Conference Session

Attracting Young Minds: Part II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jacqueline Fairley, Georgia Institute of Technology; Adrianne Prysock, Georgia Institute of Technology; Akibi Archer, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-1642: USING HANDS-ON LEARNING IN AN AFTER-SCHOOLENGINEERING PROGRAM TO PROMOTE STEM CAREERS TOHIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTSJacqueline Fairley, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAdrianne Prysock, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAkibi Archer, Georgia Institute of Technology Page 14.1324.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Using Hands-On Learning in an After-School Engineering Program to Promote STEM Careers to High School StudentsAbstractPre-college exposure to Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) concepts cangenerate enthusiasm and encourage students to pursue careers in these fields. This workdescribes an approach to teach STEM concepts to minority high

Conference Session

Building Diversity in Engineering Graduate Programs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ashley Johnson, Georgia Institute of Technology; Jill Auerbach, Georgia Institute of Technology; Adrianne Prysock, Georgia Institute of Technology; Leyla Conrad, Georgia Institute of Technology; Gary May, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-1485: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ACADEMICENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR REU STUDENTSAshley Johnson, Georgia Institute of Technology Ashley Johnson is a doctoral student in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She obtained her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Florida A&M University in 2005 and her M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2007. Her research focuses on biological signal processing of EEG and EMG in humans. Ashley is a recipient of the Ford Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship, NSF STEP Fellowship and Georgia Tech Facilitating Academic Careers in Engineering and Science Fellowship

Conference Session

New Research and Trends Related to Minorities in Engineering

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joseph Monroe, North Carolina A&T State University; Narayanaswamy Radhakrishnan, North Carolina A&T State University; Bala Ram, North Carolina A&T State University; Stephanie Luster-Teasley, North Carolina A&T State University; Christopher Doss, North Carolina A&T State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

Foundation. The main elements were: three plenary talks by eminent engineers:Dr. Kristina Johnson, Provost at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Priscilla Nelson, Provostat New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Dr. Richard Buckius, Assistant Director ofNational Science Foundation’s Engineering Directorate. Ms. Chineta Davis, a VicePresident at Northrup Grumman was the luncheon speaker, and Dr. Carlo Montemagno,Dean of College of Engineering at University of Cincinnati was the dinner banquetspeaker. A video recording of the plenary talks is available from the Workshoporganizers at NCA&T.Six technical tracks in Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology (two tracks due tosignificant interest in this area and the strength of NCA&T in this area

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering: Part II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Harris, Northeastern University; Bala Maheswaran, Northeastern University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

% (Engineering Workforce Commission, 2001)In an effort to address the underdevelopment of our engineering talent pool, it must become animportant national priority to tap into the large pool of potential human resources in the U.S. Itis imperative to increase the numbers of Women, African Americans, Hispanics and AmericanIndians who follow STEM educational pathways in high school, major in science, math andengineering in college, continue on to pursue graduate degrees in these disciplines andeventually enter the science and engineering workforce as researchers, academicians andpractitioners. The exigencies of diversity which are economic and technological, as well as,social and moral cannot be ignored as the demographic population shift that is

Conference Session

Marketing Engineering as a Career Path to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robin Hensel, West Virginia University; Jason Wynne, West Virginia University; Reagan Curtis, West Virginia University; Gary Winn, West Virginia University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

of engineering, we must first convince them oftheir opportunity to solve significant social, medical, and technological problems, and by doingso, to define the future. That message, delivered by age, race, and gender appropriate, Page 14.1014.18enthusiastic young people, will be heard!REFERENCES1 National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies.(2008). Changing the Conversation: Messages forImproving Public Understanding of Engineering. The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., p. 212 ibid., p.22.3 Rhodes, J.E. and Jason, LA. (1988) Preventing Substance Abuse Among Children and Adolescents. Elmsford,NY. Pergamon Press.4

Conference Session

Marketing Engineering as a Career Path to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ali Mehrabian, University of Central Florida; Walter Buchanan, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-2316: WHY AREN’T THERE MORE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIESIN ENGINEERING?Ali Mehrabian, University of Central FloridaWalter Buchanan, Texas A&M University Page 14.1373.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Why Aren’t There More Students with Disabilities in Engineering?IntroductionStudents with physical disabilities are underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology,Engineering, and Mathematics). According to the NSF (National Science Foundation)1,“a higher percentage of students with disabilities than of those without disabilities dropout of high school. Among students who were eighth graders in 1988, 10 percent of thosewith disabilities and 6 percent

