STEM fields. Page 15.238.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 ECAP: A Recruitment-to-Graduation Program for Underrepresented Engineering StudentsAbstractThe University of Arkansas College of Engineering recently completed the first twoyears of a comprehensive program called the ‘Engineering Career Awareness Program’(ECAP). This program is supported in part by an NSF grant titled “Breaking Barriers:Pathways to Graduation for Underrepresented Talent (ECAP)” (NSF award #DUE-0807180). This program successfully removed traditional barriers to students fromunderrepresented groups entering and
students to achieve maximum successes in their careers or research disciplines.Background technologies and the anticipated future of the fieldGeospatial Technologies (GTs) have evolved from initial beginnings as simple computer-basedmap making tools to complex visual and computational environments. GTs are used world-wide in diverse application domains ranging from community planning to the exploration ofouter space. The increased use of GTs has led the development of new tools, techniques andtheory that have imbued GTs with new forms of geographic visualization, support for spatialthinking, and opportunities for research and education. It is an exciting time for GT researchand education. Industry standard, commercial desktop Geographic
member such as timemanagement, balancing career and family, adjusting to a new environment, and gaining therespect of students and colleagues. However, as a minority faculty member, additionalchallenges include lack of role models, fitting in, and gaining the respect of male students. Thesechallenges will be further outlined in the full paper.This paper explores ways to confront these challenges. A strong support system, bothprofessionally and personally, is essential. This support system comes in many forms, includingcommunity and university resources. A faculty mentorship program within the university hasbeen very valuable to junior faculty. Being a mentor to female students has also been a way toovercome these challenges. The teacher becomes
environment.This paper describes an approach that will design new curricula based on the current trends fordeveloping commercial products that are manufactured from renewable and biodegradablematerials, and that will have a minimal environmental impact given our nation’s agriculture,economy, environment, manufacturing, and engineering resources. Through the development ofthis curriculum, students will gain a background and an appreciation of the complexity of ournation’s agricultural system as well as awareness for possible careers within theagriculture/environmental sustainability/biomaterials manufacturing engineering fields whiledeveloping their professional skills.Through this approach, we plan to generate new courses that present students with
. and international universities to key elements and the business realities of industry by enabling them to "look over the shoulder" of working professionals at several levels of the technical, business, and management career paths. They will leave the program with an understanding of Boeing's business including its research needs, with an improved understanding of the practical application of technical and business skills and with a network of contacts within Boeing and among their faculty peers that can form the basis of long-term relationships”1In all, 149 faculty from around the globe have participated in this program since its inception.The objectives of the Welliver Program are1: 1. To
WOMEN ENGINEERING FACULTY ( “Navigating Your Journey on the Academic Sea”; NSF ADVANCE Conference, Over 60 URM Women Engineering Faculty @ Caltech Photo credit: B. Paz)AbstractAs they progress in their engineering faculty careers, Underrepresented Minority Women (URM)women are very familiar with unique issues at the intersection of race and gender (DeCuir-Gunby, Long-Mitchell, & Grant, 2009; Ranson, 2005; Ronen & Ronen, 2008). This familiarityresults from their own personal experiences in the Academy and provides a broad set ofresponses ranging from leaving the professoriate to a single-minded pursuit of success no matterwhat obstacles are presented (National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of
courses in science and/ormathematics thus further preparing them for careers in the science, technology, engineering andmath (STEM) related college degree programs3. As a result, there was a 25% drop inundergraduate enrollment reported during 1982-2000 period4. In the same study, it was notedthat over 800,000 students graduated from high schools in 2000; however, only 7,200 of thesestudents graduated with an engineering degree from a four-year institution 4. To furtheraccentuate the problem, the numbers of students in STEM related disciplines in underrepresentedgroups such as women, Hispanics, and African-Americans were at an even greater deficit asthey appear to select careers in programs such as the social sciences or complete their
schools in the Greater Los Angeles Area haveparticipated in SECOP. By working with community organizations we have reachedhighly motivated students who are close to our university geographically. Thesecommunity organizations are valuable sources of inspired students who have supportivefamilies who are very eager to have their children participate in a summer program fortwo weeks.SECOP focuses on introducing students to science, technology, engineering, andmathematics (STEM) careers and improving students’ content knowledge in these topicareas. The goal of SECOP is to address the shortage of African American, Latino andNative American and female students studying STEM at college level by introducingstudents to pre-engineering and advanced
