International Programs (CIP) at the University of Dayton. The CIP provides coordination, strategic planning and administrative support forMrs. Marjorie Langston LangstonMr. Douglas Picard, Greene County Career Center Doug Picard is an engineering and manufacturing instructor at the Greene County Career Center in Xenia, Ohio. In 2023 and 2024, he participated in the Global STEM RET, facilitated by University of Dayton and Central State University, with in- and pre-service teachers from Dayton and surrounding area. He traveled to Banagalore, India, to observe and research how solar and other renewable energies are incorporated into developing areas and developed/published classroom curriculum. As part of this research
as women, minorities, andeconomically disadvantaged students. One key benefit of these partnerships is that they enablethe creation of programs that are tailored to the specific needs of a community or researchproject. In the case of the subject institution, we were able to use our partnership with a regionalgirl serving organization and their well-established extension and outreach efforts to offer ourengineering curriculum specifically to Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) girls in areaswith low performing schools and high poverty rates.Our partner was able to secure community-based funding to provide materials and staff for afour-week series on careers in engineering for girls in the two local school districts in southernIllinois
Paper ID #47495A New Narrative: The Power of Story in Retaining Underrepresented Populationsin EngineeringDr. Susan J Ely, University of Southern Indiana Dr. Ely began her academic career at the community college level, after having worked as an engineer in areas of manufacturing, distribution, logistics and supply chain. She is the Director of Engineering Technology Programs and Assistant Professor in Manufacturing at the University of Southern Indiana. Research includes student retention and engagement, mentoring and support of women in engineering and lean applications in non-manufacturing environments.Matthew J. Ely
decade [1], [2]. Recent findingsindicate the industry is over 20% below necessary staffing levels in crucial production roles dueto a shortage of qualified STEM talent [1]-[3], with the Department of Defense estimating theneed for 15,000 STEM hires annually for the next decade to meet procurement goals [3], [4]. Toaddress this, the Navy has invested in innovative solutions to attract students to naval STEMcareers early in their education. This engagement in practice case study outlines the efforts of theUConn-URI Navy STEM Coalition to develop a comprehensive K-12 pipeline by integratingnaval technology lessons into STEM pedagogy to showcase career opportunities in the region.This program builds off similar efforts prioritizing teacher
Hartman holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Purdue University and a Doctorate from North Carolina State University.Alisa Deck Lisa works with employers, schools, students, and community stakeholders to scale up and sustain critical programs around careers in all sectors while emphasizing the professional and technical skills necessary to succeed in the workforce. Lisa’s passion is working to build our future workforce by providing foundational skills and ensuring everyone has the information required to be successful. Lisa is the Education Workforce Program Manager for Purdue Polytechnic’s Indiana Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), as a program manager and is the owner of T3
practices [1]. Simultaneously, there have been calls toconsider meaningful community engagement and for engineering institutions to engagethoughtfully in rural spaces [1], [2], [3]. Recent national calls and efforts have also emphasizedthe importance of and need for research and investment in STEM workforce development inrural places and connecting students to careers and industries to demonstrate the relevance ofSTEM in rural places [3],[4],[5]. In alignment with these simultaneous calls, we propose work-integrated learning as a promising practice for the future of engineering education with the goalof promoting authentic work experiences and community engagement. This paper describes the first pilot of an innovative, community engaged
learningopportunities. It discusses how participants were encouraged to explore their identity formationand its impact on STEM career development while fostering a sense of belonging and self-efficacy in their fields. Using a mixed methods evaluation and assessment approach, findingssuggest several implications: (a) an increase in participants' awareness and skills within STEMfields, potentially enhancing interest in these areas; (b) a greater understanding of social changepartnerships and their integration into higher education research; and (c) transformed practicesthat could prepare more students for STEM careers. Emphasizing educational research inengineering and community engagement, this paper discusses the critical importance ofpromoting access, respect
