Dr. Z’s Corner

Dr. Z

Ahmet Zeytinci, P.E., Ph.D., Fellow-NSPE, Fellow-ASCE is an award-winning professor, structural engineer, author and mentor living in Washington, D.C. Since joining academia, "Dr. Z", as he is known by his students and colleagues, has distinguished himself on campus and beyond. He is passionate about engineering, gifted in teaching, and is a true champion for professional licensure. Dr. Z. has extraordinarily high standards; has produced award-winning designs; is prolific in professional service; and infects others with these same values. He is the recipient of numerous local, regional and national awards, including recent national awards from the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Since 2014, he has been regularly writing monthly articles for “Dr.Z’s Corner “ and offering hundreds of engineering problems, for free, every month for students, engineers and engineering educators worldwide. Dr. Z. also offers pro-bono Saturday classes for students and engineers; his free classes are open to all in the greater Washington metro area and cost nothing, nada, zilch! Starbucks coffee is always a must have for Dr. Z.

Dr. Z's Corner

Dr. Z’s Corner (201809)

Update on Dr. Z’s PRO-BONO FE/PE Review Classes for Students and Engineers from the Washington Metro Area

As readers of the NCS eNewsletter know, we are very fortunate to be associated with Dr. Ahmet Zeytinci (known to his UDC students and colleagues as “Dr. Z”) of the University of the District of Columbia. For two decades, Dr. Z has been holding free study sessions for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Professional Engineer (PE) exams, open to all students and young professionals in the NCS area. Dr. Z has also authored a monthly feature in the newsletter, Dr. Z’s Corner, since September 2014. (See http://www.asce-ncs.org/index.php/special-features/dr-z-s-corner). Because of his deep commitment to engineering education and tireless contributions via the newsletter, Dr. Z’s program has gained both national and international attention for helping young engineers develop the knowledge and confidence to pass the exams. Additionally, his track record of students passing the exams is impressive.

In the fall, Dr. Z plans to continue his pro-bono review sessions at a new venue: George Mason University (GMU) has agreed to provide facilities for Dr. Z to hold sessions for students from other institutions and practicing engineers in the NCS’ region who wish to conquer the FE and PE exams. The sessions will be held on Fridays from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in room 3507 of the Engineering Building, beginning August 31 and continuing through December 14, 2018 (every Friday except the day after Thanksgiving, November 23).

Fall Semester (2018)       CEIE 404.003       Fridays 10:30 am – 1:10 pm
    CEIE 404.002   Fridays 01:30 am – 4:10 pm
Spring Semester (2019)   CEIE 404.002   Fridays 10:30 am – 1:10 pm
    CEIE 404.001   Fridays 01:30 am – 4:10 pm

 

Dr. Z is passionate about engineering education and his dedication to help his students succeed is relentless. He makes sure every student understands the concepts, along with practical and efficient ways to solve typical exam problems. Former students report that he presents complex concepts in such a crystal clear and straight forward manner that they can’t believe it’s that easy. Further information can be obtained at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In addition to the pro-bono review sessions, GMU has arranged for Dr. Z to teach two sections of a newly created class during the fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters. The class, Senior Engineering Competency Exam, will be held as shown below. These sections will be limited to GMU engineering students and alumni.

Further information can be found at: http://civil.gmu.edu/people/ahmet-zeytinci.

 

Dr. Z’s Corner (201805)

Approaching the FE Exam for the First Time

I owe my editor an apology. This month’s article was supposed to be at my Editor James Palmer’s desk a week ago. Thank you, Jim, for your patience and for the great work that you’ve done for the Newsletter. As you may know, Jim is also a Structural Engineer working in Washington, DC.

For educators like us May means the end of another academic year. To say that this past semester was “busy” would be an understatement. Lectures, quizzes, finals, research papers, proposals, consulting, MATHCOUNTS and ASCE Steel Bridge Competitions, pro-bono Saturday classes, . . . the list goes on.

According to NCEES, every year 55,000 people take the FE exam and most of them are college seniors within one year of graduating or are recent graduates. The FE exam is the first step in the process leading to the Professional Engineer (PE) license and it contains 110 multiple-choice questions. The exam appointment time is 6 hours long, which includes a nondisclosure agreement, tutorial (8 minutes), the exam (5 hours and 20 minutes), a scheduled break (25 minutes), and a brief survey.

When approaching the FE Exam for the first time, it’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed. The best way to build your confidence is to prepare for the test and to know the ins and outs of the test. To answer many readers’ questions, we would like to review the exam day experience and what you are expected to do that day.

Once your registration is approved by NCEES, you will receive an email notification that you have been authorized to take the exam and are eligible to schedule your exam appointment. NCEES computer-based tests (CBT) are offered in testing windows throughout the year during the following months:  January, February, April, May, July, August, October and November.

Once you register and know your exam date, NCEES recommends the following: First, you should plan to arrive at the testing center 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Upon arrival, a representative will provide you with a copy of NCEES-CBT exam rules for your review. After doing so, you will be asked to provide your digital signature to confirm that you have read the rules and agreed to abide by them.

Then you will be asked to provide a current government issued form of ID such as a driver’s license. Once the representative confirmed your identification and the exam that you are taking, you will be asked to provide palm vein scan and have your photo taken. Your signature, palm vein scan and photo will be stored with your exam result. Prior to be admitted into the testing room, a representative will insure that you have in your possession only the items that NCEES allows them to the testing room. These items include, your ID, an NCEES approved calculator and eye glasses. 

Most test centers have secure storage lockers on site for you to store prohibited items such as cell phones, other electronic devices and personal belongings such as a watch, wallet and bag. Once you complete the check in process, then you report to an exam proctor who will ask you to confirm your ID by providing again your palm vein scan. Then the proctor will give you a reusable booklet and marker for scratch work. The proctor will review the exam rules and will escort you to the exam room and assigned work station and launch the exam. Before starting your exam, all examinees will be required to read and agree to the NCEES’ non-disclosure agreement and complete a brief tutorial to learn how to ADVANCE to the next item, RETURN to a previous item and FLAG items for review.

After completing approximately 55 questions, examinees will be prompted on screen with the option to take a 25-minute break. Examinees who wish to take the scheduled break should raise their hands and wait for the prompter tor assistance. Unscheduled breaks may be requested at any time during the exam by following the same procedure. However, examinees should be aware that clock will not stop during an unscheduled break. Examinees are allowed to access their lockers during the scheduled and unscheduled breaks. 

After completing the exam and a brief survey, you should raise your hands and proctor will verify that you had properly exited from exam and escort you from testing room and collect your booklet and marker. You will not receive any type of score before leaving the testing center. You will receive an email from NCEES within 7 to 10 days notifying you that your results are available for viewing in your MYNCEES account. 

Good Luck!

Ahmet Zeytinci (Dr. Z.)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Relevant Articles