Professional development is STLE’s goal
Edward P. Salek, CAE, Executive Director | TLT Headquarters Report October 2020
Five innovative programs come your way this fall.
Today’s members tell us that their overwhelming reason for joining is access to industry-specific educational content.
STLE’s newly adopted strategic plan, which charts the organizational course over the next three years, is divided into four segments known as domains.
It should come as no surprise that Domain No. 1 is titled Professional Development–Preparing the Profession for the Future.
Today’s members tell us that their overwhelming reason for joining is access to industry-specific educational content. This has been the purpose of the organization since it was founded more than 75 years ago in 1944.
The year 2020, much like 1944, is a time when the world faces many challenges. One of those current challenges relates to the way in which organizations like STLE have had to adjust content delivery mechanisms due to health and safety concerns.
In our case, the pivot away from face-to-face education—at least for the time being—is inspiring volunteers and professional staff to devise creative solutions to keep our education mission moving forward. Here’s a look at five programs available this fall.
Topping the list is the first in a series of STLE-owned foundational continuing professional education courses. This offering is called Lubrication Fundamentals-Day One and covers lubrication basics, base oils, additives, synthetics, grease and test methods. It is primarily for the individual entering the lubrication field or for those who need a broad introduction to lubrication, lubrication principles and lubricating materials.
It will be rolled out as a virtual course next month through the STLE Chicago Section, although the course material is designed to be presented in live settings as well. A second fundamentals course that will cover seven additional topics is now being created.
November also is when STLE and the ASME Tribology Division are working together to offer an education course called Fundamentals and Applications of Tribology. This is a half-day virtual program on Nov. 11 that will be part of the Tribology Frontiers Virtual Conference Week, Nov. 9-13.
This course will provide participants with a better understanding of how the fundamentals of tribology can be applied to solve the engineering and technology challenges of today. A virtual format will combine online instruction with interactive Q&A throughout the course.
The instructors are distinguished members of the engineering and tribology professional community. STLE Life Member Dr. Said Jahanmir, president, Boston Tribology Associates, is an STLE Fellow and recipient of the 1997 International Award, the society’s highest technical achievement honor. STLE Life Member Dr. Lavern Wedeven, president, Wedeven Associates, received the International Award in 2008 and also is an STLE Fellow.
Third on the list of education resources is the debut of a new Learning Management System (LMS) on
www.stle.org. An older version of the LMS has been replaced with one that provides users with a simpler and more streamlined experience when doing online education.
For example, the new LMS has organized the STLE library of hundreds of recorded courses and webinars into one convenient location. Previously, users needed to follow a much more circuitous route when sourcing content. The system also stores a record of education activities, which is useful for tracking recertification credits for any of STLE’s certification programs (CLS, OMA I, OMA II and CMFS).
STLE’s network of Local Sections across North America are active participants in the professional development mission. Groups in most areas are offering virtual programs in lieu of their usual face-to-face events until local rules and regulations are relaxed or lifted.
Finally, while TLT itself isn’t new, every monthly issue carries fresh information available in print or online. When we surveyed readers about the publication earlier this year, they rated TLT as their most valuable technical magazine.
These are just five of the many education options available to both STLE members and non-members. More details are available at
www.stle.org and in the weekly STLE Update e-newsletter. Plus, there’s more to come in the next three years, as the society expands continuing professional educational content to assist a growing number of individuals in all stages of their careers.
You can reach Certified Association Executive Ed Salek at esalek@stle.org.