Asee peer logo
Displaying results 1321 - 1350 of 1565 in total
Conference Session
NSF Grantees Poster Session
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Farrokh Attarzadeh, University of Houston; Deniz Gurkan, University of Houston; Mequanint Moges, University of Houston; Miguel Ramos, University of Houston; Victor Gallardo, University of Houston; Mehrube Mehrubeoglu, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Reddy Talusani, Houston Community College System
Technology – Computer Engineering Technology (CoT – CET) program at theUniversity of Houston has implemented an undergraduate peer mentoring model as part of anNSF-sponsored program (grant no. DUE 0737526) examining the impact of incorporatingconcept mapping and undergraduate mentors on student learning at the freshman and sophomorelevels. The training for this mentoring model has been adapted from a peer-led team learningprogram [1] and incorporates concept mapping as a primary pedagogical tool for increasingmentee understanding of key concepts. This paper discusses the details of the proceduresfollowed to develop and implement the program which includes the special training to mentorson CMAPS, assessment activities survey instruments and the
Conference Session
Student Attitudes and Perceptions
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Farrokh Attarzadeh, University of Houston; Deniz Gurkan, University of Houston; Miguel Ramos, University of Houston; Mequanint Moges, University of Houston; Victor Gallardo, University of Houston; Mehrube Mehrubeoglu, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Reddy Talusani, Houston Community College System; Shruti Karulkar, University of Houston
Tagged Divisions
Educational Research and Methods
were not part of the pilot group. In addition thereport presents similar performance analysis from collaborating institutions – HoustonCommunity College and TAMU Corpus Christi. I. MotivationThe College of Technology – Computer Engineering Technology (CoT – CET) program at theUniversity of Houston has implemented an undergraduate peer mentoring model as part of anNSF-sponsored program (grant no. DUE 0737526) examining the impact of incorporatingconcept mapping and undergraduate mentors on student learning at the freshman and sophomorelevels. The training for this mentoring model has been adapted from a peer-led team learningprogram [1] and incorporates concept mapping as a primary pedagogical tool for increasingmentee understanding of key
Conference Session
Student Attitudes and Perceptions
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Johannes Strobel, Purdue University; Inez Hua, Purdue University; Jun Fang, Purdue University; Constance Harris, Purdue University; Lindsey Tracy, Purdue University
Tagged Divisions
Educational Research and Methods
average environmental knowledgescores. There is no difference in average knowledge scores when comparing male and femalestudents. In addition, we report the results of an analysis of students’ data as collected within theworkshops. The study reveals several areas of troublesome knowledge of students. Page 14.1088.2IntroductionIn its report entitled “The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century”, theNational Academy of Engineering (2004) reported by the year 2020 “the world’s population willapproach 8 billion people”1. Not only will urban areas and developing nations experiencesignificant increases in population centers
Conference Session
Manufacturing Division Poster Session
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Jeremy Li, University of Bridgeport
Tagged Divisions
Manufacturing
resources for the students which can help them tounderstand the real engineering issues and show them how the technical concept can beused in real cases. Several examples from real engineering practices have been discussedin the class to help students to understand how the feasible engineering solutions improvethe quality of industrial product. Some class case studies, which can help studentsunderstand more real and challenging industrial issues, are shown as follows:Case study 1:One small company has the business in an industry dominated by some famouscompanies including General Electric. In order to make this company more competitivein this industry, please make the proper strategies on following products with youropinion: 1st priority, 2nd
Conference Session
Projects and Problems in First-Year Courses
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Senay Purzer, Purdue University
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
knowledge.For example, ABET criterion 3d requires that engineering programs can demonstrate that theirstudents have "an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams." Thus, many engineeringprograms use teaming in their courses as a mechanism to achieve this outcome. Research on Teams Learning to “Working in Teams” “Working in Teams” “Work in Teams” to Design to Learn Figure 1. A Typology of Research on TeamsThe second research category, “working in teams” to design have also been addressed in manystudies. These studies have generally used qualitative research methods looking deep into thenature of team interactions
Conference Session
Project-Based Learning in ECE Education
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Sharlene Katz, California State University, Northridge; James Flynn, California State University, Northridge
Tagged Divisions
Electrical and Computer
sense, the SDR is given a signal and it “solves for” or“calculates” the intelligence riding on it.Even before the development of microprocessors in the 1970s, engineers had been makingefforts to move signal processing out of the analog domain and into the more precise and flexiblerealm of digital signal processing (DSP). Early systems were crude, often converting the inputsignal with a single bit analog to digital converter (ADC) and integrating the number of 1 countsor triggering a counter with the input and processing the counter output for timing detection.Applications included LORAN and OMEGA navigation systems which relied on the relativetiming between received signals to fix location.Early systems were limited in a number of ways. Fixed
