Welcome to the opening edition of the Newsletter for the Academy of Geo-Professionals.  The newsletter will be written quarterly and sent out via email and then later posted on the AGP website.  The purpose of the newsletter is to keep you informed with what is going on with the Academy as well as any important changes in Civil Engineering Certification, Inc. (CEC) or ASCE that could affect the Academy.

Academies to Take Leadership in Sustainability

With this in mind, we’d like to inform you of the leadership role that the academies are taking in sustainability.  ASCE created a task-force on sustainability and one of the outcomes of their work included seeking support from CEC  and the academies.  In response, CEC asked the academies to begin implementing professional development requirements in sustainability.  Following a discussion of the AGP Trustees, a response was prepared to CEC acknowledging the importance of the academies to take a leadership role.  In that response, AGP Trustees stated:

“…We agree that engineers have an important role in maintaining environmentally, economically and socially sustainable natural and built environment.  And, our Diplomates ought to take leadership in establishing goals and filling these roles.

The Board of Trustees of AGP met recently and discussed this issue.  We concur that our body of knowledge (BOK) should include sustainability and “Green Design & Engineering” as a definable rubric.  The Board also is beginning to define requirements for continuing professional development credits (professional development hours) similar to ethics awareness...”

The AGP Trustees have discussed implementing a requirement for one PDH per year, or two within the biennial reporting period similar to our ethics requirements.  We are still in the process of developing our defined body of knowledge, and have yet to begin to audit biennial professional development hour (40 hours) documentation.  Currently, in the geo-profession, there is a dearth of PDH opportunities on sustainability topics.  Implementation will take time, but we are committed to starting as soon as practical.  Presently, we believe that it will be fall of 2011 before we can expect that suitable programs can be developed to offer to our Diplomates.  We will keep you informed of further developments in future editions of this Newsletter.

Help Us Recruit Diplomates!

This is where you can help.  Do you know someone who would qualify to become a Diplomate?  Encourage them to apply, direct them to our website to see a list of their colleagues who are certified as AGP Diplomates, D.GE.  One of our goals is to increase the visibility and awareness of the D.GE certification.  The requirements for certification are listed in detail on our website (www.geoprofessionals.org).  But, the basics include an undergraduate degree and 30 additional semester credits of upper-level graduate education in geotechnical engineering, 12 years of progressive experience in geotechnical engineering and a P.E. (or equivalent), eight of those years are to be post professional licensure.  In addition, the candidate shall defend their application with an oral examination.

You can help grow AGP visibility by giving AGP presentations at local section/branch meetings.  We have already developed PowerPoint slides to aid in the presentation.  It doesn’t need to be elaborate and can be done in as little as fifteen minutes.  We’d like to encourage you to also make a presentation to your clients as well pointing out the advantages of having an AGP Diplomate engaged on their project.  You can also help by taking our message to associations and trade groups. 

AGP by the Numbers

During the first full year in existence, the Academy inducted its three classes, each with about 50 D.GEs.  Almost all were inducted by eminence, meaning they met all the requirements as well as had at least 25 years of experience in the field.  One advantage to certification through eminence is that the oral examination requirement is waived.  While these numbers have exceeded our goal, the Academy still needs to grow in order to make a significant impact on the profession by “raising the bar.”  We must reach the point where clients who use geotechnical engineers will require that they have a D.GE on their team.  In order to get to there, we must grow in both numbers and visibility.

Presently, the AGP Board of Trustees is proud to have conferred the Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering (D.GE) or Honorary Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering (Hon.D.GE) credential on 155 individuals.  Most recently, we honored a group of newly certified Diplomates at a special ceremony at GeoFlorida 2010 on February 21, 2010 in West Palm Beach, FL.  The event included a champagne reception following the ceremony.  AGP is currently accepting online applications for the spring and summer 2010 review cycle.

The next ceremony will take place at of the Earth Retention Conference in Seattle in August.  You will need to start the application process soon in order to be recognized with that next class of Diplomates.

Certification Renewal

As incredible as it may be, the inaugural group of Diplomates were certified just a year ago.  That means that certification renewal for many of us will start shortly.  Notices will go out this April to that group.  The renewal fee is $300 and is for two years of certification.  Those Diplomates who were certified last fall in Hershey will receive a notice in April 2011.  For more information on renewal, please visit:  http://content.geoprofessionals.org/renewal.html

Sponsorship Opportunities

AGP would like to provide your company the opportunity for additional recognition and also help support the Academy financially by sponsoring us in an upcoming event.  If you would like to sponsor AGP in for the upcoming induction ceremony in Seattle (Bellevue) in August, please contact Brian Sien at bsien@asce.org.  AGP will provide appropriate visibility of your support.

Speaking of the AGP logo, you can now order products from Land’s End Business Outfitters from their website and add the AGP logo to just about any product they sell.  You can find out more about this on our website:  http://content.geoprofessionals.org/documents/LandsEnd.pdf

AGP Committee Volunteer Opportunities

AGP has opportunities for you to participate by volunteering to serve on our committees.  We presently have openings for volunteers on our Admissions Committee, Examination Sub-committee, and Marketing Committee.  The Admissions Committee reviews applications and provides recommendation for action to the Board of Trustees.  The Examination Sub-committee provides subject matter experts for the oral examinations. The Marketing Committee has two major thrusts: internal to grow the Academy, and external to increase the visibility and awareness of the Academy to the beneficiaries of our profession.  Please e-mail AGP at info@geoprofessionals.org if you are willing to serve on one of committees.  Additional information will be forthcoming in the near future.

If you have any news, achievements, announcements, etc. that you would like to share with us and other fellow Diplomates to be featured in future newsletters, please e-mail us.

Please send us your feedback on any suggestions for improvements in our newsletter, web site and services that we may provide to: info@geoprofessionals.org or by phone: (703)295-6314.  We are here to serve you!

A Diplomate of Geotechnical Engineering Profile…

 Blaine Leonard, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, President ASCE

Why D.GE Certification? 

"Certification is a demonstration of expertise and experience in a specialized field. It sets us apart from those who have not attained this level. Ideally, clients will recognize the value of specialty certification, and require it as part of their selection processes. Since certification of geo-professionals is still fairly young, we haven't seen that ideal reached yet.  I hope that someday we will.  When you enter a doctor's office, you will often notice a ‘Board Certification’ designation hanging on the wall. We are more comfortable after seeing that, knowing that we are about to be diagnosed and treated by someone with special expertise. It should be no different in engineering; clients should recognize and require the D.GE credential.

My Background

My practice has been quite broad. I have been in both the private and public sectors. I have practiced geotechnical engineering on a variety of projects, and in many other civil engineering areas.  The geotechnical background has always been useful to me. Although I am interested in many things, my passion is still geotechnical engineering, and I find the most satisfaction on those projects.

What D.GE Certification Has Meant to Me