Conference Session

Novel Entrepreneurship Programs

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James V. Green, University of Maryland, College Park

Tagged Divisions

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation

beneficent students experience in online learning.Central themes emerging from past studies that contribute to a positive student experience inonline learning and a high level of course satisfaction are listed in Table 1 as summarized byPaechter, Maier, and Macher (2010). The relative priority of each category (1 being the highest)based on the Paechter, Maier, and Macher (2010) study is provided in the far right column.Table 1. Students’ expectations of online courses Category Items Sources Priority A. Importance 1. A clear and organized structure of the course Brophy, 1999; 1 of variables and learning material

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rupa Purasinghe, California State University, Los Angeles; Peter Dusicka, Portland State University; Jeffrey W Berman, University of Washington; Edgar Bautista, California State University, Los Angeles; Michael Noddings, Portland State University; Linda My Hanh Nguyen; San Yu Aung, California State University of Los Angeles; Lang Anh Dam

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

modeling and componenttesting.Students learning initiatives in earthquake engineering have been pursued by many academicssuch as Einde[1]. Parallel to these, research is continually working on advancing the state ofearthquake engineering knowledge and applications through cutting edge research. One suchinitiative is the research in Linked Column Frame (LCF) system [2, 3] as an alternative to thetraditional moment frame system for lateral resisting frames for earthquake loads. Currently,there is a tremendous demand for bringing civil engineering research results to undergraduateclassrooms. This paper addresses the initiative associated with the LCF research project. TheNSF/NEES funded research project focuses on the development of a new structural

Conference Session

Aerospace First-Year Project-Based Learning

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kristi J. Shryock, Texas A&M University; Kaushik Das, Texas A&M University, College Station; Stephen Oehler, Texas A&M University; Jacques C. Richard, Texas A&M University; Dimitris C. Lagoudas, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

students' difficulty in associating engineering methods with some of themore conceptual topics learned in mathematics and physics, as well as students' lack of solidunderstanding of the engineering design process.1 Thus, the curriculum is structured such thatapplied engineering methods can be directly related to aspects of mathematics and science thatfreshman students generally consider to be disconnected or abstract.First-semester freshman-level engineering classes at TAMU typically include two projects, bothof which exemplify an experiential learning environment. These projects are designed to resolvethe same curriculum challenges, and each project regularly relates to a topic in statics and a topicin dynamics, respectively. A particularly

Conference Session

Professional Development from a Distance

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mitchell L. Springer, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Gary R. Bertoline, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Continuing Professional Development

individuals evolving from an individualcontributor technical position to a leadership/management opportunity.Through a focused and intentional alignment of key courses in three primary areas; leadership,business/technology management and application, the enrolled students are provided theopportunity for discovery, assimilation and subsequent application of acquired knowledge andskills applicable to industrial settings both nationally and internationally. The program hasexperienced significant enrollment in excess of previously forecasted pro forma expectations,and, is expected to form the foundation for future similar program offering opportunities.Introduction –On July 2, 1862, President Lincoln signed into law the Morrill Act 1, named after Justin

Conference Session

Professional Development from a Distance

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mitchell L. Springer, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Gary R. Bertoline, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Mark T. Schuver, Purdue University, College of Technology, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Continuing Professional Development

Academic Center Infrastructure for Professional DevelopmentAbstract:The Center for Professional Studies in Technology and Applied Research (ProSTAR) wasapproved by Purdue University under the College of Technology as an academic Center inFebruary 2009. At that time, the underlying foundation for ProSTAR’s professional educationactivities was a Master of Science degree with a primary focus in technology leadership andinnovation skills including tools for process improvement and quality management.This paper will address the many complex and potentially controversial aspects of designing andimplementing an infrastructure for an academic Center to centralize professional studies within amajor Tier 1 educational

Conference Session

Innovative Adult and Technology Enhanced Programs

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Suzanne M. Kresta, University of Alberta; Uttandaraman Sundararaj, University of Calgary; John A. Nychka, University of Alberta

Tagged Divisions

Continuing Professional Development

22.301.7Bibliography1. Nelson, A.E. and S.M. Kresta, Team Teaching of Thermodynamics: Rapid InstructionalDevelopment in Young Academics, proceedings of the American Society for EngineeringEducation Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, June 2004.2. Kresta, Suzanne, New Faculty Forums, 1 hour Teaching and Learning Effectiveness Session,University of Alberta, February 4, 1997.3. Sadler, D.R., Formative assessment and the design of instructional systems, InstructionalScience 18, 119-144, 19894. Chickering, A.W. and Z.F. Gamson, Seven Principles for Good Practice in UndergraduateEducation, insert to The Wingspread Journal, Volume 9, No. 2, published by The JohnsonFoundation Post Office Box 547, Racine, Wisconsin 53401-0547, Susan Poulsen, editor, 1987.5. Wankat, P. and

