Colorado Mesa University will offer a new course in land surveying and geomatics at Western Colorado Community College this fall.
"WCCC will be the only school in the state to offer such degree," Mesa County Surveyor Patrick Green said.
The State of Colorado has been in dire need of a four-year degree surveying program after the Legislature passed House Bill 10-1085, requiring those seeking a license as a professional land surveyor to have a four-year degree in surveying. The bill takes effect July 1, 2020.
"County Surveyor Patrick Green saw that CMU was the perfect place to offer such program," Chair of the Mesa County Board of Commissioners Scott McInnis said. "Using his many contacts, he initiated the study by CMU for a program in surveying."
With letters of support from the Mesa County Commissioners, Western Colorado Land Surveyors, Professional Land Surveyors of Colorado and the president of the National Society of Professional Land Surveyors, Green was able to show the need for the LSG program.
"In collaboration with members of the local chapter (WCLS), and CMU staff, a complete course curriculum was developed, and with the help of seed money from PLSC the program was approved," Green said. "The land surveying program will offer the skills required for a broad spectrum of job opportunities to our young professionals, and supply the industry with a needed skilled workforce."
The course will offer the required curriculum in surveying and related fields to provide a pool of qualified professionals to serve not only Colorado but surrounding states.
"This is a good example of county government, institutions of higher learning and professional land surveyor organizations coming together to provide necessary programs for our future workforce in professional fields," Green added.
For information about the land surveying program, contact WCCC at (970) 255-2670 or visit http://www.coloradomesa.edu/wccc