education is to prepare students for engineering in the 21stcentury. Yet critics of engineering education point to the lack of preparation students obtain inschool. This paper examines the career supports and barriers that one cohort of recentengineering graduates experienced in the workplace. Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)describes supports and barriers as environmental factors that individuals perceive as having thepotential to either aid or hinder their pursuit of a particular career goal.1 In this study, supportsand barriers are identified in the engineering departments of four U.S.-based companies. Thedata were gathered from semi-structured interviews with 59 newly hired engineers who hadrecently graduated from college. In two of the
the opportunity to demonstrate transferof knowledge and skills gained during the completion of their degree and therefore represents theculmination of their training MS degree training in stem cell research.IntroductionIn order to prepare our students for an increasing number of careers in stem cell research2, weestablished three Master’s of Science degree specializations in Stem Cell Technology atCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The specializations are available tostudents from three departments at our university- Biomedical Engineering in the College of Page 15.165.2Engineering, Animal Science in the College of
University proposed a new approach forrecruiting Hispanic students into computing disciplines and careers through the HispanicComputer Brigade (HCB) initiative. By forming HCBs in two local high schools, we aimed toinspire and engage Hispanic students through IT service learning projects. The high schoolstudents began the program with a summer camp, continued to learn and engage computingthroughout the year with community service learning, and will end with a local competitionwhere students will showcase their computing projects with high school faculty, SJSU faculty,parents/guardians, and the community. Students are learning computer and programming skillsand processes in weekly meetings with the help of advisors and mentors.To support the Hispanic
advice do these females offer to girls who want to pursue a career in engineering? 2. How adaptable are females in the engineering field? • What is the best part of being an engineer? • What challenges do females in the engineering field face? • What do the career plans and ambitions of these females indicate about their adaptability in the engineering field?Coding. Data analysis for this study followed Strauss’s and Corbin’s42 outline for groundedtheory research. The researcher analyzed data by immersing herself in the profiles of femaleengineers posted on the engineergirl.org website. Then, analysis began with open coding,continued with axial coding, and concluded with selective coding
is a recipient of the Rolf D. Buhler Memorial Award in Aeronautics and the Richard Bruce Chapman Memorial Award for distinguished research in Hydrodynamics. In 2004 he received the Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER) from the National Science Foundation and in 2009 he received the ASME North Texas Section Young Engineer of the Year award. His research interests are unsteady hydrodynamics and aerodynamics, vortex dynamics, bio-fluid mechanics, and pulsed-jet propulsion.Alice Kendrick, Southern Methodist University Alice Kendrick is professor of advertising in the Temerlin Advertising Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Her research in advertising account
Engineering and Mechanics, with a joint appointment in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, and is the Assistant Dean for Faculty Development in the College of Engineering. Dr. Clyne’s research investigates the mechanical and biochemical interactions among cells and proteins of the blood vessel wall in health and disease. She is particularly interested in endothelial cell mechanics, basement membrane memory of environmental stress, induction of angiogenesis through diseased extracellular matrix, and advanced tissue engineering scaffold design. Dr. Clyne received an NSF CAREER award in 2009, and she is currently funded by NSF, NIH, and the Nanotechnology Institute
industry, and promote engineering and STEM careers among high school studentsby engaging them in hands-on events and activities.This Research Experience for Teachers (RET) was a year-long project of two parts. The firstpart was a summer research experience in which the teachers came to the campus for three hourseach day for six weeks in the summer. They studied readings focused on active learning andhow the teachers could use some of the strategies learned in their own math and science classes.Classes were held on the university campus in the College of Engineering lab sponsoring theexperience, the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/ICRC) on IntelligentMaintenance Systems IMS. The focus of the experience in this lab was active
