Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions - Mechanical Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Willis, Southern Methodist University; Paul Krueger, Southern Methodist University; Alice Kendrick, Southern Methodist University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

of similar findings from previousyears at this REU site. Though some faculty might view REU programs as recruitmentopportunities for graduate studies in engineering, the reality may be that the experience compelssome students and discourages others, much in the way that holding an internship or a part-timejob in other disciplines affects students‟ career choices by providing a low-risk opportunity toexperience aspects of a particular type of employment. The REU students expressed interest innarrowing their post-graduation decisions, and the REU program seems to have contributed tothat process, whether or not it resulted in a greater desire to attend graduate school.Focus group discussion highlighted the importance of the relationship between