Conference Session
Innovations in ECE Education II
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Amendra Koul, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Keith Hoover, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Vysakh Sivarajan, Missouri University of Science and Technology; JianJian Song, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Edward Wheeler, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; James Drewniak, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Tagged Divisions
Electrical and Computer
Compatibility Laboratory. His research and teaching interests include electromagnetic compatibility in high speed digital and mixed signal designs, electronic packaging, and© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 electromagnetic compatibility in power electronic based systems. Page 14.463.2© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Development and Evaluation of a Characteristic Impedance Calculator Amendra Koul1, Keith Hoover2, Vysakh Sivarajan1, Jianjian Song2, Edward Wheeler2, James Drewniak1 1 Missouri University of Science and Technology
Conference Session
Project-Based Learning in ECE Education
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Keith Hoover, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; JianJian Song, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Edward Wheeler, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; James Drewniak, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Tagged Divisions
Electrical and Computer
in power electronic based systems. Page 14.1269.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Three Practical and Effective RF and EMC Experiments for a Computer Engineering Course on Electromagnetics and EMC Keith Hoover1, Jianjian Song1, Edward Wheeler1, James Drewiniak2 1 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 2 Missouri University of Science and Technology AbstractThis paper presents three practical and effective electronic hardware experiments whichdemonstrate respectively (1) use of a common
Conference Session
Computer Applications in Energy Conversion
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Liping Guo, Northern Illinois University; Paul Curtis, Northern Illinois University; Andrew Barendregt, Northern Illinois University; Anthony Surillo, Northern Illinois University
Tagged Divisions
Energy Conversion and Conservation
of power thatthey can actually produce. A solar tracker will track the sun throughout the day and adjustthe angle of the solar panel to make the sun normal to the solar panels at all times. Theorientation of the solar panels may increase the efficiency of the conversion system from20% up to 50%. [1-3]. The sun tracking solar power system is a mechatronic system thatintegrates electrical and mechanical systems, and computer hardware and software.SYSTEM GENERAL DESCRIPTIONThe initial requirements for this project were as follows: „ 5 watt to 10 watt solar panel „ Design structure to support 15 lbs „ Design enclosure to protect electrical equipment
Conference Session
Using Classroom Technologies
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Jeongkyu Lee, University of Bridgeport; Jalpa Bani, University of Bridgeport; Ying-ju Chen, University of Bridgeport
Tagged Divisions
Educational Research and Methods
the casesbring us the following questions: (1) What makes engineering students cheat on their writing?(2) What types of plagiarisms are happened in engineering classroom? and (3) How doinstructors in engineering educate their students to prevent plagiarism? In order to answer thequestions in this paper, we investigate and discuss the plagiarism issues in engineering program.For the first step of this research, we investigate the types of plagiarism that frequently happen inengineering classes. Then, we select ‘plagiarism in writing’ for our further investigation amongvarious types of plagiarism, since this is the most frequent and serious one in engineeringclasses. The second step is to adapt an anti-plagiarism tool to the classes. Among
Conference Session
Student Learning
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Thomas Litzinger, Pennsylvania State University; Peggy Van Meter, Pennsylvania State University; Carla Firetto, Pennsylvania State University; Lucas Passmore, Pennsylvania State University; Christine B. Masters, Pennsylvania State University; Stephen Turns, Pennsylvania State University; Sarah Zappe, Pennsylvania State University
Tagged Divisions
Educational Research and Methods
-going program of researchdesigned to better understand the major difficulties that students encounter as they learn todevelop and apply models to solve Statics problems. In the first phase of this research,1 morethan 300 students completed three inventories - math skills, spatial reasoning and statics concepts.The results from the inventories were used to identify clusters of students with commoncharacteristics, and therefore, presumably common deficiencies in their problem-solving inStatics. Students from each cluster were invited to participate in think-aloud problem-solvingsessions to identify the weaknesses in their problem-solving. Although the think-aloud analysesdid not reveal differences among the clusters of students, it did uncover
Conference Session
Multidisciplinary Design Constituents
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Maher Rizkalla, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis
Tagged Divisions
Multidisciplinary Engineering
AC 2009-358: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIVE MODEL PROJECTEMPHASIZING ELEMENTS FROM ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING,MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AND SCIENCE MAJORSMaher Rizkalla, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis Page 14.66.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009A Multidisciplinary Collaborative Model Project Emphasizing Elements from Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Science Majors Matt Rubin1, Tyson Fish, Luke Thomas, Maher Rizkalla, and Hasan Akay2 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at IUPUI 1. Business Development Manager Indiana University
