New surveying program approved

Odessa College trustees unanimously approved the curriculum for a new surveying program.

The program would give the student the education he or she needs to receive their Surveyor in Training, which is awarded by the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveyors. Students who completed the courses at OC would receive their associate in applied science degree in surveying.

"Surveyors in general are needed in our industry...technology is getting more advanced and it requires more education," Stan Piper, a surveyor based out of Gardendale, said.

John Watson, a Midland-based surveyor and vice president of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, said to receive a professional surveyor's license, students would then need to complete two years of field experience, complete a bachelor's degree and pass a licensing test.

Boundary surveying will be emphasized and includes lessons in evaluating property corners, measuring boundaries and calculating land areas. Students will also learn mapping, route surveying, control surveying, Global Positioning System and electronic data collection.

Vice President of Instruction Clayton Alred asked the board for more time to put together a proposal for a windsmithing program. The program, if approved, would be a partnership with Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater and would teach students how to work on the energy-generating wind turbines.

"We're still talking about substituting some courses in the curriculum. We're very close but not quite where we want to be," Alred told the board.

Trustees also unanimously approved a proposal to grant up to three scholarships to foreign scholarship for each men and women's athletic team. OC Athletic Director John Wilfert said coaches would still recruit quality local athletes first.

"We always start local and branch out," John Wilfert said.

Wilfert said this effort will bring OC up to par with other area community college athletic programs.

Fernando Garza and Chancey Westfall were commissioned as new OC campus officers.

Board President Dr. Gregory Williams gave a report that included announcing that the OC Mustang giveaway is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on May 13 at McAlister's. Williams thanked all those who have donated money to the Dollars for Scholars campaign to raise money to fund scholarships.