Conference Session

Extending a Hand Back: Older Students Inspiring Younger Students

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

AJ Almaguer, University of California, Berkeley; Roy Tangsombatvisit, University of California, Berkeley; Matthew Ford, University of California, Berkeley; Susan Yushan Chen, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley Engineers and Mentors; Lisa A. Pruitt, University of California, Berkeley; Neil Ray, University of California, Berkeley

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011 Building Engineers and Mentors: A Model for Student-Led Engineering OutreachIntroductionTwo years ago, it became apparent to us that there was a strong desire to participate inengineering-related outreach on the part of the students. Many student organizations such as theHispanic Engineers and Scientists, Pi Tau Sigma, Society of Women Engineers and other similargroups each had their own unique k-12 outreach programs while other organizations likeEngineering 4 Kids Day were piloting their own unique contributions. In interviewingundergraduate students we found consistency in the obstacles that they faced: (1) students wereeither unaware of the

Conference Session

IE Technical Session II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jose F. Espiritu, University of Texas, El Paso; Heidi A. Taboada, University of Texas, El Paso

Tagged Divisions

Industrial Engineering

has placed a high priority on accelerating the transition to a "clean energy,green economy" in the U.S, a priority that makes the vital connections between climate change,economic stimulus, energy security, and job training. The missing link in this interconnectedsystem is the critical role that higher education must play in helping to make the clean energy,green economy a reality.This paper describes a model called “Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (BEES)” toincrease research and education in Renewable Energy Systems within an existing industrialengineering program. The BEES model is a comprehensive approach composed of four keycomponents, which are: 1) Education, 2) Research, 3) Outreach, and 4) Connection. Eachcomponent consists

Conference Session

High School Engineering Programs, Curriculum, and Evaluation

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kelly B Crittenden, Louisiana Tech University; Galen E. Turner III, Louisiana Tech University; James D. Nelson, Louisiana Tech University; Jane A. Petrus, Louisiana Tech University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

critical.Moreover, we do not use a trial-and-error approach to design. Instead, the project relies on thedevelopment of underlying mathematics and physics principles so that students can predictprojectile motion prior to launching the catapult.Launching into Engineering is divided into three periods: Discovery Weekend 1, DiscoveryWeekend 2, and the Challenge Weekend. Regional high school mathematics and science teacherswill select four to six students to participate with them in the project. During the course of theproject, the teachers will be on campus six times: three times without their students and threetimes with their students. Page 22.304.5The

Conference Session

Electromechanical Capstone and Design Projects in Engineering Technology

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael D. Johnson, Texas A&M University; Ram Prasad Diwakaran, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

procedures would be beneficial.IntroductionComputer-aided design (CAD) tools are ubiquitous in industry; CAD is used throughout thedevelopment process 1. Given the importance of CAD in the engineering process, studentsshould be provided with a knowledge base that allows them to use these powerful tools to theirfull capabilities. Teaching students how to properly model components in CAD requires that theybe taught the strategic knowledge 2, 3 that can easily be adapted to other programs and contexts asopposed to the declarative knowledge focused on a single CAD program 4, 5. This strategicknowledge is associated with CAD expertise 2.Morozov et. al, note that the practices of experts can be examined to help inform educators aboutwhich skills and

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ahmed Cherif Megri, University of Wyoming

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

culminating with administrative topics. We demonstrate thismethodology through the use of a comprehensive design project.We discuss the capstone design program from students’ point of view, and the experience earnedin design, integration, and also in written and oral communication skills. Methodology used toevaluate the effectiveness of the capstone design program in term of learning outcomes is alsodescribed. 1. Introduction:The HVAC Capstone Design course consists of the mechanical systems design for a multi-storybuilding, and utilizes the architectural drawings of an actual project under construction todevelop the mechanical system design. The goals of this course are to gain an overallunderstanding of the mechanical design process, and to

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Julie Martin Trenor, Clemson University

