Ernie, As you probably know, qualifications to become a registered professional engineer include passing a "Fundamentals of Engineering Examination" (FE examination).
As promised, I dug through my archives and found the National Council of Engineering Examiners (NCEE) Bulletin dated April 1980. I quote from the first and second paragraphs of this Bulletin: "At its meeting in Charlotte, N. C. on March 29, 1980 the Uniform Examinations and Qualifications Committee voted to prepare future Fundamentals of Engineering examinations so that problems requiring calculations may be worked in either SI units or in the U. S. Customary System (English) units. This change ... will become effective with the October 1980 FE exam. In the morning section of the FE exam,... two problems of equal complexity will be presented ... One problem will be written using SI units and the other in customary English units ... Instructions will direct the examinee to work either problem." I plan to report more NSPE and NCEE facts later after a more thorough review of my records. I don't know to what extent the equal-option is current, or if SI problems and solutions are now treated preferentially. Gene. ---- Original message ---- >Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:39:23 -0700 (PDT) >From: ernie edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [USMA:40578] Moving SI along - Let's discuss >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > > As I mentioned before in a previous email (Mar. > 11th), I am an architect who lived overseas in the > 80's, where of course, metrics was the norm. > > To me, every single day that metrics is not the US > standard is another day we lose competitiveness and > we are doing a disservice to the young people who > continue to learn as their first language... english > measure... > > Right now, English is the world language, the US > dollar (for a little while longer) is the world's > currency and SI is the world's measurement tool..... > > To me, to get metrics totally accepted you have to > get industry and political buy in. Who knows if any > of the current Presidential candidates have had much > exposure or interest in furthering the conversion? > (maybe Obama because of where he has lived outside > the country) I'm not trying to promote one candidate > over another, just trying to point out that, ....why > isn't the US complete conversion to metrics one of > the discussion issues for the current election > cycle, especially the economic benefits of > conversion.... > > So, what I am trying to do... > 1. Trying to resurrect the American Institute of > Architects (AIA) support of SI > 2. Trying to build bridges (excuse the pun) with > related "building" professional groups .... NSPE and > AGC > 3. Trying to get my federally elected officials to > be aware of the benefits of total conversion (I live > in MA) > > So, what I am suggesting and hoping.... > 1. Suggesting we set as a goal of 10 years to > complete conversion to SI > 2. Hoping any "building" professional and / or MA > residents would be interested in helping me on items > 1-3 above. > 3. Hoping this email generates discussion > > Ernie Edwards, AIA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