Improving EmployabilityThe VIP model equips students with practical skills highly valued in the job market, such as teamwork,problem-solving, and technical expertise. Cullers et al. [6] found that students participating in VIPprograms, which combine multidisciplinary research with academic coursework, demonstrated significantimprovements in practical skills and career readiness. These programs offer students an interdisciplinaryexperience that fosters collaboration with professionals and researchers, directly linking academicknowledge to real-world applications. The research indicates that VIP students were not only moreengaged in their studies but also better equipped to transition into careers after graduation. Furthermore,by working on
Paper ID #45968Engagement in Practice: A Case Study in Construction Engineering PracticumCourse at University ”X”Dr. Ronald W. Welch, The Citadel Ron Welch (P.E.) received his B.S. degree in Engineering Mechanics from the United States Military Academy in 1982. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1990 and 1999, respectively. He taught at The United States Military Academy during his 25 year military career. After retiring form the military he has taught at the University of Texas at Tyler and The Citadel, where he was the Dean of Engineering for
students’ confidence in their career choices, competitiveness in the labor market, and ability to work in diverse environments.Each dimension was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (CompletelyDisagree) to 5 (Completely Agree).The instrument used in this study also included dimensions related to communityengagement, perceptions of service-based learning (SBL) compared to traditional courses,and empowerment and leadership. These dimensions captured key aspects of the impact ofSBL. The Community Engagement (QSC) dimension assessed students’ intentions toparticipate in future service activities, their perception of their ability to make a positiveimpact in the community, and their valuation of the importance of social
Paper ID #47383Community Developed Water Supply a Case Study of a Sustainable Model inHampstead, St. Mary, JamaicaMr. Omar McFarlane Sweeney, University of Florida Omar McFarlane Sweeney is an engineering professional with over thirty years of experience specializing in Civil, Construction Engineering, and Project Management. Throughout his professional career, he has successfully executed several major Government-related infrastructure projects. He is a consultant lecturer in Civil Engineering at the Heriot- Watt University, Scotland and sits on the Engineering Faculty Advisory Boards of the University of the West
experiences during the camp and gathered feedback onthe program. Table 1 shows examples of campers’ responses to some survey items.Table 1. Survey Response Examples Item Content Example response What is your favorite activity Getting to design was fun. Working with mentor to be able to come up with a design. What is the least interesting activity The workshops Share your experience at camp All is amazing and I was honored to have this experience. It was great and really fun. How does this camp connect with STEM is important in my future so it really help me understand your career interests
in their owncommunities.Tumaini Innovation Center(Tumaini) as a technical training institute, engages the vulnerable youth (in particular,street youth, youth who live/work in the streets [6]) in an educational model that breaks down the barriers faced by“street youth” and other vulnerable youth in a changing society. The center leverages their inherent resourcefulness,resilience and independence, and equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to have successful andproductive careers in their community. The program’s mission is to empower them with hope, knowledge, skills,opportunities and resources necessary for them to earn a positive livelihood off the streets. These livelihoodopportunities include learning vocational skills like
understanding ofinformal engineering experiences, informal STEM experiences are offered by a wide range oforganizations. More than half of informal STEM experiences are offered by universities andcolleges (26%) and non-profit organizations (25%), though other common settings includenational youth organizations (8%), museums and science centers (15%) and K-12 school districts(12%) [15]. The programs offered by these organizations vary widely in contact hours,participant demographics, staff background, and program offerings [15]. However, previousresearch has indicated that many of these programs provide a successful foundation for STEMinterest and later STEM careers. For example, STEM camps and STEM after-school clubs havebeen shown to increase interest
Paper ID #47171Navigating Deficit Narratives: Marginalized Student Experiences in HumanitarianEngineering Graduate ProgramsMs. Emma Sophie Stine, University of Colorado Boulder Emma Stine recently finished a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she is researching student experiences before, during, and after attending a graduate program in humanitarian engineering, focusing on how these experiences influence career goals and outcome expectations. She is interested in how these goals align with social justice movements, including if and how students and practitioners are addressing global
