The National Design Services Act (NDSA) Could Lesson the Burden of Student Debt for Architecture Graduates

Architecture is one of the disciplines with the highest student loan balances in the country, with the average architecture student graduating with $40,000 in student loan debt.

This staggering debt is why AIA and AIAS have developed legislation that would ease the burden by providing loan assistance to architect students and recent graduates.

The bill titled, "The National Design Services Act" (NDSA), would authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a program allowing architecture students to work with Community Design Centers in exchange for assistance with their student loans. This would not only encourage architecture graduates to remain in the profession, but would also allow communities to receive a range of architectural services that they may not have received otherwise.

The bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4205, was introduced last week by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)  and co-sponsored by a number of Congressman including Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL).

NDSA is expected to be a main topic of discussion during the 2014 AIA Grassroots and Legislative and Leadership Conference.

Sign the petition, or show support for NDSA by contacting your congressman and visiting AIA's National Design Services Act Advocacy Tool Kit

Florida Amends Use of Electronic Signatures For Professional Engineers

March 2014 - Changes to electronic signatures under Rule 61G15-23-003, Procedures for Signing and Sealing Electronically Transmitted Plans, Specifications, Reports or Other Documents has recently gone into effect. 

Rule 61G15-23-003 establishes protocol for signing and sealing electronic deliverables through the use of digital signatures and electronic signatures. Last year it was proposed to amend this procedure in order to make the use of electronic signatures truly paperless. 

Previously under Rule 61G15-23-003, procedures required that the licensee create a report with the Engineer's name and PE number, a brief overall description of the engineering documents and the authentication code (secure hash standard) of the signature filed. This document was printed, manually signed and sealed along with the electronic deliverables. While this method was free of cost, it was not entirely a paperless method. 

Under the amended rule, licensees still must create, print, sign, date and seal the paper report, but now can submit a scanned electronic copy with transmitted electronic deliverables.  The licensee is still required to retain the sign, dated and sealed hardcopy in accordance with Rule 61G15-30.009, F.A.C. 

More information can be found in the Board of Professional Engineers Chapter 61G15-18. 

RGD Hosts Clients at 2014 Honda Classic

March 3, 2014--RGD was happy to host several clients behind the lines at this year's Honda Classic at PGA National.   Participating clients had the opportunity to walk behind the lines with several of the tournament's stars including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlory, Lee Westwood and winner Russell Henley.  Thanks for everyone who participated, we look forward to next year!