PE Journal

A Threat to Engineering Licensure

We all know how states throughout the country are struggling to close budget gaps, but in Connecticut an attempt to save money is posing a threat to the regulation of engineering practice.

On July 30, Governor Jodi Rell submitted a budget that included a proposal to eliminate the state Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and 69 other boards and commissions as well as increase licensing fees. She believes that many of the boards are only advisory in nature and that several state agencies are capable of handling the boards’ duties. Rell is trying to close a two-year state budget deficit of $8.56 billion.

The Connecticut Society of Professional Engineers says the proposal, if enacted, would cripple the engineering profession and negatively impact many businesses and government agencies in Connecticut which depend upon the services of PEs to protect the public health and safety as well as build our economy.

For more details, visit the CSPE Web site.

Math Champs Honored at White House

President Barack Obama honored the top achievers from the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition at the White House on July 20. In the competition, held in Orlando on May 8, Texas placed first in the team competition and Missouri placed second (view the webcast). Obama praised the “mathletes” for their outstanding achievement and their commitment to academics, and he also recognized the volunteer coaches. The MATHCOUNTS winners presented Obama with an official MATHCOUNTS Handbook signed by both teams. NSPE is a founding sponsor of MATHCOUNTS. To read more about the meeting, visit the White House blog.

Pictured (left to right) are Pamela Wickham, Raytheon Corp.; Victor Wang, Missouri; Paul Turney, Missouri coach; Steven Chen, Texas; Lou DiGioia, MATHCOUNTS executive director; Max Schindler, masters round champion, Missouri; Bobby Shen, individual national champion, Texas; President Barack Obama; Yury Aglyamov, Texas; Lilly Shen, Texas; Jeff Boyd, Texas coach; Stella Schindler, Missouri; Runpeng Liu, Missouri; and Kimberly Gavaletz, chair MATHCOUNTS Board of Directors.

Credit: Official White House photo by Pete Souza