Dear NSPE member,
For more than four years, many NSPE members have been diligently working to turn talk of diversity, equity, and inclusion into real action. Over these years, NSPE has adopted a professional policy on diversity, established diversity as a key focus area in our strategic plan, and amended the Code of Ethics for Engineers to make antidiscrimination a professional obligation.
In early 2021, NSPE began a dialog about the Engineers' Creed, adopted in 1954, after receiving comments from members who questioned parts of the creed's text as exclusionary. Specifically, those concerns were about the creed's religious connotations and words such as "according to the laws of man." Since those early discussions, the Board of Ethical Review, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and members across the Society have provided their input on the issue. We are thankful for the feedback and the thorough and professional manner in which the issue was addressed.
After weighing the many viewpoints, the NSPE Board of Directors unanimously approved the Engineers' Creed (2021) at its July 11, 2021 meeting. This version will be used by NSPE for all events, activities, publications, and communications. The original 1954 Engineers' Creed will be preserved as a historical document.
As described in NSPE professional policies, "It is the policy of NSPE to create a diverse and welcoming environment for everyone interested in the licensed practice of engineering." The NSPE Board of Directors encourages members to take this opportunity for further discussion on a topic that is so important to the profession's future. You may find resources to assist you in having these conversations on NSPE's website at www.nspe.org/diversity.
Sincerely,
Tricia H. Hatley, P.E., F.NSPE
NSPE President 2020-21
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