andunderstood. They had established a foothold at their community college, one that would need tobe reestablished elsewhere to complete their academic and career goals.Discussion and ConclusionAs we continue analysis, we are cognizant that while these findings highlight key insights, theyalso underscore the necessity for future research focused on enhancing support initiatives thatbroaden participation and facilitate the transition of community college students into the STEMeducational pipeline and ultimately into industry roles. Throughout our continued analysis of thedata we are intentionally coding lessons that that might inform institutional policy and practice.Through this research, the Community College S-STEM Network (CCSN) aims to develop
a competitive spirit, are highly motivatedto compete against other students and universities, and benefit from adding competitions as partof their education [13, 20, 12].Because of the open-ended problem statements in competitions, these projects may be used inclasses or as part of an engineering curriculum. The student learning objectives, and morespecifically CE program criteria for ABET, may be connected to student competitions. Someuniversities even implement student competitions in capstone-style or independent study coursesto expose students to teamwork, communication skills, and application of design knowledge [10,21]. Many of these skills are desired by industry and help students become career-ready [22].Equipping graduates for the
Paper ID #48056Community Building in Chemical EngineeringDr. Taryn Melkus Bayles, University of Pittsburgh Taryn Bayles is a Professor, Teaching Track and Undergraduate Program Director in the Chemical Engineering department at the University of Pittsburgh. She has spent part of her career working in industry, as well as academia. She has led over 160 workshops with over 7,500 participants and her various outreach programs and curriculum development have impacted more than 22,000 K-12 students. She has been recognized with the ASEE Lifetime Achievement Award in PCEE, Donald R. Woods Lectureship Award - ChED, Chancellor’s
questions are listed in Appendix 7.1. Students were asked to complete thesurvey after the first lecture was given and before students worked on and submitted their firstwritten assignment. Majority of the questions focused on gauging what kind of background andunderstanding students had with respect to technical reading, writing, and presenting. It was alsointeresting to see what career paths the students were interested in at the time they completed thesurvey and how important they thought communication skills would be in their future careers.Finally, there were two questions related to student use of generative AI tools prior to the course:first about how often students used generative AI tools for technical communication, and secondabout what
responses that are expected, such as identification of the ethical dilemma,identification of the protagonists and antagonists in the dilemma, how the behavior in thedilemma should be addressed, and to tie the behaviors of the actors in the dilemma back to anethical standard in the student’s career field.The course and the workload associated with the course are expected to increase as the universityand the majors serviced by this class continue to experience enrollment growth. The ability toprovide assignment feedback without sacrificing content and to ensure the instructor’sconsistency in grading needed to be developed. To satisfy the workload, an LLM was used to tryand support grading efforts. Due to concerns with privacy and to avoid potential
. However, one of thechallenges in STEM graduate education and research is how to embed value creation intograduate research at a deep level.Under the traditional paradigm of doctoral STEM education, doctoral students are mainly set upto be subject area experts with contributions to scientific literature through publications of theirtechnical research in peer-reviewed journals and in their dissertations. Graduate training based onthis desired outcome is adequate to prepare PhD holders to meet initial career expectations andfor sustainable university research output. However, with the changing economic and academiclandscape it has become harder for PhD holders to secure stable professional academic positions[6]. Hence, most of the recent
of the Center for Educational Networks and Impacts at Virginia Tech and Associate Professor of Engineering Education. His primary research interests focus on systems thinking, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and collaborative change. Grohs is an NSF CAREER Awardee and has served as PI/co-PI for several interdisciplinary and multi-party educational research grants.Dr. David A. Dillard P.E., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University David Dillard is the Adhesive and Sealant Science Professor in the Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics Department at Virginia Tech. He has worked extensively in the field of adhesive bonding, having experience in structural adhesives for aerospace, automDr. James Lord, Virginia