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

interactions that influence under-represented students’ decisions to enter and persist in engineering.Research and Education GoalsThe specific goals of this NSF CAREER-funded project are to (1) build a conceptual model forunderstanding how engineering undergraduates develop, access and activate social capital inmaking academic and career decisions, (2) identify and characterize the potentially distinctmechanisms by which under-represented students utilize social ties that link them to resourcesrelated to engineering studies and (3) implement an education plan that provides research-to-practice training for university engineering outreach, recruitment, and retention practitionersusing webinars and workshops as learning forums.Theoretical FrameworkThe

Conference Session

New Trends in ECE Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Juan F. Arratia, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico; Martina Y. Trucco, Hewlett-Packard Labs; Luis F. Font, Ana G. Mendez University System

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

established in 2009 as apartnership between nine universities in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The BroaderParticipation in Computing-Alliance (BPC-A) was designed around the primary goal ofincreasing the recruitment and participation of students in computing disciplines. In order tofulfill this goal, Alliance members established the CCCE focused on five main objectives: 1)reach and impact economically-disadvantaged students with Alliance activities; 2) increase therecruitment of high school seniors into computing fields through hands-on research experiencesin a university setting; 3) provide professional training in computing to in-service science,computer and mathematics public and private high school teachers; 4) provide

Conference Session

Teams and Teamwork in Design

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter L. Schmidt, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Janusz Zalewski, Florida Gulf Coast University; Gloria A. Murphy, NASA; Thomas H. Morris, Mississippi State University; Christina L. Carmen, University of Alabama, Huntsville; Paul J. Van Susante, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

the materials and experience gained during the fellowship.NASA ESMD is a proponent of the System Engineering (SE) approach outlined in The NASASystems Engineering Handbook.1 Part of the experience for students on these projects is Page 22.309.3exposure to the principles of SE, and guidance from the faculty mentor in applying theseprinciples to the projects performed. The purpose of this project is to prepare faculty to enabletheir students to complete senior design projects with potential contribution to NASA ESMDobjectives and ultimately increase their competitiveness in the job market for NASA and itscontractors. The faculty worked for eight

Conference Session

Aerospace Curriculum and Collaborations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Todd Leighton, Aeronautical Testing Service, Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

Conference Session

Design Education I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Louis Reifschneider, Illinois State University; RJ Linton, Illinois State University

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

the inner components.The concept that has been developed to satisfy these needs consists of three parts: 1) a five-sidedbox that has a slanting front surface for the forward sensors, 2) a base plate that is the chassis forthe motors, circuit board, and floor sensors, and 3) a plate that fastens to the front surface whichallows for adjustment of the space between the front edge of the box and the ground. Aphotograph of a prototype of this robot housing that meets these needs is shown in Figure 1. Thecover for this device has been made by CNC routing sheets of plastic and then gluing themtogether in the manner of a three dimensional jig saw puzzle. This method is called a fabricateddesign because all components of the cover are made by cutting

Conference Session

International Experience, Effective Instruction, and Student Exchange Programs

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Waddah Akili, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

International

major drawback of the lecture approach is that it usuallyresults in long periods of uninterrupted instructor-centered, expository discourse, relegatingstudents to the role of passive spectators.(1)This method, however, continues to be the mostdominant teaching method in engineering institutions and widely used in most classes.To improve the relevancy of engineering education, we believe that teaching, or morefundamentally, student learning needs to be emphasized. Learning, as defined today, is morethan the acquisition of knowledge. Bloom (2) has defined five increasing levels of learning orcomprehension. Starting with fact-based knowledge, and followed by: comprehension (usingfactual information and explaining facts), application (applying

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering, Part II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Heidi A. Taboada, University of Texas, El Paso; Jose F. Espiritu, University of Texas, El Paso; Emmanuel Gurrola

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

minority students in STEM related fields. The proposed modelspans the educational engineering spectrum, impacting high school students and teachers,undergraduate and graduate students through structured education, research and mentoringactivities. The main components of the present model are: 1) Teaching Teachers to Teach Engineering (T3E) program 2) Peer Undergraduate Mentoring Program (PUMP) 3) Optimization Models for Engineering Research Class 4) Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Engineering Optimization 5) Speaker Seminar Series & Graduate School SeminarFirst, through the participation of high school teachers in the Teaching Teachers to TeachEngineering (T3E) program, teachers benefit by having a tested set of standards

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Larry J. Shuman, University of Pittsburgh; Mary E. Besterfield-Sacre, University of Pittsburgh; Tuba Pinar Yildirim, University of Pittsburgh; Karen M. Bursic, University of Pittsburgh; Natasa Vidic, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

