Conference Session

FPD 8: Engineering Math Issues

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tanya D Ennis, University of Colorado Boulder; Jacquelyn F. Sullivan, University of Colorado, Boulder; Beverly Louie, University of Colorado, Boulder; Daniel Knight, University of Colorado, Boulder

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

described.IntroductionAlthough calculus I is a traditional entry point for first-year engineering students, for a variety ofreasons the course generates a high failure rate. Poor performance in this “gateway” course nodoubt leads many students to reexamine their decisions to study engineering. Compounding thescenario are widespread efforts to diversify the student population of engineering with the verystudents who are statistically most likely to graduate high school underprepared for direct entryinto calculus I—minorities, women and first-generation college attendees. Thus, achievingdiversity in engineering is linked to the performance outcomes in mathematics of studentshistorically underrepresented in engineering, including the underrepresented minority (URM