Page 8 - ESS Summer 2023

Thoughts on Professional

Practice and Education

Article 4: FS Exam as a Student Graduation Requirement
By: Knud E. Hermansen P.L.S., P.E., Ph.D., Esq.
†

About the Author:

Knud E. Hermansen began his surveying career in the United States After many years at other firms he currently has his own practice consult-
Marine Corp. over 30 years ago and spent over 20 years in the military re- ing on matters pertaining to boundary disputes, easements, land develop-
serves much of it with engineering and construction units within the Unit- ment, liability, title, and contract issues.
ed States Army Corp of Engineers. He is the author of numerous books and articles and taught at Penn
He has a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University State University for four years. Although retired, he currently teaches 3 to
and a law degree from West Virginia University. He is a licensed profes- 4 courses per semester at the University of Maine in their civil engineering
sional engineer, a licensed professional land surveyor and attorney at law. technology program.

his is the fourth article I have prepared in the series offering The new graduate that is checking into the human resource
Tthoughts on professional practice and education. The focus manager at the onset of their surveying career should not won-
of this article, I hope, will assuage some individuals that I offend- der what is meant by a 401k, employer match, vesting periods,
ed by my last article and will give hope to friends that will see I and pre-tax contributions.
am now writing with the sense that I appear to have lost with This missive is not meant to discuss politics or even the vari-
my last article. ous subjects that may fall under the concepts of ‘business’ and

I know I am not alone when I say I wish I knew as a young sur- ‘management’ education. Rather, the focus is to advocate that
veyor what I now know about running a business. I can stand in relevant business and management topics be presented to stu-
front of a dozen or more surveyors that run their own surveying dents studying in a four-year surveying program.
business, some for decades, and discuss rules and regulations Faculty would be disappointed when collecting alumni data
that by law apply to them. What I reveal shocks many of them to discover graduates described their job title as ‘survey techni-
as they realize the deficiencies in their knowledge and business cian’ ten years after graduation. After ten years, the graduate is
practice. They were unaware or confused about rules and reg- expected to be licensed and in management. Yet, many survey
ulations they should be adhering to or should have adhered to programs have failed to give students any relevant knowledge
when running their business. that would aid the graduate to take on management positions
I might quickly add, I will not claim to know the entire pleth- where survey graduates are expected to spend most of their
ora of knowledge on government regulations as applied to professional careers.
businesses. Who would know all the governing rules except for I would opine the lack of adequate business and management
the most dedicated bureaucrat or regulator? Sadly, the federal, courses in surveying programs stem from two conditions. The
state, and local governments continue to do their best to create first condition arises because of the lack of business and man-
more difficulties in starting and running a business – especially agement experience that faculty have. Many faculty do not have
if you contract with the government. the experience, training, or knowledge to teach relevant busi-
The first time a surveyor hears the phrase ‘cash flow’ should ness and management courses. Even survey programs at larger
not be during their first year of owning a business as they sit in universities can’t always draw on the business school faculty to
their office, the time near midnight, the pay for employees due help educate the surveying student in relevant business cours-
the next day. Having never heard of the term ‘cash flow,’ the new es. While the business school faculty may be able to educate
business owner cannot understand how they must pay sooner the surveying student regarding contracts, business entities,
using what they won’t have until later. employee law, etc. topics such as mechanics liens, survey fee

Continued on next page

8 SU MMER 2 0 23