June 2015

NSPE TODAY
Members Overwhelmingly Endorse NSPE Statement of Principles

What does it mean to be a licensed professional engineer and an NSPE member? Can you summarize it in a two-minute (or less) elevator speech?

PEs often find these questions challenging, perhaps because of the wide variety of engineering disciplines, perhaps because there’s so much to say about the profession. Two minutes? No way.

But this spring, NSPE members were asked for their opinions about just such an elevator speech, and the response was overwhelming approval.

Out of 2,364 respondents—95% PEs and 66% NSPE members—95% said that the following statement accurately conveyed their feelings about being a PE: “Being a licensed professional engineer means more than just holding a certificate and possessing technical competence. It is a commitment to hold the public health, safety, and welfare above all other considerations.”

The survey also asked about three components of the mission of NSPE and its state societies. Again, there was overwhelming support:

• Define the PE license and licensed individuals (84%);

• Promote the PE license and licensed individuals (96%);

• Protect the integrity of the profession and the welfare of the public by vigorously opposing the practice of engineering by unqualified persons; and advocating the highest standards of licensure, ethics, and professional practice (96%).

Most Frequently Used Adjectives Describing the Statement of Principles

The most frequently used adjectives to describe the complete statement of principles were “strong” (60%), “effective” (54%), and “trustworthy” (38%).

How will the statement fit into the Society’s day-to-day work? “For effective advocacy and marketing, it is important to be able to succinctly state, ‘This is the purpose NSPE exists to serve,’ but this is about more than mere marketing language or ‘spin,’” says NSPE President Harve Hnatiuk, P.E., F.NSPE.

Adds NSPE Executive Director Mark Golden: “This statement of principles is the outcome of NSPE’s ongoing Race for Relevance, and will drive your Society’s priorities and investment of resources, not just how we talk about them. Informed by several years of surveys, study, and feedback from members on what they value and need from NSPE, it is an organizational commitment, aligned with the timeless principles upon which NSPE was first created, restated for the 21st century.”

Learn more about “Who We Are and What We Do” at www.nspe.org/membership/nspe-who-we-are-and-what-we-do.