Continuing Education Unit (CEU) seminars on videotape and the internet, developed by the Engineering Extension Service to address mandated requirements for engineers and surveyors within Alabama, are being largely supported by their sale to professionals in other states.
The Engineering and Professional Development (EPD) distance learning series is apparently the first such videotape and web-based CEU-granting seminar series in the country. It has been praised by professionals throughout the state for its efforts in producing a convenient, cost-effective method of addressing the Alabama's requirements for registered engineers and land surveyors.
"We're very pleased that the outreach mission of Auburn University is being fulfilled in such an interesting and trend-setting manner," comments James Bryant, associate dean for engineering extension.
"Helping keep the quality of the professional engineer and surveyor in Alabama high is exactly what Auburn University should be doing, and to be able to recover costs by involving other states in the process makes it truly unique."
Approximately 30 states have passed or are considering continuing education requirements for professional surveyors and engineers.
"The market for these seminars is expanding very rapidly," said Tom Pilsch, engineering extension service director. "In the first full year we granted almost 600 CEU certificates to Alabama-licensed professionals and almost 1,000 nationwide. This summer we have received 2,500 additional requests from professionals in 49 states for our second, expanded course catalog."
"Now the trick is to remain competitive by having good, relevant content and developing high production values for the videotapes and web pages," explains Greg Ruff, a program developer in the extension office.
"Auburn has a head start, but it won't be long until the other strong engineering schools in the country figure out how to do the same thing. Our strength is in being first and maintaining the lead - that way we can continue a program that serves Alabama well and uses dollars generated from other states."
The program includes 40 seminars, and more are being developed based
on requests. For more information or to receive a catalog, contact the Engineering
Extension Service at (334) 844-4370 or (800) 446-0382.