Conference Session

Attracting Young Minds: Part II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Qiang Le, Hampton University; Eric Sheppard, Hampton University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

the freshmen and pre-collegestudents at Hampton University and discusses the next steps in our plan to improve preparationand engagement in our engineering students. Our goal is to improve retention and learning. Andthis effort integrates educational research and the classroom experience.IntroductionThe nation’s current and projected need for more Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math(STEM) workers, coupled with the chronically lagging participation of students from ethnicallygrowing segments of the population, argue for policies and programs that will increase thepathways into engineering. Enhancing the curriculum is recognized to be an important way toimprove overall diversity in engineering. Retooling curricula to prepare students for

Conference Session

New Research and Trends Related to Minorities in Engineering

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Willie Ofosu, Pennsylvania State University, Wilkes-Barre

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-1442: DEPLOYMENT OF ALTERNATE SOURCES OF ENERGY INGHANAWillie Ofosu, Pennsylvania State University, Wilkes-Barre Dr. Willie K. Ofosu is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Technology at Pennsylvania State University. He teaches telecommunications, wireless systems, networking, optoelectronics and analog and digital electronics at the Wilkes-Barre campus. He is a member of ASEE, IEEE, IET (England) and a Chartered Engineer (CEng) of England. He is currently involved in international activities in cooperation with some faculty members at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. He is an advocate of diversity in the education field. Dr

Conference Session

New Research and Trends Related to Minorities in Engineering

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, Florida Atlantic University; Ivan Esparragoza, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

minorities andwomen to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but finding theseresources is not easy. MIND Links gathers and updates each year links to resources in anorganized manner that is useful for parents, students, professionals, academics andadministrators. Special attention is paid to provide useful resources to every stage of forming theengineer, including • Exploratory and motivational stage: K-12, enrichment activities, competitions • Preparatory: scholarships, fellowships, rankings of undergraduate and graduate engineering programs, internships • Professional careers: publications, salary surveys, organizations • Academic careers: career development, evaluating institutions and offers

Conference Session

Innovative Methods to Teach Engineering to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Beverley Pickering-Reyna, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-1342: BEYOND MATH ENRICHMENT: APPLIED PRACTICE WITHLIFE- AND CAREER-SKILLS INTERVENTION AND RETENTIONAPPLICATIONS MATTER IN EDUCATING NEW MINORITY FRESHMENBeverley Pickering-Reyna, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Beverley J. Pickering-Reyna has been the Director of Diversity/Gender Initiatives in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) College of Engineering & Applied Science since June 18, 2007. Beforehand, she taught online and on campus undergraduate and graduate courses for five years as an Adjunct Instructor in the UWM School of Information Studies (formerly School of Information Science). Concurrently, Pickering-Reyna directed the Information Technology

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering: Part II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ruba Alkhasawneh, Virginia Commonwealth University; Rosalyn Hobson, Virginia Commonwealth University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-926: SUMMER TRANSITION PROGRAM: A MODEL FOR IMPACTINGFIRST-YEAR RETENTION RATES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPSRuba Alkhasawneh, Virginia Commonwealth University Ruba A. Alkhasawneh is a Ph.D. student in engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology and Yarmouk University, respectively in Jordan. Her research focuses on diversity issues and engineering education. Address: 601 West Main Street,PO Box 843068,Richmond, VA 23284-3068; e-mail: alkhasawnera@vcu.edu.Rosalyn Hobson, Virginia Commonwealth University Dr. Rosalyn S. Hobson is the Associate Dean for Graduate

Conference Session

New Research and Trends Related to Minorities in Engineering

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Terrell Strayhorn, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

. Page 14.870.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Measuring the Educational Benefits of Diversity in STEM Education: A Multi-Institutional Survey Analysis of Women and Underrepresented MinoritiesAbstractPrevious research has documented the importance of diversity in higher education and the needto increase diversity in science and engineering fields by broadening participation among womenand historically underrepresented minorities. Large-scale research that measures the educationalbenefits of diversity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, however, hasbeen limited. The present study measured the educational benefits of diversity in STEM fieldsusing a nationally

