Conference Session

Research in Minority Issues

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Abhijit Nagchaudhuri, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore; Whitney Smith, UMES/Rutgers University; Uditha Poddalgoda, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore; Omar A. Omar, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore; Amy Jarrett, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore; Aaron Redden, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore; Daniel Seaton, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore; Robert Johnson, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

. Undergraduate research is a way of focusing and guiding the undergraduate experience,rather than solely serving as a preparation for graduate school, and is a major opportunity todemonstrate to accreditation agencies and other organizations that students are performing atenhanced levels. [5]Undergraduate research programs are held on numerous colleges and universities nationally. Asubstantial number of universities have begun to realize that undergraduate research is a realasset, thus they are identifying more resources and expanding opportunities to involve morestudents. [6] Consequently, UMES designed the Advanced Curriculum and Technology-BasedInstruction Opportunities Network (ACTION) sponsored by the National Science Foundation tosupport a variety

Conference Session

Research in Minority Issues

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jennifer Turns, University of Washington; Angela Linse, Temple University; Tammy VanDeGrift, University of Portland; Matt Eliot, University of Washington; Jana Jones, Microsoft Corp.; Steve Lappenbusch, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

Carnegie Foundation forthe Advancement of Higher Education. Initially, 15 graduate students expressed interest in theprogram. These students were divided into two separate peer groups. Over eight consecutiveweeks, these groups met and each participant built their own teaching portfolio. The programwas completely voluntary; participants did not receive course credit or compensation for theirparticipation.We designed a qualitative, ethnographic research study9 to formatively evaluate the EngineeringTeaching Portfolio Program and to understand the meaning of the program for its participants.Consistent with ethnographic approaches, we collected data from a variety of sources in order toenhance the rigor, or trustworthiness of our results9. We used

Conference Session

Outreach and Recruitment

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Marsha Lee, Texas A&M University; Jan Rinehart, Texas A&M University; Scott Starks, University of Texas-El Paso; Karen Villatoro, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

mission. SEI at Texas A&M’s Spacecraft Technology Center is an exclusive partnershipwith NASA focused on preparing engineering students for a career in the space industry.Throughout the school year, SEI students participate in hands-on projects and practical trainingin various fields of engineering. This is a unique opportunity, as a first-year student at TexasA&M, to work on projects to aid NASA in developing technology for the International SpaceStation (ISS), Space Shuttle, or human exploration of the solar system.Engineering Academic Programs OfficeThe Engineering Academic Programs Office (EAPO), in the Dwight Look College ofEngineering, handles all undergraduate and graduate academic business for the College ofEngineering. In

Conference Session

Outreach and Recruitment

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen Kuyath, University of North Carolina-Charlotte; Deborah Sharer, University of North Carolina-Charlotte

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

Technology Department at UNC Charlotte. She was the first woman PhD graduate from the Lee College of Engineering, with a research emphasis in microelectronic devices and solid state materials. She has served in numerous mentoring and educational roles for undergraduates, high school and middle school students. Page 11.1070.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2006 Recruiting Underrepresented Minorities to Engineering and Engineering TechnologyAbstractAn essential component of any modern economy is a well-educated and versatile workforce ableto design and produce

Conference Session

Attracting Young MINDs

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hamid Shahnasser, San Francisco State University; Wenshen Pong

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

has become a much more critical course forengineering schools. Since high school graduates generally do not have much knowledge about orcontact with the engineering profession, the first course in engineering should prepare them forfuture challenges. After an extensive research of many different approaches to the introductoryengineering course [1-4,7-13], we decided on an approach that is best fitted to our students,institution and community.Introduction to engineering courses have been taught in many institutions in ways that students aregiven opportunities to tackle real engineering problems [14,15]. The centerpiece of our course ishands-on projects that inspire student interests in engineering and offer positive experience inteamwork. They

Conference Session

MIND Education Trends

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Eric Asa, North Dakota State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

(applied science, computing,engineering and technology) remain practically unchanged1. Minorities for some reason are notmaking it in ABET accredited programs. Even though ABET has revamped its own structures toinclude and actively involve minorities in the accreditation process, they have to go a littlefurther. In view of the power and respect bestowed in ABET by Engineering Colleges, ABETmust include diversity as part of the core requirements for accreditation.NSF does require diversity as one of the broader impacts of NSF-sponsored research. It has alsodirectly sponsored some research in minority issues in higher education. However the nature ofthe problem requires the commitment of more resources as well as active participation indiversity and