Conference Session
Pedagogy and Assessment III
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Chao Chen; Carlos Pomalaza-Ráez; Ma Oo
Tagged Divisions
Electrical and Computer
Evaluation of IEEE 802.15.4 for Use in Smart Home Medical CareAbstractThe IEEE 802.15.4 wireless standard has been identified as a potential candidate to be used insmart home medical care. This undergraduate research project evaluates the performance ofIEEE 802.15.4 under interference from other wireless devices that operate in the same frequencyband. Specifically, we focus on two very common wireless interfering systems in typical homeenvironments: IEEE 802.11 WLANs and microwave ovens. The measurement results give arough indication about the mutual interference of different systems and showcase the challengesof utilizing IEEE 802.15.4 for smart home medical applications.1. IntroductionRecently, there has been a growing interest in
Conference Session
Graphics and Visualization
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Patrick Connolly, Purdue University; La Verne Abe Harris, Purdue University; Mary Sadowski, Purdue University
Tagged Divisions
Engineering Design Graphics
processesto produce accurate computer models for graphic visualization and communication.One laboratory section of the course was the experimental group and had access to theremediation materials, including a workbook (Introduction to 3D Spatial Visualization: AnActive Approach [1]) and practice website (VIZ; developed at Penn State Erie, The BehrendCollege [2]). Other laboratory sections made up the control group and did not have access to theadditional materials. All students took the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test-Rotations, MentalCutting Test [3], and the Modified Lappan Spatial Visualization Test [4] before the visualizationmodules were taught. Students then took these same tests at the end of the visualizationmodules. The pre- and post
Conference Session
Engaging Students in Learning
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
John Marshall, University of Southern Maine
Tagged Divisions
Engineering Technology
learning, teachers should continually check for understanding and provide studentswith thoughtful, timely, and precise feedback. Students need to know how well they are doingand are typically open to suggestions for improvement. Generally, the clearer and more specifican instructor can be with feedback, the better the results for students. Students also benefit frompeer reactions and should be encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning (i.e., taughtto self-evaluate). Providing accurate feedback and helping students to take charge of learningcan stimulate healthy minds.Active StrategiesTopics included in the “Active Learning” section include: 1) Focusing on Learning and NotTeaching; 2) Problem Based Learning; 3) Facilitating Group
Conference Session
Professional Issues in Civil Engineering Education
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Brock Barry, Purdue University; Yusuf Mehta, Rowan University; Sean St. Clair, Oregon Institute of Technology
Tagged Divisions
Civil Engineering
population of 3,305.13 Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana andhas an undergraduate enrollment of 31,186, as well as a graduate enrollment of 6,994.13Rowan, located in Glassboro, New Jersey, has an undergraduate enrollment of 8,430, anda graduate enrollment of 1,148.13 The number of active civil engineering faculty membersassociated with each of these academic institutions is indicated in Table 1.Table 1 Number of Total Number Licensed Number of Academic of Full-Time Professional Interviews Institution Faculty Engineers Performed
Conference Session
Knowing Our Students, Faculty, and Profession
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Janel Sutkus, Carnegie Mellon University; Donald Carpenter, Lawrence Technological University; Cynthia Finelli, University of Michigan; Trevor Harding
Tagged Divisions
Educational Research and Methods
skills.The project described in this paper is the initial stage of the multi-year study in which we visitedten engineering programs and collected data which will inform the development of a nationalsurvey to be administered in the spring of 2010. Although the overall study is only in its secondyear, the data collected in the first year provide us with both a platform upon which to build thenational survey and cultural context which will inform analysis of the survey data. Page 14.189.3Hypothesis             Figure 1: The Determinants of Ethical Development  As shown in
Conference Session
Engineering and Other Disciplines
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Mahmoud Quweider, University of Texas, Brownsville; Adriana Perez, University of Texas, Brownsville; Gabriala Oropeza, University of Texas, Brownsville; Juan Iglesias, University of Texas, Brownsville
Tagged Divisions
Multidisciplinary Engineering
, electronics, and medical devices just to name few. This wide-spread range of Page 14.351.2applications brings a major challenge to computer science: the need to collaborate with otherdisciplines to bring about software that is of benefit to all stakeholders and users. This sentimenthas been echoed by the leaders of the industry including Microsoft, the NSF, and the ACMsociety [1-5].One of the areas that find computer science necessary for its advancement is health care services.Computer systems in this area have been successfully used to help clinicians gather and processdata and then provide better patient care management. The University of Texas
Conference Session
Issues and Direction in ET Education and Administration: Part I