. He is recipient of the Warren K. Lewis Award for Chemical Engineering Education (AIChE), ConocoPhillips Lectureship, Benjamin J. Dasher Award, and Union Carbide Lectureship Award (ASEE), and is a Fellow of ASEE. His discipline research interests are in electronic materials processing.Sheryl Awtonomow, Brevard Community College Sheryl Awtonomow is a Director of Career and Technical Programs at Brevard Community College, Brevard County, Florida since 2005. She earned a B.S. in Computer Information Systems at Rollins College and an M.S. in Information Studies at Florida State University. Her career at Brevard Community College spans 24 years, where she supported academic programs in
teachers (who can identify and nurture promising students) and to the students themselves, butalso to families to create an environment conducive to success.STEP Program Mission and Purpose:STEP’s primary mission is to “Inspire students to pursue careers in math, science, engineeringand technology” through an innovative, proactive approach that engages students, teachers, andthe local K-12 educational system with high technology companies, universities/colleges, hightech government agencies and all of their collective resources to achieve its purpose ofincreasing and sustaining the high technology job sector in the Inland Empire. Through theformation of new educational partnerships between businesses, academia, and governmententities within the
careers, what skills theybelieved were needed to be successful project managers and how they believe projectmanagement can be better taught in the university setting.A population of 34 alumni answered a series of multiple choice and short answer questionsthrough an on-line survey in which the feedback was anonymous to promote candid responses.An online instrument was used to facilitate easy access for participants and automated dataretrieval. The work experience of the alumni varied from 16 months to eight years. Their currentemployment roles varied from junior level engineers to vice president of engineering with amajority serving in some supervisory role.The survey asked the volunteers to indicate with a Likert scale how well they agreed with
traditionalmale traits and is male dominated, women often attempt to assimilate by disqualifying theirfemininity and by matching the male styles of behavior12.Survey Version 1In the first survey, we asked respondents to rate the relative importance of various attributes(including hands-on ability) for new engineering hires. Our list of nine attributes looks similar tothose compiled by various engineering organizations, including the NAE. The surveys wereadministered to exhibitors at an engineering conference in October 2008 and to recruiters at an Page 15.149.3on-campus career fair in February 2009. Respondents rated the nine traits on a scale of 1
, third and fourth modules were each themed on a current technology not only to befound in the news but tied to curricula offered by the College. Linking the modules to currentCollege offerings was recognized as an opportunity to expose and attract students to thesescientifically–based careers. In addition, the modular structure of the course allows the contentto be swiftly altered should another scientific technology offering become more of a focus withinthe institution.Each of these subsequent modules followed the same methodology. First, the basic scientificconcepts of biology, physics or chemistry (including important terms and math concepts)underlying the technology are presented. Building upon that base, one or more
Maura Borrego is an assistant professor of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. Dr. Borrego holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. Her current research interests center around interdisciplinary graduate education, for which she was awarded a U.S. NSF CAREER grant and Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE).Whitney Edmister, Virginia Tech Whitney A. Edmister is the Assistant Director of the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She received her M.S. in Counselor Education, Student Affairs Administration from Radford University and M.S. in Vocational-Technical Education and B.S
engineering career. SeniorCapstone courses also incorporate technical knowledge and real-world problem solving, with anemphasis on professional skills. Yet, an unanswered question remains: is student confidence inprofessional and technical engineering skills gained and retained when problem-based learningclasses are only utilized in the freshman and senior-year year?This research project longitudinally investigates the technical and professional skill developmentof mechanical engineering students at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where a bookendproject-based curriculum is employed. The paper provides an overview of the First-YearEngineering Projects and the mechanical engineering Senior Capstone Design project courseused for this study
courses.INTRODUCTION Leading the IP curriculum development effort is an interdisciplinary team led by the partnership of alicensed Architect and a licensed Civil Engineer both full time professors at New York City College ofTechnology. This paper focuses on the curriculum development, implementation, and assessmentmethodology of the Integrated Projects courses.1. THE CITYPOLY – CITYTECH PARTNERSHIP1.1 Introduction to CityPoly High School CityPoly is one of four State-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) demonstration sites inNew York City and has been named as one of 10 schools in New York City Chancellor Joel Klein’s 21stCentury Schools Initiative. The unique format of this CTE school is a 3 + 2 program in which studentscomplete a full 4 years