Conference Session

Building Diversity in Engineering Graduate Programs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ali Ansari, Virginia State University; Jahangir Ansari, Virginia State University; Krishan Agrawal, Virginia State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

and give STEM interested high school students an opportunity toexplore, learn and experience several STEM disciplines. Phase two is aimed at improving students’skills and retention in STEM areas through course and curriculum enhancement, new and advanceteaching technology especially for the gatekeeper courses. Phase three provides students andfaculty opportunities to enhance their knowledge and research skills through specially designedlearning activities. Phase four ensures smooth transition of STEM undergraduates into highlycompetitive graduate school programs. The project's management plan is lead by the facultymembers from Engineering and Mathematics Departments.The project designed activities based on the following strategies: (1

Conference Session

Building Diversity in Engineering Graduate Programs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Xiaoqing Qian, Alabama A&M University; Zhengtao Deng, Alabama A&M University; George Seweryniak, DoE Computational Science Division; Debbie McCoy, Oak Ridge National Lab

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

. Debbie McCoy Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TennesseeAbstractThe Research Alliance in Math and Science (RAMS) program is a twelve-week summerresearch internship program for under-represented students majoring in computer science,mathematics, engineering and technology. It is carried out through the Computing andComputational Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Theobjective of the RAMS program is to identify students and faculty members in computersciences, mathematics, engineering, and technology disciplines for summer internships insupport of the long-term goal of increasing the number of under-represented minorities

Conference Session

Building Diversity in Engineering Graduate Programs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Xiaochun Jiang, North Carolina A&T State University; Jerry Watson, North Carolina A&T State University; Marcia Williams, North Carolina A&T State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-100: USING A MULTIVARIATE APPROACH TO INVESTIGATE THEFACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO MINORITY STUDENTS’ APPLYING TOGRADUATE SCHOOLXiaochun Jiang, North Carolina A&T State UniversityJerry Watson, North Carolina A&T State UniversityMarcia Williams, North Carolina A&T State University Page 14.1308.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 A multivariate Approach to Investigate the Factors Contributing to Minority Students Applying for Graduate SchoolAbstractThe goal of this research is to study what, if any, factors that may help minority students makehis or her decision to apply to graduate school in science, technology, engineering

Conference Session

Innovative Methods to Teach Engineering to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wei Zheng, Jackson State University; Gordon Skelton, Jackson State University; HuiRu Shih, Jackson State University; Evelyn Leggette, Jackson State University; Tzusheng Pei, Jackson State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-1201: NURTURE MOTIVATED, CONFIDENT, AND STRATEGICLEARNERS IN ENGINEERING THROUGH COGNITIVE ANDPSYCHOLOGICAL INSTRUCTION FOR AN ENTRY-LEVEL COURSEWei Zheng, Jackson State University Dr. Wei Zheng is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Jackson State University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 and has over 10-year industrial experience. Since becoming a faculty member at JSU in 2005, he has made continuous efforts to integrate emerging technologies and cognitive skill development into engineering curriculum. He serves as a freshmen advisor for the First Year Experience Program at JSU and is the Principle Investigator for

Conference Session

New Research and Trends Related to Minorities in Engineering

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Abhijit Nagchaudhuri, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Adam Morris, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Madhumi Mitra, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Xavier Henry, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

2008 Page 14.1059.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Simplified Management Zones from Analyses and Mapping of Multiple Years of Spatially Distributed Harvest DataAbstractThe National Science Foundation's Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP),and HBCU Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) have paved the way for undergraduate researchinvolvement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines atUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore(UMES) among the underrepresented minority students.Ongoing multidisciplinary experiential learning and research efforts titled (i

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering: Part I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ardie Walser, City College of the City University of New York

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

groups.Advisement Organizational StructureAdvisement is a key factor in moving students successfully through any program,particularly for students who are at-risk. Good advisement is more than making sure thatthe student takes courses in the proper sequence. It is also a way to help students finddirection for both their career and their life. How this is accomplished varies frominstitution to institution, with different degrees of success. Assessing and evaluating thestrengths and weaknesses of an advisement protocol is imperative if schools ofengineering are to meet the new challenge of developing engineers that have the tools tocompete in a global market and who are conscious of the pros and cons of technology andhow it impacts the world as a whole.All

