As recently as June 2008, the skies appeared to be growing ever darker for Civil Engineering Technology as an educational platform at four year institutions in the U.S. The National Council of Examiners of Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES) had in September 2006 adopted the ASCE Policy Statement 465 that applicants for Professional Engineer registration possess both a BSCE degree and 30 credits of post-graduate study, effective 2015. The demise of C.E. Technology was feared to be just around the corner because graduates from such programs would no longer have the opportunity to seek registration as Professional Engineers. Currently, graduates with civil engineering technology degrees from 4-year institutions can eventually become registered professional civil engineers in about 40 states. Many students in our local area choose the technology path in higher education because the instruction they receive is viewed as more practical and 'hands-on'. However, because there is only one professional level recognized for civil engineers, that of a registered Professional Engineer, CET programs would have a tough time attracting students if there were not ready opportunities to obtain professional credentials. But the role of the technologist in civil engineering is now being investigated by ASCE, and it may well be that the technologist will have a large role to play in civil engineering. Here at Wentworth Institute of Technology, we are holding off on elevating our successful CET program to be full civil engineering because we are seeing record freshmen enrollments and there seems to be renewed vigor in establishing professional recognition to the role of the technologist in civil engineering practice. The basis for our deliberations on this debate are explained in the paper, as well as our hopes and recommendations for future professional recognition of the civil engineering technologist.
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