presentations that have featured experiential learning and engineering education topics as well as her engineering research in vehicle structural durability and the use of neural networks to model non-linear material behaviour.Schantal Hector, University of Windsor Ms. Hector is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Economics at the University of Windsor. She is a Research Assistant at the Centre for Career Education and has applied her knowledge and skills as part of the project to develop learning outcomes for the cooperative education program over the past two years. She has been instrumental in the collection and statistical analysis of the learning outcomes
from grades 9-12engage in authentic, inquiry-based STEM learning. Students participate on teams organized asvirtual companies that develop products or services. Team projects are STEM-based andcontinue for one or more academic years. Teams are coached by specially-trained high schoolteachers who are paid similarly to athletic coaches. At the conclusion of their HSE experiences,we expect that HSE team members will demonstrate proficiency in applied workforce skills; willbe more disposed to enter STEM related careers; and will be better prepared to successfullyundertake the training needed for these careers. An HSE implementation is a partnership amongthe team, its home institution, a university partner, and industry and community sponsors
necessaryprerequisites. One of the goals of the course is to provide its students with a basic understandingof the fundamentals of genomics. The course also provides students with an opportunity tocomplete an original research project.It has become clear that undergraduate research is important for students majoring in the sciencesand engineering. Participating in research provides engineering students with many benefits. Ithelps students develop new skills and can clarify their career path. Most importantly, taking partin research teaches students to think in new and different ways. It is known that research benefitsundergraduates, but many students never get the chance to complete or take part in a researchproject. Normally, a student will work in a lab over
, laboratory skills andprofessional practice issues. The CEE faculty reviewed the list and, in some instances, suggestedadditional items. The final list was circulated to the CEE faculty and each individual was askedto prioritize every item on the list as to whether that item, relative to the new course, was (1)appropriate and important, (2) appropriate, but not essential, or (3) inappropriate. The results ofthe survey provided much of the rationale for developing the course syllabus.Professional practice issues constituted one set of items on the list that were deemed appropriateand important by virtually all members of the CEE faculty. The issues included such diversetopics as engineering ethics, career development, group dynamics, leadership issues
pursue higher education and careers in theSTEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Rice Universityundergraduate and graduate engineering students (mentors) volunteer weekly withunderrepresented high school students (mentees) at three Houston public schools to solve aspecified engineering design problem. The design project mechanism allows mentor/menteerelationships to form naturally, and thus opens up communication regarding college, financialaid, and futures in engineering. Perception and Environment Surveys (P.E.S.) are administered tothe mentees at the beginning and end of the DREAM program, each semester, in order to gaugementee knowledge of college admissions, financial aid, careers, and long-term earning
proposing solutions and even havenegative impacts on their professional achievements.This course development research is a new addition to a curriculum development research by theauthor. The research identifies Chinese student’s weaknesses and discovers that successfulexperience from American engineering education programs can be used as a remedy. Thesolution is to integrate successful teaching delivery methods from American engineeringcurricula into Chinese engineering curricula.The research first addresses importance of communication in modern work place andprofessional career and concludes communication training is crucial in any engineering program.A number of new student learning methods and team activities are selected for a
Assessing Program Educational Objectives Using a Web-Based Alumni Survey SystemAbstractABET’s Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs for 2009-2010 defines ProgramEducational Objectives (PEOs) as “broad statements that describe the career and professionalaccomplishments that the program is preparing the graduates to achieve.” The criteria furtherstates that “each program for which an institution seeks accreditation or reaccreditation musthave in place an assessment and evaluation process that periodically documents anddemonstrates the degree to which these objectives are attained.”1 For EAC-ABET visits in 2007-2008, 36.7% of the engineering programs visited received a PEO related weakness at theconclusion of the visit.2In