Conference Session

Recruitment and Development of Minority Faculty

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ram Mohan, North Carolina A&T State University; Narayanaswamy Radhakrishnan, North Carolina A&T State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

computational technologies in order to promote and cultivate interest in students. Develop initiatives so that interested students can continue in computational science engineering at “Organizing Institution”.” “Intend on creating exercises around Para Vein [sic] and Vol Vien [sic] as was given in the workshop. I also want to use UNIX in some way. Page 14.511.9 “The workshop was invaluable. It allowed me to be exposed to some very useful concepts and software. I can see myself incorporating these

Conference Session

New Research on Retention of URM Groups in STEM

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Fredericka Brown, University of Texas, Tyler; Kristian Trampus, University of Texas, Tyler; Michael Odell, University of Texas, Tyler

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

AC 2009-1918: ASSESSING PEER ATTITUDES AMONG STEM STUDENTS ANDTHE POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON THE RETENTION OF MINORITIES IN STEMPROGRAMSFredericka Brown, University of Texas, Tyler Dr. Brown currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler. Her research interests include bioheat transfer, thermal comfort, and engineering education.Kristian Trampus, University of Texas, Tyler Ms. Trampus currently serves as the Director of the East Texas STEM Center at The University of Texas at Tyler. Her research interests include metacognition, educational technology, the education of historically under-served populations and STEM education.Michael Odell

Conference Session

Innovative Methods to Teach Engineering to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Fred Bonner, Texas A&M University; Felecia Nave, Prairie View A&M University; Sherri Frizell, Prairie View A&M University; Carmen Villa, Texas A&M University; Helene Cook, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

Department (PACE Center), focusing on issues that impact academically gifted African American male college students. Bonner is also completing a book that highlights the experiences of postsecondary gifted African American male undergraduates in predominantly White and Historically Black college contexts. Fred spent the 2005-2006 year as an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow in the Office of the President at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Additionally, he has recently been awarded an NSF grant that focuses on factors influencing the success of high achieving African American students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines in HBCUs.Felecia Nave

Conference Session

New Research on Retention of URM Groups in STEM

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rafic Bachnak, Texas A&M International University; Rohitha Goonatilake, Texas A&M International University; Juan Lira, Texas A&M International University; Conchita Hickey, Texas A&M International University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

. Page 14.1073.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 STEM Recruitment, Retention, and Graduation: Progress to DateAbstractStrategies employed to recruit, retain, and educate students in science, mathematics, andengineering include a variety of approaches, such as hands-on activities, field trips,summer workshops, competitions, tutoring, research experiences, and software trainingprograms. This paper describes a new program, STEM Recruitment, Retention, andGraduation (STEM-RRG), geared toward increasing the number of minority studentspursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fieldsat Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). STEM-RRG consists of severalprojects that implement a number of

Conference Session

Attracting Young Minds: Part II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anant Kukreti, University of Cincinnati; Kenneth Simonson, University of Cincinnati; Kathleen Johnson, University of Cincinnati; Latiera Evans, University of Cincinnati

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

year of the project.IntroductionIn a world of rapidly changing technology, the knowledge explosion, and the expanding globaleconomy, there is growing concern regarding the American ability to remain competitive [1-4].In the 2006 State of The Union Address, Former President Bush announced the AmericanCompetitiveness Initiative, stressing education as the gateway to opportunity and the foundationof a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. However, gaps in race/ethnicity and genderat entry and in completion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)programs indicate the U.S. struggle to develop a diverse workforce that can compete globally.While intervention programs help narrow these gaps, improvements have been incremental

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering: Part II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cindy Foor, University of Oklahoma; randa shehab, University of Oklahoma

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

: cynthia.e.foor-1@ou.edu.randa shehab, University of Oklahoma Randa Shehab is an associate faculty member and Director of the School of Industrial Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. Before joining OU in 1997, she worked as an Ergonomics Consultant to the Manufacturing Ergonomics Laboratory at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. The focus of her research is in the area of human factors and ergonomics, with emphasis on human performance of special populations, technology and learning, and engineering education. Her most current research is focused on identifying factors related to success of underrepresented minority engineering students. Address: School of

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering: Part I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Arturo Fuentes, University of Texas, Pan American; Robert Freeman, University of Texas, Pan American; Horacio Vasquez, University of Texas, Pan American; Cristina Villalobos, University of Texas, Pan American; Stephen Crown, University of Texas, Pan American; Miguel Gonzalez, University of Texas, Pan American; Olga Ramirez, University of Texas, Pan American