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Amin Karim, DeVry University; Jennifer McClain, IEEE
Tagged Divisions
Engineering Technology
products and services are increasingly being developed and delivered from various parts ofthe world, knowledge and application of standards have become even more crucial. Almost allworld trade is affected by standardization. Many businesses will not consider buying products orservices that do not meet applicable or common standards for performance, safety and quality.Concerns about sustainability also require products and processes developed according to globalstandards. The findings of a recent survey conducted in March-July 2008 by the Center forGlobal Standards Analysis indicated that “standards education is necessary and does have astrategic value” (1). Those surveyed represented 11 major standards organizations from theU.S.A., U.K., China and
Conference Session
Design Cognition
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Eric Pappas
Tagged Divisions
Design in Engineering Education
many engineering programs have developeddesign courses and programs to better reflect the needs of society and the environment, perhapsone of the first academicians to note the interdependence among technical engineering skills, andthe arts and social sciences is Duke University Professor of Civil Engineering Henry Petroski.Although much of his work has addressed the role of failure in design, Petroski was one of thefirst to consider engineering an integrated discipline. In what many consider his seminal work,To Engineer is Human, Petroski refers to engineering practice as a human endeavor, a practice ofboth science and art, one that is “part of our human understanding and experience.”1 Petroski is particularly referring to working in
Conference Session
Innovative Teaching Strategies in Engineering Graphics
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
John Bedward, North Carolina State University; Eric Wiebe, North Carolina State University; Lauren Madden, North Carolina State University; James Minogue, North Carolina State University; Mike Carter, North Carolina State University
Tagged Divisions
Engineering Design Graphics
between theinteractions of the graphic signs, the phenomenon and the observer. The understanding of aconcept and its representation require the ability to triangulate between the science concept(motion), its representation (vector) and its referent (the phenomenon to which both the conceptand sign refer) (Figure 1)21. Page 14.656.3Figure 1. The linkages among observations, graphics, and concepts.The students’ ability to create graphic representations is a means of integrating, interpreting andconstructing knowledge that is meaningful22. Learners are building on prior ideas to formulatetheir own understanding of phenomenon23. Too often students are
Conference Session
Instructional Innovations in AEC Education
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Mary Ann Frank, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; David Cowan, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Michael Boyles, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Jeffrey Rogers, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Keith Goreham, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Jatmika Suryabrata, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia; Yulyta Kodrat, Indonesian Institute of the Arts
Tagged Divisions
Architectural
behavior. Results from Flynn’s experiments revealed thatcomplex subjective responses to lighting are accurately measured and communicatedsystematically. Yet it should be noted that these experiments were conducted in full-scalemockup environments with various light settings that utilized combinations of overhead-downlighting and peripheral lighting systems (see Figure 1). Figure 1. The conference room mockup used in Flynn’s experiments4Flynn’s research became the basis for several similar experiments, such as those conducted byHawkes, Loe, and Rowlands5, Rowlands, Loe, McIntosh, and Mansfield6, and Loe, Mansfield,and Rowlands7, with some modification on the configuration of the brightness distributions andinterior settings. More recently
Conference Session
DEED Poster Session
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Ibibia Dabipi, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Christopher Hartman, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; James B. Burrows-Mcelwain, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
Tagged Divisions
Design in Engineering Education
performance,… technology, or discipline(s), must be much more highlyintegrated than in the past” [1] Students partaking in the engineering exercise are forcedto confront concepts outside of their normal field of expertise in the short span of asemester and make decisions on a cost and design schedule.ENGAGING STUDENTS WITHIN THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PRINCIPLESStudents in the Spring 2008 Engineering Design course were given a written designproblem statement and presentations by two of the Aviation Sciences faculty in theirDepartment. Students were asked to design and build a deployable parachute system fora model aircraft. The initial meeting included a question and answer period wherestudent could ask key design questions to the faculty members playing
Conference Session
New Trends in ECE Education
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Lihong (Heidi) Jiao, Grand Valley State University
Tagged Divisions
Electrical and Computer
elective course titled“Introduction to Fiber Optics” which was first offered in Summer 2008. In this paper, a brief overview of fiber optic network is presented first, followed by detaileddescription of course objectives, outline, and assessment and future modifications.Overview of Optical Communication Network Today’s optical communication network carries a mixture of voice, video, and data signals.The distance that signals travel ranges from less than a mile to thousands of miles. To bettermanage different signals, optical communication network is classified into four sub-networks.They are undersea network, long-haul network, metropolitan network, and access network asillustrated in Figure 1. Undersea network crosses the ocean and