skills necessary tosucceed in dynamic professional environments.To replicate the success of the VIP+ program, other institutions should consider the followingrecommendations: • Establish dedicated administrative support and secure funding to ensure the sustainability of the program. • Encourage participation from multiple academic departments to promote diversity and inclusivity in project teams. • Build strong relationships with industry partners to provide mentorship, resources, and real-world insights. • Embed entrepreneurial training and project-based learning into the academic curriculum, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and student career pathways. • Invest in
skills andcontribute to advancing engineering knowledge.As an institution, our goal is to provide our students with opportunities like these to help propeltheir careers and their skills forward. In the past, we sought to create a bus trip to get our studentsto these MLH events at other institutions in nearby cities, but the trip ended up being difficult todo logistically and presented a non-trivial cost to the university.Instead, our university opted to organize our own hackathon. This presented a unique opportunityto provide our students with the opportunity not only to gain skills by participating in thehackathon, but also to be organizers of the event. In doing so, students will also have theopportunity to learn about things such as teamwork
achievement is specified fordifferent students. A course, which provide advanced education for upper division undergraduatestudents as well as early career graduate students, should include the ability to analyze thesustainability of an engineered system using tools such as lifecycle assessment. As previouslyreported, lifecycle assessment was integrated as part of the semester long course in modeling [8].In addition, the environmental engineering body of knowledge includes Outcome 14, “EffectiveCommunication”. Effective communication includes interactions with the public as well as thetechnical community. The level of achievement specified for upper division undergraduatestudents as well as early career graduate students specifies, “plan, composed
Engineering Students," Journal of Engineering Education, pp. 321- 334, 2007.[2] J. P. Walters, K. Frisch, K. Yasuhara and J. Kaminsky, "The Impacts of Humanitarian Engineering Context on Students’ Sociotechnical Thinking," Journal of Civil Engineering Educations, vol. 151, no. 1, 2025.[3] M. J. Prince and R. M. Felder, "Inductive Teaching and Learning Methods: Definitions, Comparisons, and Research Bases," Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 95, no. 2, pp. 123-138, 2006.[4] T. Brown, "Design Thinking," Harvard Business Review, pp. 1-9, June 2008.[5] D. Keku, F. Paige, T. Shealy and A. Godwin, "Recognizing Differences in Underrepresented Civil Engineering Students' Career Satisfaction Expectations and College Experiences," ASCE
study to highlight engineering and civic engagement.The other question to consider is whether civic engagement in the engineering classroom helpswith diversity in STEM. To improve diversity in STEM to underrepresented groups you need toprovide opportunities for engagement and participation of these groups. The underrepresentedgroups need to be exposed to the possibility of careers in STEM. For engineering students tomake this connection, assignments and projects need to require the civic engagement component.Action requires intent which hopefully translates into change.At the end of the semester, we will once again administer the same reflection question, “TheProject Management Course is also considered a Civic Engagement Course. Please reflect
. Thus, it is important that fundingagencies and academic institutions have genuine ways to evaluate the quality of CER. Guidelinesand rubrics to assess CER have been proposed [12],[13].[14],[15].Previous research has found that community engaged research compared to more traditionalresearch activity is not awarded funding at the same rate [16] or valued equally in academicreappointment, promotion, and tenure [17],[18],[19],[20],[21]. In particular, CER conducted byURM faculty has been found to be undervalued during promotion and tenure [22],[23]. However,these studies were largely conducted outside of engineering and STEM fields. More insights intohow CER is valued in academic careers in STEM fields, and particularly for
Community ServiceI. INTRODUCTION Volunteering means any activity in which time is given freely to benefit another person,group or organization [1]. Engaging in volunteering, among adolescents, has been shown tocorrelate with enhanced social skills which enables them to connect with students of allbackgrounds and interests [2]. Volunteerism has also been linked to increased civic engagement[2], improved academic aptitude [3], as well as enhanced self-esteem and happiness in adults [4].Additionally, participating in volunteering activities related to one’s degree has shown to giveparticipants practical and applicable experiences that can benefit their career prospects [5].Persistence in and completion of baccalaureate STEM degrees has been shown to