engineering.Prior research has shown that a strong engineering identity encourages students to persist in theirstudies despite academic challenges [10], [13] - [17]. The identity constructs include internalqualities and external support, both cited by students as necessary for the profession [10]. Thisperceived connection to their longer-term career goals may also enable students to see the valueof their current academic tasks [18] - [21]. Thus, it enables students to develop their identityduring engineering experiences such as coursework, internships and extracurricular activities.The engineering identity framework has been applied to specific courses, first year experiencesand advancement through the degree program. A linear progression of increasing
Engineering at Oregon State University. His research interests include conceptual change and situated cognition. He received the NSF CAREER award inJeff Knowles, Oregon State University Dr. Jeff Knowles is an engineering instructor at Oregon State University who began teaching courses in 2015. His current pedagogical research is related to barriers associated with implementing Evidence-Based Instructional Practices (EBIPs) in STEM-related courses and determining what affordances can be granted to overcome such contextual obstacles. Jeff’s interests also include the numerical modeling of nonlinear wave phenomena.Dr. Prateek Shekhar, New Jersey Institute of Technology Dr. Prateek Shekhar is an Assistant Professor
in their future careers. This researchexplores innovative pedagogical approaches that simulate workplace dynamics, enablingstudents to develop the adaptability and communication skills necessary for productiverelationships with supervisors in professional settings.The paper is organized to first provide an overview of key differences between academic andwork environments and common deficiencies displayed by early career engineers in theworkplace. It then analyzes these deficiencies and differences to identify three general areas ofimportance and suggests multiple strategies for leveraging classroom activities to develop thedesired skills. Finally, it offers two examples of classroom activities using those strategies tomodify the professor
outcomes and their sustainability. Before starting his academic career, he gained experience in the design and construction of plumbing, sewage, and fire protection systems for buildings, managed two major environmental planning projects, and co-founded a company that integrated multiple building-design disciplines to streamline the design process for its clients. Before his appointment at UVA, Prof. Gutierrez taught undergraduate and graduate courses in project management, strategy and innovation, and leadership for engineers and architects, as well as several foundational engineering courses. He also served as a university-industry liaison, co-leading and helping secure international funding for award-winning
the large number of international students enrolled in UAB School ofEngineering as graduate students. As of Fall 2023, students from non-U.S. countries made up19.0% of the graduate student population, 7.9% of whom are enrolled in the UAB School ofEngineering [6]. Venkatesh et al. establishes four pillars for building community in the graduateclassroom: “enabling meaningful interpersonal connection, facilitating participation to primelearning, sharing insight into scientific careers, and validating student competence and potential.”Their study found that building a graduate course with these pillars in mind dramaticallyincreased students’ comfort in interacting with course faculty, successfully mitigated impostersyndrome, and helped the
experiences as a Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineer, Analytical Cell Biologist, and Engineering Education Researcher to tackle complex engineering education problems across the learner life span.Dr. Kathryn Plymesser P.E., Montana State University - Bozeman Dr. Plymesser hold a B.S. (Case Western Reserve University ’01) and Ph.D. (MSU ’14) degrees in Civil Engineering. She began her academic career at Montana State University – Billings with a teaching and research tenure-track appointment. Dr. Plymesser joined the Civil Engineering Department at Montana State University in 2016. Her research is focused in ecohydraulics and fish passage with a particular fondness for the application of hydraulic and fluid
throughout the process, and AEprovides the overall evaluation of the learning activities. Figure 1. The 5AX Design Model for General Engineering CoursesActivity 1: AS, namely the Activity of Adapting to Authentic Engineering SituationsThis activity aims to immerse students in authentic problem situations, where the learningenvironment closely mirrors real-world working environments or professional contexts thatstudents are likely to encounter in their future careers (Herrington A and Herrington J, 2008).It encompasses three key aspects of authenticity: personal, social, and physical.a. The authenticity of the personal scenario allows students to take control of their learning process, gain hands-on experience, and directly apply
Experience for Undergraduate (REU)program, can be especially positive for students[2]–[4]. This experience allows students toengage with diverse research environments, methodologies, and perspectives that might differfrom their home institution. This exposure can also enhance adaptability and problem-solvingskills while helping students build a larger network of mentors, letter writers, and peers acrossinstitutions. Such experiences are invaluable for career development, helping students strengthentheir résumés, explore potential graduate programs, and gain insights into different researchcultures and practices, making them more competitive for graduate school applications.The REU program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell
