of offering a GE Online Level I Certificate at ACC. She explained that it’s difficult for surveyors to meet once or twice a week because they are often working in the field. She explained how it would also be great to offer our program to students outside of our area. Sean explained that the ACC GE department is looking into updating the main GE classroom with video and audio capabilities so some students can attend class remotely. ACC GE Adjunct faculty Mike Ritter expressed his concern about offering the lab courses in a virtual format. He felt the students wouldn’t get the necessary hands-on experience. Bill suggested the possibility of partnering with another college for the lab portion. This would allow students to take the lecture courses online and the lab courses at their nearest college.

Mike updated Committee Members on recent and planned land surveying technology purchases. He explained that our equipment hasn’t been updated since 2006. He also explained that the new equipment will put ACC’s GE department ahead of the industry standard equipment. Bill requested a current inventory of ACC GE’s land surveying equipment. Mike and Sean agreed to compile a list.