Dear SEAOI Members,

Spring is here, and with it comes new opportunities to engage, give back, and advocate for the profession. This month, we are highlighting two important initiatives: our April Engagement Challenge focused on community service and an update on the ongoing discussions surrounding the NCEES CBT Exam format.

April Engagement Challenge: Community Service

Structural engineers have a unique ability to impact communities, not just through our work but through direct service. This month’s Engagement Challenge encourages you to participate in a community service project and share your experience. Whether volunteering with a STEM outreach program like Engineering Fest or assisting with Rebuilding Together, every effort makes a difference.

Once you’ve completed your service, we’d love to hear about it! Share your experience on LinkedIn or other social platforms, tag SEAOI, and inspire others to contribute. Let’s showcase the ways engineers give back beyond the drawing board.

NCEES CBT Exam Discussion – SE3 Read.Watch.Listen Event

Many of you have expressed concerns regarding the transition to the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) format for the SE exam, particularly the vertical depth section. SEAOI has been actively engaged in discussions about how these changes affect licensure, and we continue to advocate for fair and effective testing.

To further this conversation, NCSEA SE3 is promoting a Read.Watch.Listen discussion on the topic of licensure. This is an important opportunity to stay informed, share concerns, and engage with industry leaders on the future of SE licensing. A link will be shared soon—stay tuned!

Thank you for your continued engagement with SEAOI. Let’s make this a month of service and advocacy!

Jennie Traut-Todaro SE, LEED AP
President, Structural Engineers Association of Illinois