, hardware security, and energy-efficient computing. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 RET: Acquisition and Retainment of Semiconductor Knowledge among K-12 STEM TeachersIntroductionThe semiconductor industry has played a vital role in driving economic growth and technologicaladvancement. As an essential component of electronic devices, semiconductors power a widerange of applications, including computers, cellphones, communication systems, healthcare,transportation, and countless other sectors [1], [2]. Developing a skilled semiconductor workforceis essential, and K-14 educators are pivotal in motivating and preparing students for careers inmicroelectronics [3]. However
communities that focus on fostering students’ sense of belonging, identity and self-efficacy in their academic careers.” [6] In fact, stEm PEER Fellows’ projects are anticipated toimpact over 3,400 undergraduate and graduate students and over 690 faculty in the next fewyears based on recent data.Preliminary research indicates that stEm PEER Fellows have “demonstrated professional growthin their understanding of the national engineering education pathway landscape, utilizing data toinform their program efforts, elevating implementation and scale of evidence-based practicesthat alleviate students’ barriers to success, and most importantly, building relationships thatengage stakeholders at their own institutions, in their region and nationwide.” [6
greater sense of belonging in an active classroom environment. Finally, in the context of quantum engineering, a field where women and certain minoritygroups are often underrepresented, experiential learning opportunities may be particularlyimpactful. Hands-on projects and labs can boost students’ confidence and identity as emergingscientists or engineers. Research on undergraduate research programs (which are a form ofexperiential learning) supports this: studies have found that when students from underrepresentedbackgrounds participate in authentic research or lab experiences, their self-efficacy in STEMincreases and their aspirations for STEM careers grow. For instance, a program documented byCarpi et al. showed significant gains in
have the technical andprofessional competencies necessary for their careers [22, 23]. However, these traditionalmethods often struggle to keep pace with rapid technological advances and changing industrydemands.Several frameworks have been developed to support curriculum design, emphasizing adaptability,industry relevance, and lifelong learning. The WEF highlights critical future skills such asproblem-solving, creativity, and collaboration, which are essential to navigating the complexitiesof modern industries [18]. The Nesta framework emphasizes fostering creativity andinterdisciplinary skills to prepare students for innovative roles in evolving sectors [19].Singapore’s SkillsFuture initiative demonstrates the value of modular, competency
the needs of the instructor, course, or discipline.Each lesson plan is written for 60 minutes, with suggestions for greater depth if time allows.Motivation: The project’s PI (this paper’s author) has a Bachelor of Science and Engineering,yet much of his career (and graduate studies) has been in design thinking, entrepreneurship,business, and education (without specific emphasis on engineering education). After joining thefaculty at a school of engineering and ASEE, the PI received requests to help Engineering facultyat multiple institutions consider how to better incorporate DT in ED courses. While publishedOERs cannot replace rich dialog and co-design, these lessons might serve as useful artifacts toscaffold and scale.Design process: The
the present paper.Step 1: Elimination of CoursesSix courses were eliminated. • ENU 4934 Fundamentals of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering – this one-credit course does not permit sufficient time to cover an adequate introduction to nuclear physics, reactors, and careers. In a one-credit class, assignments can adversely affect retention, as one skipped or bad homework can change a grade. The lead author has observed students who earned a B or worse often left the program prior to the junior year. This course will be replaced by a two-credit course in Step 3. • STA 3032 Engineering Statistics – the statistical topics in this course are a poor match for those needed by nuclear engineering students
aims to build a more comprehensive understanding ofdoctoral-level ethics education.Research Aims and QuestionsThe primary goal of this study is to illuminate how doctoral students interpret and applyethical principles in engineering and to identify critical gaps in ethics education. Theinvestigation is guided by the following research questions: 1. How do doctoral engineering students at the Thayer School of Engineering conceptualize ethics within the context of their training and future careers? 2. In what ways do these conceptualizations shape their approach to professional decision-making? 3. What challenges and gaps in ethics education are perceived by doctoral students, and where might curricular or
