Conference Session

FPD VI: Presenting "All the Best" of the First-Year Programs Division

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Chris Smaill, University of Auckland; Gerard Rowe, University of Auckland; Lawrence J. Carter, University of Auckland

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

-used:“I wouldn't do peer marking any more often, as you'd start to affect attendance as peoplebecome complacent with peer marking. There also has to be time for the students to getfeedback and help with their other work.”Lecturer feedbackIn their Course Audit (a compulsory post-course teaching-team reflection document) thecourse lecturers observed that tutorial attendance in 2009 and 2010 hit an all-time high, upfrom the all-time low experienced in 2008. They speculated that this was most likely a directresult of the peer-marking exercises, or at least the associated 1% course credit! The lecturers Page 22.1146.9(both of whom consider tutorial

Conference Session

FPD XI: Assessing First-Year Programs, Experiences, and Communities

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patricia R. Backer, San Jose State University; Emily L. Allen, San Jose State University; Janet Sundrud, San Jose State University

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

campuses (see Figures 1 and 2). While six-year graduation rates at theUniversity are disappointing, the rates for African American (38.7%) and Latino (39.9%) malesare truly dismaying and unacceptable. The retention and six-year graduation rate in the Collegeof Engineering is even lower than the university overall, particularly for African American andLatino students.As a result of an examination and reflection on the causes of the low retention and graduationrates, the College established the 15x12 Initiative, with the goal of increasing our graduation rate15% by the year 2012. We decided to focus on improving the effectiveness of our first-yearexperience (FYE) programs, as well to complete a major overhaul of our advising systems andmethods. This

Conference Session

FPD II: Increasing Engagement and Motivation of First-Year Students

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nicky Wolmarans, University of Cape Town, Department of Civil Engineering and Centre for Research in Engineering Education (CREE); Corrinne Shaw, University of Cape Town, Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Centre for Research in Engineering Education (CREE)

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

together, with recognition of themultidisciplinarity of many problems. S2: it obviously needs to stand, and the, the structure needs to hold, that is the key, but it needs to, the impact it has is how people are going to see it and how people are going to interact with your structure, and that is going to be what reflects the success of your structure.But a sense of how to balance conflicting requirements is missing. In fact satisfying the needsof people is often seen to compromise “good science”: S6: that water is clean but - it is clean but it smells - they have to add some chemical to help it smell nice but as engineers they know that it is clean, it doesn't have to smell nice, it can look green but it is

Conference Session

FPD I: Attacking the Problems of Retention in the First Year

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yvette Pearson Weatherton, University of Texas, Arlington; Andrew P. Kruzic, University of Texas, Arlington; Beth R. Isbell, University of Texas at Arlington; Lynn L. Peterson, University of Texas, Arlington; Carter Tiernan, University of Texas, Arlington; Vu V. Pham, University of Texas at Arlington

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

engineering, the non-FIG student population data yielded amoderately positive correlation between SAT Math scores and GPA, while FIG data showed anegative correlation, indicating that average first year cumulative grade point averages decreasedwith increased SAT Math scores. The FORCES cohort showed a strong negative correlationbetween the two variables.Assessment of the FORCES program performance in many cases supported or further informedthe retention and performance data analyses. Members of the cohort consistently identified theFIG component as a strength, and the data reflect that FIG participants in general were retainedat higher rates and performed better than non-FIG participants. Evaluation of elements relativeto calculus readiness and

Conference Session

FPD VIII: Crossing Bridges and Easing Transitions into the First Year

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Janet Callahan, Boise State University; Judith A. Garzolini, Boise State University; Gary LeRoy Hunt, Boise State University; Joe Guarino, Boise State University; Doug Bullock, Boise State University; Susan Shadle, Boise State University; Cheryl B. Schrader, Boise State University

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

clearlycommunicated. Data on the start date and total hours worked indicate that a significant numberof students did not use the software in the manner that we had intended. This is also reflected inthe numerous queries about how to use ALEKS that the Math Department received in the lastfew weeks of the summer. It appears that both better advising techniques and stronger incentiveswill be needed.New Actions: (1) Restructure orientation sessions as described in Section 1. The two day formatshould reduce the concentration of information flowing at students in the short advising windowcurrently available. It is also possible that students could use computer facilities on campus tobegin their ALEKS work under our supervision. (2) Track our success rate for

Conference Session

FPD X: First-Year Design with Projects, Modeling, and Simulation

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ani Ural, Villanova University; Joseph Robert Yost, Villanova University; David W Dinehart, Villanova University; Shawn P. Gross, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

understand the limitations and sources of error incomputational and experimental approaches. Furthermore, the integration of all componentsthrough a technical report allows students to reflect on the interrelation between theoretical,computational and experimental components and their respective significance in engineeringanalysis, design and research. Page 22.184.104. Course AssessmentThe students were given three surveys during the semester in addition to the course evaluationthat was administered at the end of the semester. The surveys were given after each module ofthe project to evaluate the contribution of theoretical, finite element

Conference Session

FPD I: Attacking the Problems of Retention in the First Year

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alan D. Niemi, LeTourneau University; Robert W. Warke, LeTourneau University

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

retention rates from 1998 through 2007 are shown in Figure 2. The one-yearretention rate graph reveals no overall improvement. It should be noted that the 2007 cohortshows about the same retention as the 2002 cohort (the final year of the graduation rate study inwhich the graduation rate was 33%). The two-year retention rate is also relatively flat from 1998through 2005 at about 50%. The 2006 cohort however, shows a significant increase to 68%. Itwill be interesting to see if this is reflected in future graduation rates. 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 1-year retention