TxDOT Engineering Assistant Career Development Program

90/09 TxDOT Training, Quality and  Development 

TxDOT Engineering Assistant

Career Development Program

IHEEP

CONFERENCE

SEPTEMBER

2009

Background

• $297,000 budgeted FY 2008

– Reporting employees in program inconsistent

• Variances in Application

Throughout Department

• Inconsistent Program Planning

• Limited Success on Exams

Background

Title # in program # with EIT Cert

EA-I

10

1

10%

EA-II

101

63

62%

EA-III

95

58

61%

EA-IV

76

50

66%

EA-V

41

20

49%

Other

60

21

35%

Total

383

213

56%

Background

73

Registered PE Test April 2008 *

2 No

shows

28 Passed *

43 Failed

*

38.3% TxDOT pass rate

50.5%

State pass rate

26

Task Force Project Charter

• Develop comprehensive EA Career

Development Program

• Minimal impact on D/D/O

Implementation

• Review existing programs

• Identify best practices

Areas of Review

• Purpose and Program Eligibility

• Business Job Description Review

• Job Rotation and Mentoring

• Training

• Accountability and Responsibilities

• Recruitment and Retention

Approach

• Reviewed current practices

– Used Dallas and others as a guide

– Reviewed Texas Board of

Professional Engineers rules

• Reviewed EA surveys

• Reviewed Business Job Descriptions

• Identified concerns

Program Purpose

Support 3 career paths:

–Engineering or related science

degree and preparing for FE

exam

–

Engineer in Training

preparing

for PE exam

Focus Points

• Job Titles

– Establish minimum requirements

• Career Development Plan

– Includes job rotation

– Includes training

– Includes test preparation

Program Eligibility

– Possess engineering or related science

degree

OR

– Obtain EIT certificate or waiver from

TBPE

AND

– Be in good standing with TxDOT

– No written reprimand in last 6 months

– Not be on probation

Program Requirements

• Engineering Assistant title

required

– May be waived by Executive Director

• Time Frames to Achieve Goals:

– 2 years from eligibility to take exam

• Job Rotation Activities Required

Program Requirements

Study/Training Time Allowances

• 100 hours of training per year • Additional Study Time

– 100 hours 6 months prior to test

– 40 hours the week prior to test

Job Rotation and Mentoring

• District/Division Executive Officer

– Designate Mentors before July/Aug meetings – Accountability for the Supervisor and Mentor

• Division and District Programs

– Develop Job Rotation activities for each employee – Meet business needs

– Included in EA performance plan

Career Progression

Career Advancement

• Embedded in the program

• Provides for career progression

• Specific criteria established for

promotion to next level in EA job

family

Business Job Descriptions

• Revised to reflect consistent

job definition

• Defined minimum eligibility

requirements for each job

level

Engineering Assistant Job Family

Minimum Requirements Matrix

TAC/ABET Accredited BS Engineering Degree

Non-TAC/ABET Accredited Degree or TAC/ABET Accredited Engineering Technology or Related Science Degree

Job Level

Degree Experience Certification EIT Required

Experience EIT Certification _Required

EA - I N/A N/A N/A None No

EA - II BS None No 2 years No

BS 1 year 4 years

EA - III

MS None Yes N/A Yes or Waived BS 2 years 6 years

MS 1 year N/A

EA - IV Yes Yes or Waived

PhD None N/A

BS 3 years 8 years MS 2 years N/A

EA - V Yes Yes or Waived

Training

Core Courses

– Required for all participants Knowledge Based Courses

– Provide fundamental education specific to the discipline being studied

Performance Based Courses

Accountability/Responsibilities

Employee Service Time Commitment Engineer in Training Program

• 1 year obligation

• Starts 30 days after certification

• Must meet all conditions of employment and eligibility at that time

Accountability/Responsibilities

Employee Service Time Commitment Professional Engineer Program

• 2 years obligation

• Starts 30 days after certification

• Must meet all conditions of employment and eligibility at that time

Repayment

If employee fails to fulfill their

commitment, they must repay the department:

• Cost of exam prep training

• From date the current Career Development Program Agreement was signed

What the Executive Officer

needs to do

• Review all employees who currently

hold the Engineering Assistant title

– Employees in the program must be classified as an Engineering Assistant

– Must meet minimum requirements for EA BJD level

– Employees must meet eligibility requirements

• Develop Career Development Plan • Develop Performance Plans

• Assign Mentors

What the Human Resources

Officer needs to do

• Identify current EAs and others who participate in the EA program

• Develop Training Report for each participant • Develop a plan for reclassification of

employees who do not meet the qualifications for the Career Development Program

• Assist Supervisors in the preparation of performance plan standards

What the Mentor

needs to do

• Meet with the Supervisor to discuss the individual EA career plan

• Set up an initial meeting with the Engineering Assistant.

• Meet monthly with the EA to provide

guidance and advice to facilitate the EA’s development

• Meet at least quarterly with the Supervisor

What the Employee

needs to do

• Attend the initial meeting with the

executive team to discuss the program. • Attend all class sessions, mentoring

appointments, and job rotation

assignments defined in the Career Development Plan.

• Results of EIT and/or PE licensing exams to Supervisor and TQD

• Maintain good standing with the department.

Program Records

• Training, Quality and Development

– Provide training on the system

– Maintain records on Career Development Plan

• District/Division Executive

– Maintain information in database

Grandfather Plan

2 Options September 1, 2008

1 – Participate in the Program:

• Sign FE/PE Agreement

• Career Development Plan developed

• Mentor assigned

• Complete obligations of Career

Development Plan

Grandfather Plan

Currently an Engineering Assistant:

– Meet qualifications of current EA level

• No action necessary

– Do not meet minimum requirements

• May remain in current level

• Will not progress to next level until minimum requirements are met or 2 years maximum

• Will be reclassified if requirements for next level not met after 2 years

Grandfather Plan

Option 2 – Will Not Participate in the

Program and

Currently an Engineering Assistant

–Review employee status

–Reclassify to Transportation

Specialist or other job title

Grandfather Plan

Not currently an Engineering Assistant:

– Will not participate in the program • No action necessary

– Determine if they will participate in the

program

• Reclassify to EA at qualified level

• OR Request Executive Director approval to retain title

Test Prep

– July – October or December – March – via Video Teleconference

– 8 am to 5 pm

– FE

– PE

– Study Groups via VTC

(voluntary)

– Wednesday or Thursday evenings – 5 to 7 p.m.

Test Prep Program

• Test Prep Contract – Test Masters, Inc. • FE (1 96-hour course)

– EPC101

– Wednesday and Thursday for 6 weeks • PE (2 courses – 96 hours each)

– EPC102 (breadth) – EPC103 (Specialty)

Results to Date

Title # in program # with EIT Cert

Jul-07 Sep-09 Jul-07 Sep-09 Jul-07 Sep-09

EA I 10 12 1 2 10% 17% EA II 101 121 63 53 62% 44% EA III 95 133 58 94 61% 71% EA IV 76 74 50 53 66% 72% EA V 41 39 20 20 49% 51% Other Titles 60 8 21 7 35% 88% Total 383 379 213 222 56% 59%

Results to Date

EXAM DATE TXDOT PASS _{RATE %} TEXAS PASS _{RATE %} NATIONAL PASS _RATE

October, 2004 31% 51% 59% April, 2005 51% 57% 66% October, 2005 52% 56% 59% April, 2006 43% 61% 67% October, 2006 34% 55% 64% April, 2007 50% 52% 67% October, 2007 39% 60% 64% April, 2008 34% 53% 60% October, 2008 31% 59% 66% April, 2009 49% 56% 62%

New Ventures

• Expand tutorial services

• Provide Engineering Pro Books 24x7

• Collaborations with other DOTs

• Enrich curriculum for professional

development courses

• Provide additional job rotation

experience

• Enrich data collection activities

• Evaluate university success

Contacts

Nancy Ellen Soteriou, PhD

Lead, Professional Development and Contracts 512-486-5447 [email protected] Pam Moore

Training Assistant

512-486-5416 [email protected] Ray Belk, SPHR

Director, Training, Quality and Development 512-486-5448 [email protected]