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

needed to apply concepts and principlesto a wide range of problems14. Engineers and scientists need knowledge and skills in areas suchas hardware interfacing, sensors and actuators, electronics, data acquisition, controls,programming, and modeling and analysis of mechanical systems7, 10.Modern industry and new technology have a high and increasing demand for skillful graduateswith multidisciplinary experience5, and some universities have begun to create classes wherestudents obtain multidisciplinary design challenges. For example, the University of Detroit-Mercy, developed an “Introduction to Engineering Design” course and a “Pre-college Course inMechatronics” that is offered to students early in their career to increase their preparation

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering: Part I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michelle Kobus, Hillsborough Community College; Cesar Guerrero, University of South Florida; Miguel Labrador, University of South Florida; Rafael Perez, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

. Since 2001, he has been with the University of South Florida, Tampa, where he is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and the Director of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program. Before joining USF, he worked at Telcordia Technologies, Inc., NJ, in the Broadband Networking Group of the Professional Services Business Unit. His research interests are in design and performance evaluation of computer networks and communication protocols for wired, wireless, and optical networks, energy-efficient mechanisms for wireless sensor networks, bandwidth estimation techniques, and location-based services. Dr. Labrador has served as

Conference Session

Marketing Engineering as a Career Path to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jonathan Lambright, Savannah State University; Wayne Johnson, Armstrong Atlantic State University; Cameron Coates, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

Page 14.265.2producing better students overall.Curriculum, Culture, and Teacher Expectations for Inner City Minority Education inSTEMThere is room for improvement of the mathematics and science curriculum at all K-12 levels.The attrition rate of minority students (born and raised) in the United States, typically from thelower socio-economic level, in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)programs continue to increase as we move into the 21st century. Literature and common sensesuggests that the stronger the foundation a student possesses in STEM, the greater the likelihoodthat the student will pursue a career directly in or closely related to STEM. Therefore specialefforts to stimulate the interest of minorities for STEM careers

Conference Session

Innovative Methods to Teach Engineering to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen Crown, University of Texas, Pan American; Arturo Fuentes, University of Texas, Pan American; Constantine Tarawneh, University of Texas, Pan American; Robert Freeman, University of Texas, Pan American; Hashim Mahdi, University of Texas, Pan American

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

University of Texas – Pan American, is engaged in the implementation of aprocess of continuous quality improvement that promotes students’ academic and professionalsuccess and supports program and institution accreditations. In general, engineering, computingand applied science programs seeking accreditation by ABET (Accreditation Board ofEngineering and Technology) must demonstrate, among other things, that they evaluate studentperformance, advise students regarding curricular and career matters, and monitor student’sprogress to foster their success in achieving program outcomes, thereby enabling them asgraduates to attain program objectives. The paper describes innovative tools that support theadvisement process and their impact on faculty and

Conference Session

Innovative Methods to Teach Engineering to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amir Mobasher, Alabama A&M University; Mohamed Seif, Alabama A&M University; Kenneth Fernandez, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center; Showkat Chowdhury, Alabama A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

, might “drop off” the school altogether, might find jobsand abandon their educational objectives or perhaps discontinue for a short period of time andstart again later. Although it is nearly impossible to eliminate loss of students from the program,it is possible to minimize this loss by implementing several tactics. Critical factors affecting theretention of the students within the mechanical engineering program at AAMU are classattendance and participation, early exposure of potential students to mechanical engineeringtopics, advising, student competitions, participation in summer internship programs, participationin externally funded research projects, and utilization of multimedia and other technologies forunderstanding of topics.Class

Conference Session

Marketing Engineering as a Career Path to URMs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Delaine, Drexel University; Adam Fontecchio, Drexel University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

, publishing papers,networking and stress-relief activities is easily exchanged. With the increased popularity ofsocial networking websites the information presented can serve the retention and awarenessefforts of the BTD program and address the uneven participation of underrepresented groups inS&E fields in general.IntroductionStudents of Latino, African-American and Native American descent are not entering school andobtaining degrees within science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields inproportion to other demographics1,2. There are many reasons why these students are not choosingto study STEM fields, including inadequate access to a quality K-12 education, negativestereotypes, lack of role models and mentors, limited knowledge