career planning tools to provide end-to-end solutions.ConclusionDeveloping a recommendation engine leveraging GPT-4 and the RAG method the authorsdemonstrated a significant advancement in personalized learning solutions. By utilizingOpenAI’s text-embedding-3-large model and Pinecone’s vector database, the system efficientlyaddresses the challenges of personalization, scalability, and accuracy in courserecommendations. Integrating OpenAI's assistant API further enhances its capabilities, offeringseamless interactions and context-aware suggestions.Our results highlight the potential of LLMs to transform how individuals discover and engagewith learning opportunities. The positive outcomes underline the benefits of adopting cutting-edge AI
-making authority upon whom three institutional forces act, 1) managerialism enacted byemployers, clients, and the government, 2) scientific training shaped by discipline-specificuniversity programs, and 3) ethical commitments shaped by early growing up experiences and 4formal non-technical education. The diagram illustrates these three external forces using arrowsand the related institutions using boxes. The agentic aspect of the diagram will be fleshed out inthe next phase of this project when I interview early career engineers. The two axes are alsobased on sociological notions of professional identity and professional status. In contrast to
of California, Berkeley, in 2016 and subsequently worked as a research engineer at the Illinois Applied Research Institute before turning to a career in teaching and education in 2018. His technical expertise lies in computational and theoretical solid mechanics, and he teaches a range of courses in these topics, including introductory solid mechanics, machine component design, computational mechanics, and finite element analysis. Brian’s pedagogical research efforts focus on developing and implementing effective teaching strategies for large lecture courses and increasing student literacy in using computational tools such as Python and to aid in performing calculations and simulations relevant to engineers.Prof
2025 [1]. The NSF'scomprehensive 2023 report on diversity in STEM further highlights persistent disparities,particularly for women and underrepresented minorities [2]. These findings underscore theimportance of preparing graduate students to create inclusive learning environments that supportsuccess for all students. Rates of leaving the STEM fields are estimated at approximately 50%[3], with persistence in the fields reportedly stagnating in the 2010s [4]. Attrition continues fromundergraduate through the graduate level (Satterfield et al., 2018) and faculty roles [5]. Evenbeyond attrition, changing career paths within the STEM fields presents a compellingphenomenon and indicates lower potential motivation and persistence at the undergraduate
professional career. She obtained a BS and MS degrees in Civil and Transportation Engineering. She had held positions as a traffic and transportation engineer and middle school math teacher before joining NJIT as the coordinator for the undergraduate programs in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. Her extensive history greatly influences her approach to education and administration. Lucie has held various roles at NJIT, including Associate Director for Learning Communities and First Year Initiatives, where she developed programs to support first-year students. She is deeply involved in community service and mentoring, serving as the advisor for the NJIT Society of Women Engineers the Filipinos In Newark Engaging in
scheme. Preliminary analyses detail findings relatedto students’ adjusting to virtual instruction, consequences for academics and career aspirations, andcoping mechanisms students used to confront the challenges they the onset of the pandemic. Initialfindings suggest possible factors that may be attributed to the increase in reported mental healthproblems during the pandemic (e.g., increased isolation, unclear expectations, etc.) and begins toexplore effective stress management strategies graduate students' employee.The results from this work highlight areas for future research, including the need to examine thelong-term impact of the pandemic engineering graduate students’ academic and personal well-beingas well as a need to examine supports
form of thesesand dissertations. Although these genres of writing have significant differences, they have acommonality in that they all utilize discipline-specific conventions, which are typically learnedinformally “along the way”. Students are expected to use their writing to demonstrate anunderstanding of the technical topic at hand and document their research results. This comes withthe added expectation that their writing provides sufficient detail so that the work can beevaluated and replicated by others. As students progress through their academic careers, manyrealize that the writing process can improve their understanding of a topic, as what might seemclear in their minds must be logically organized and presented on the page. This
thematic analysis of thefeedback received. We are also analyzing student responses on non-technical, professionalskill developments such as teamwork, problem solving, communication, etc., and theresults will be shared in a full paper. Furthermore, SolidWorks and 3D printing quiz will bedelivered pre-lab as well as post-lab to gauge students’ true knowledge gain from the lab.Finally, long-term follow-up will be essential to evaluate whether this lab not only enhancedstudents' sense of identity as engineers and influenced their post-graduation career choicesbut also determine the benefits of continued instruction in SolidWorks and 3D printingduring junior year compared to intermittent delivery in the sophomore and senior years.References:1. (2016