-sessments across our partner institutions; broadening the library of usable MEAs to different en-gineering disciplines; and extending the MEA approach to identifying and repairing misconcep-tions, using laboratory experiments as an integrated component, and introducing an ethical deci-sion-making dimension [1, 2].Our overall research goal is to enhance problem solving and modeling skills and conceptuallearning of engineering students through the use of model eliciting activities. In order to accom-plish this goal at the University of Pittsburgh, we are pursuing two main research routes: MEAsas teaching tools and MEA as learning assessment tools. Under the first – using MEAs as ateaching tool – we are focused on three main activities: Development

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

AnnMarie Thomas, University of Saint Thomas; Jan B Hansen, University of Saint Thomas

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

the pre-service students can learn from the in-service teachers.Project TeamThis project is a collaboration between the University of St. Thomas’ schools ofEngineering and Education. Faculty from both departments are involved with thedevelopment of the courses for this program. The assessment for this project is beingcoordinated and executed by researchers from Purdue’s INSPIRE (Institute for P-12Engineering Research and Learning). An educator from the St. Paul Public School districtis serving as the educator consultant.Project TimelineThe grant for this CCLI project was awarded effective July 1, 2010. The summer of 2010 wasthen spent working on the development of the new courses and submission of the minorproposal.In the fall of 2010, EDU327

Conference Session

Collaborative Learning, Project-Based, Service Learning, and Impacts on Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Forrest Alden Copeland, Western Washington University; Derek M. Yip-Hoi, Western Washington University

Tagged Divisions

International

planning andimplementing projects. This paper describes the challenges, advantages, and opportunities ofworking with a multidisciplinary student group, and professional mentors, in developing a waterquality solution for a rural community in Guatemala.IntroductionEngineers without Borders (EWB-USA) is a non-profit organization that was established at theUniversity of Colorado Civil in 2002. As described in the mission statement "EWB-USAsupports community-driven development programs worldwide by collaborating with localpartners to design and implement sustainable engineering projects, while creating transformativeexperiences and responsible leaders."1 The organization is currently involved in 350 projects in45 countries with an emphasis on providing

Conference Session

Experiential Learning Programs and the Transition to Industry

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hoda Baytiyeh, American University, Beirut; Mohamad K. Naja, The Lebanese University

Tagged Divisions

College Industry Partnerships

. The measured items revealed a Chronbach alphareliability of 0.901. The majority of the participants was male (78%) with only (22%) female.Participants were distributed among the following specializations: Civil (32%), Mechanical(23%), Electrical (27%), Computer (10%), and Management (8%). The greater part (67%) ofparticipants was young engineers who have been practicing for less than five years. Although43% of participants are working in Lebanon, more than the half (57%) work abroad; in the Gulfregion (33%), Europe and North America (14%), and Africa (10%).Locating a JobUpon graduation, engineers face two options: (1) having the opportunity to find an employmentin a firm that fits their career goals; or (2) taking the first available offer

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Technical Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Meg Krudysz, City College of New York; Ann Wittig P.E., City College of the City University of New York

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

. Thesedifferences are illustrated in Figure 1. Measurement Methods and Desirable Achievement Goals Indirect Assessment of anHome Direct Assessment of an Outcome OutcomeDept. Through Exams, Problems, and Projects Through Student Self Assessment 5-point scale 3-point scale ESE 0 (None) – 4 (Excellent) 1 (Below Expectations) – 3 (Exceeds Expectations) Target Goal: Class average ≥ 2.5 Target goal: ≥ 70% of students with scores ≥ 2 5-point scale 3-point scale EE 0 (None) – 4

Conference Session

Two Year-to-Four Year Transfer Topics Part I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Steven K. Mickelson, Iowa State University; Marcia R. Laugerman, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Two Year College Division

. Another goal of the NSF Student Enrollment andEngagement through Connections (SEEC) grant is to increase the diversity ofengineering graduates at ISU. The specific goals of SEEC are to increase thenumber of engineering graduates by 100 per year to obtain a total of about 900per year with approximately 10% from minorities and 20% females12. The key tomeeting these goals is the creation of meaningful connections between ISU andthe state community colleges to support transfer students. This project has focusedon five such connections: 1) a new admission partnership program, 2) coordinatedadvising and activities planning, 3) expansion of learning communities at ISU andstate community colleges, 4) creation of an engineering orientation class at

