To celebrate National Surveyors Week, March 17-23, Oregon Tech proudly recognizes the recent accomplishments of its Geomatics faculty and students within the program.
The Geomatics program was recognized last year with the prestigious National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Surveying Education Award for its commitment to excellence and its impact on the field of surveying. This award recognized the program's alignment with the NCEES mission to advance licensure for surveyors and uphold the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Among universities across the United States, only 13 were selected for this honor, with Oregon Tech receiving the distinguished $25,000 prize.
Additionally, Geomatics Professor and Department Chair Jack Walker was named the 2023 Surveyor of the Year by the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon (PLSO). This award acknowledges Walker's exceptional contributions to PLSO and the geomatics profession, highlighting the hands-on experience and success of Oregon Tech's faculty.
Geomatics students Austin Martin, Cody Therault, and Jane McNeil-Kuebrich each have a unique perspective about why they enrolled at Oregon Tech and what they like most about the Geomatics program.
Martin, a junior, highlighted the program's emphasis on practical application and hands-on experience. "Oregon Tech offers specialized classes for surveying, along with hands-on experience in the labs. Most Geomatics courses are taught by licensed land surveyors that have industry connections," he said. "I also love how we get taught in such depth about the math and theory behind the calculations we use for least squares adjustment, coordinate transformations, and geodesy. The program also prepared me extremely well for taking the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam. I was able to pass the FS exam at the end of my sophomore year."
Therault, a senior, chose Oregon Tech because of the program's positive reputation. "It was the only bachelor's program in Oregon that would teach me the advanced skills and knowledge necessary to become a land surveyor in today's technologically advanced world. The program was also highly recommended by a lot of professionals in the industry," said Therault. " The faculty do a great job encouraging students and making sure we know how to think critically about new problems and situations."
McNeil-Kuebrich, a junior who transferred to Oregon Tech from Clark College, shared that the transition between schools was easy and all credits transferred. "Pursuing a bachelor's degree at Oregon Tech helps in preparing for licensure exams, as the program covers material that could potentially be on those exams," said McNeil-Kuebrich. "The hands-on experience offered throughout the program, both in the field and with computer technologies, instills a sense of readiness for the professional world. Knowing that I'll graduate with practical skills and preparedness enhances the excitement for what lies ahead in my career."
For more information about the program, visit Oregon Tech Geomatics.
