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SUNY Alfred State College of Technology –Online BS Surveying &

Geomatics Engineering Technology to Graduate First Two Students

By Richard Carlson, LS

In May of this year, SUNY Alfred State College will have its first
graduate of the Online BS Surveying & Geomatics Engineering
Technology Program with another graduate soon to follow in the
Fall Semester. Alfred State College has had a Surveying Program for
many years, dating back to the 1970’s.
The Online BS Surveying & Geomatics Engineering Technology
Degree is the second half of the BS Degree. Students can complete
this degree fully online after completing the AAS Degree in-person at
Alfred State College or by transferring in credit from another program.
In developing the online program, the department was looking to
provide additional educational opportunities to students that had
already earned an AAS in Surveying. This would help them to
develop additional surveying knowledge as well as to help them
qualify for the educational portion of licensure in different states
that might require a 4-year degree.
Meet the soon to be first two graduates of the Online Program:
Matthew Bliss graduated from the SUNY ESF Ranger School with
an AAS Land Surveying Technology Degree. When he started the
program, he was living out of state and working in surveying.
“When I first started the online program Bachelors of Surveying and Matt Bliss
Geomatics Engineering Technology I already had one Bachelors under my
belt so the school thing was no new game but I was working a full time 40
hour a week job. It had been several years however since I had actively been
in a class setting of any sort. The online schooling allowed me the flexibility
to work full time while still taking the necessary classes after work or on the
weekends. This also meshed very nicely with courses that I had to take from
other institutions which blended well with Alfred’s transfer requirements.
The professors were very accommodating in terms of adjusting the school
work to fit what I had available for equipment and time constraints. In
my personal experience I found the online Bachelors degree to be incredibly
useful and that it merged into life at the stage that I was in.”

Leon Jones graduated from Vincennes University with an AS
Surveying Technology Degree. He also has BS/MS Degrees and
works as a Construction Project Manager in Indiana.

“My experience with the BS in Surveying and Geomatics Engineering
Technology program has been both positive and professionally enriching.
Offered through the Civil Engineering Technology (CIVL) Department,
the program provides a strong technical foundation that integrates
surveying, geomatics, and civil engineering principles. This alignment
ensures that students receive comprehensive preparation for real-world
engineering challenges in both public and private sectors.

Leon Jones (Left) completing a GNSS Lab
18 EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 62 • NO 3 / 2026 • MAY/JUNE