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Technical Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sara A. Atwood, Elizabethtown College; Tomas Estrada, Elizabethtown College

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

, asmeasured by their grade.Students engaging in more than 10 visits during the 15-week semester had significantly highergrades than students engaging in 5-10 visits (p=0.011) or less than 5 visits (p<0.001). Of the topstudents (grades more than 0.5 standard deviations above the mean), 80% interacted with facultyoutside the classroom more than once, with 37% interacting more than five times. Thisinteraction was characterized by an average frequency of 7.6 visits (about 1 visit every 2 weeks),an average length of 10 minutes, an average total time of 80 minutes during the semester, about 6emails during the semester, with written work about 30% of the time, group visits 40% of thetime, with visits occurring an average of 1.3 days before an assignment

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in Silico

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erick J. Nefcy, Oregon State University; Philip H. Harding, Oregon State University; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

characterize student teams’ modeldevelopment as they proceed through a laboratory project. In this paper, the ModelRepresentations for 15 teams are examined as they complete physical and virtual laboratoryprojects in the senior year of the curriculum. Analysis of the Model Representation confirms thatthe virtual laboratory project affords students a richer opportunity for model development,modification, and use of evidence-based reasoning.IntroductionAs technology is integrated into classroom instruction, virtual laboratories have been receivingmore attention as an alternative mode to engage students and promote learning.1 Mostcommonly, the virtual laboratory is used as an alternative mode to deliver the correspondingphysical laboratory by simulating

Conference Session

Learning From Experts

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarah E. Parikh, Stanford University; Sheri Sheppard, P.E., Stanford University; Kenneth E. Goodson, Stanford University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

comprehensiveproblems are Questions 1, 5, and 9 from Figure 1.The order in Figure 1 is the order that the problems were presented for 5 of the eight experts. Theorder was determined based on the order that the material is presented in the undergraduate levelintroductory heat transfer course. The questions were piloted with graduate students who werefamiliar with heat transfer, yet were just shy of qualifying as experts in this study. The pilotingdetermined the approximate time needed to answer each question in addition to identifyingunclear wording. Page 22.322.41. Oven Mitt How does an oven mitt successfully keep your hands from getting too hot when you

Conference Session

Focus on Entry Experiences in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey Heys, Montana State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

offavorite heuristics. For example, “assume the solution is known and try to determine whatproperties it might have” is a commonly used heuristic in many fields (e.g., physics, engineering,etc.)Beginning in the 1970’s, Schoenfeld began teaching mathematical problem solving, and hestarted observing and videotaping students while they struggled to solve different mathematicalproblems. Schoenfeld identified four different components to successful mathematical problemsolving performance3-6, and they are: 1. resources – the mathematical facts and procedures possessed by the problem solver 2. heuristics – problem solving strategies or techniques, 3. control – ability to select and implement the proper resources and strategies, and 4. belief

Conference Session

Post Graduate Experiential Programs and Insights

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Monica Farmer Cox, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Jiabin Zhu, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Benjamin Ahn, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Jeremi S. London, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Shree Frazier; Ana T. Torres-Ayala, University of South Florida; Rocio C. Chavela Guerra, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative & Experiential Education

- resented student success.Rocio C Chavela Guerra, Purdue University, West Lafayette Page 22.324.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011 Choices for Ph.D.s in Engineering: Analyses of Career Paths in Academia and IndustryAbstractOur study presents the career trajectories of engineering Ph.D.s from the perspectives of bothindustry and academia. In this report, we identified approximately 34 engineering Ph.D.graduates from U.S. programs who: (1) worked only in academia; (2) worked only in industry; (3)worked in academia first and now work in industry; or (4

Conference Session

Methods, Techniques, and New Programs in Graduate Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Justin P. Micomonaco, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

the preparation of college graduates in STEM fields.1, 2 These concerns are especiallyprominent in the field of engineering. Engineering, along with the physical sciences andcomputer sciences, are identified as the fields with the greatest net attrition. 3, 4, 5 Furthermore,there is concern that today’s domestic graduates are ill-prepared to thrive in the rapidly evolvingglobal economy. 6, 7 In response to the concerns with engineering education nationally, there aremany efforts underway to address the inability of the U.S. to adequately attract, retain andprepare students in the STEM disciplines8. One of the major drivers of research in STEM education has been the findings ofSeymour and Hewitt on student departure from STEM fields