Page 25 - Traverse 50.3

Thoughts On years after graduation. After ten years, the graduate is expected to
be licensed and in management. Yet, many survey programs have
Professional Practice failed to give students any relevant knowledge that would aid the
graduate to take on management positions where survey gradu-
and Education ates are expected to spend most of their professional careers.

By: Knud E. Hermansen, PLS, PE, Ph.D, Esq. I would opine the lack of adequate business and management
courses in surveying programs stem from two conditions. The
Business and Management in Education first condition arises because of the lack of business and manage-
ment experience that faculty have. Many faculty do not have the
(This is a follow-up to Article No. 2 & 3 published in the Traverse Edi-
tion 49.4) Article No. 1 was published in 48.4. experience, training, or knowledge to teach relevant business and
management courses. Even survey programs at larger universi-
ties can’t always draw on the business school faculty to help
This is the fourth article I have prepared in the series offering educate the surveying student in relevant business courses. While
thoughts on professional practice and education. The focus of the business school faculty may be able to educate the surveying
this article, I hope, will assuage some individuals that I of- student regarding contracts, business entities, employee law, etc.
fended by my last article and will give hope to friends that will topics such as mechanics liens, survey fee makeup, right of entry
see I am now writing with the sense that I appear to have lost laws, road safety laws, Dig-safe, OSHA, federal contracting, and
with my last article. other such survey specific areas will not be covered in a course
taught by the business school.
I know I am not alone when I say I wish I knew as a young sur-
veyor what I now know about running a business. I can stand in The second condition thwarting the introduction of business and
front of a dozen or more surveyors that run their own surveying management courses into a surveying program is the difficulty in
business, some for decades, and discuss rules and regulations fitting more courses into a surveying degree program. Universi-
that by law apply to them. What I reveal shocks many of them ties limit the maximum number of credits for a bachelor of science
as they realize the deficiencies in their knowledge and business degree. ABET accreditation requires certain courses and credit
practice. They were unaware or confused about rules and regula- hours. NCEES has established topics covered in the FS exam that
tions they should be adhering to or should have adhered to when must be covered in the academic program. Finally, the university
running their business. requires all students at the university take certain courses for the
regional accreditation the university maintains.
I might quickly add, I will not claim to know the entire plethora of
knowledge on government regulations as applied to businesses. If the reader will indulge me, I will get upon a soapbox regarding
Who would know all the governing rules except for the most dedi- the last limitation mentioned - that is University accreditation
cated bureaucrat or regulator? Sadly, the federal, state, and local requirements. I have found it frustrating that regional accredita-
governments continue to do their best to create more difficulties tion often requires courses such as diversity, artistic expression,
in starting and running a business – especially if you contract with humanities, and other general education courses popular among
the government. liberal arts faculty but worthless in a business or a professional
environment. (Not all general education is dismissed by practi-
The first time a surveyor hears the phrase ‘cash flow’ should not tioners. Course such as communication and writing courses are
be during their first year of owning a business as they sit in their the exception. These courses and their content are appreciated by
office, the time near midnight, the pay for employees due the next employers.)
day. Having never heard of the term ‘cash flow,’ the new business
owner cannot understand how they must pay sooner using what For 30 years I have examined hundreds of employment-surveys
they won’t have until later. prepared by alumni and survey employers sent by the University
for program self-improvement. In those 30 years and after review
The new graduate that is checking into the human resource of hundreds of documents, I have yet to see a single employer
manager at the onset of their surveying career should not wonder or alumni say how useful artistic expression and similar courses
what is meant by a 401k, employer match, vesting periods, and have been toward their career. The mention of these courses is a
pre-tax contributions.
common occurrence but only under a category where alumni cite
courses of no use in their life and wasted tuition money.
This missive is not meant to discuss politics or even the various
subjects that may fall under the concepts of ‘business’ and ‘man- Having given my opinion, I now offer advice by suggesting profes-
agement’ education. Rather, the focus is to advocate that relevant sional societies that advocate for surveying programs also look at
business and management topics be presented to students the courses in the survey program to ensure there are business
studying in a four-year surveying program. and management courses that provide the graduate with the
knowledge to become leaders in both the profession, community,
Faculty would be disappointed when collecting alumni data to dis- and a surveying business.
cover graduates described their job title as ‘survey technician’ ten
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The Nevada Traverse Vol.50, No.2, 2023 23