Conference Session
Instrumentation and Measurement Innovation
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Farid Farahmand; Leela Mohan Kesireddy, Central Connecticut State University; Mark Lynch, Central Connecticut State University
Tagged Divisions
Instrumentation
functionalities. Finally, students areasked to implement a design project using the provided tools.Table 1 lists the details of each class lecture as scheduled. Note that we introduced theexperiment in the middle of the semester, around the 6th week. As noted in the table, thefirst and second introductory lectures include a brief introduction to data acquisitionsystems and description of basic sensor technologies. In particular, we discuss theunderlying technologies in designing accelerometers and temperature sensors. Practicaltopics, such as analog-to-digital converters, sampling rate, and acquisition time were alsobriefly covered in these lectures. The third and forth lectures focused on introducing LabVIEW5 and its applications. Wecovered basic
Conference Session
Meeting the Needs of Engineering Faculty, Researchers, and Students
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
William Baer, Georgia Institute of Technology; Lisha Li, Georgia Institute of Technology
Tagged Divisions
Engineering Libraries
university experience.Literature reviewMany studies have been done on information usage over several decades. As the technologieschange, the processes and patterns of information-seeking behavior change as well. Thesechanges have been reflected in recent literature on the topic. Brown provides a sketch ofinformation seeking behavior of scientists, and indicates that the “ultimate preferred source forinformation was … the printed journal article.”1 Hallmark presents a snapshot of academicresearchers and their information needs in one area, and proves that “…journal articles, whetherprinted or electronic, continue to be their ultimate textual resource.”2 Kwasitsu samplesengineers in information use and discovers a “significant relationship between
Conference Session
Collaboration, A Cool Tool: Librarians/Faculty/Students Work Together for Quality Results
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Adriana Popescu, Princeton University; Patricia Gaspari-Bridges, Princeton University
Tagged Divisions
Engineering Libraries
statistics monitored by the library reflect thistrend. In fact, all new journal subscriptions acquired since 2006 have been electronic format only.Having the print copy of a journal on site is no longer a requirement, therefore during the2005/06 and 2006/07 academic years, 4,652 bound journal volumes were sent to remote storageand 2,084 volumes of duplicate volumes were withdrawn since these titles were availableelectronically. It is expected that by July 1 2009, 2,000 more volumes will be sent to remotestorage or withdrawn.Table 1. The Engineering Library Collection in NumbersLibrary Collection 2001 2009Monographs (vols.) 74,700 71,000Bound periodicals (vols
Conference Session
Innovations in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Programs
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Fredrick Nitterright, Pennsylvania State University, Erie; Ronald Krahe, Pennsylvania State University, Erie
Tagged Divisions
Engineering Technology
the mechanical components of the assembly. This new course overcomes theissues discussed above.The following outcomes were developed to overcome the issues discussed above: 1. Students will visualize physical (electrical and mechanical) part (s) 2-D to 3-D and vice versa. 2. Students will incorporate design intent into solid models using extrusions, revolves, shells, ribs, chamfers and rounds. 3. Students will properly execute duplicating operations to create circular and linear patterns of features and mirrored features. 4. Students will use mathematical relations to drive solid models. 5. Students will create a detail drawing of a mechanical part. 6. Students will create 3D
Conference Session
Innovation in Construction Engineering Education II
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Thuy Nguyen, University of Texas, Austin; Fernando Mondragon Solis; William O'Brien, University of Texas, Austin; Kathy Schmidt, University of Texas, Austin
Tagged Divisions
Construction
Page 14.1171.3will be introduced as the starting point to build our design toolkit. Relevant interactiondesign guidelines that can be capitalized on to create potentially stimulating learningconditions are another critical component of our toolkit and hence will be described. Thefollowing section on the design framework will explain what specific items to pick fromthis toolkit for a certain design problem.Instructional designInstructional design is a systematic approach to instruction. A tenant of instructionaldesign principles is to “start with the end in mind”, or “backward design” as described byWiggins and McTighe1 (Figure 1). This tenant is analogous to purposeful task analysis.With instructional design, assessment of learning is designed
Conference Session
History of Aerospace Education
Collection
2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
Authors
Kathy Schmidt, University of Texas, Austin; Mark Maughmer, Penn State University
Tagged Divisions
Aerospace
schooledwith enough depth of knowledge. IntroductionFunding, research activities, and autonomy help to make American institutions of highereducation prestigious. Furthermore, the United States leads the way in access to higher educationwith a rate of growth since 1947 that is three times faster that of the population.1 Given that theseinstitutions have resources along with large numbers of students to select from, you wouldexpect increasing numbers of college graduates. Yet there is evidence to the contrary. Foralthough the US is one of the leaders when it comes to college participation, it is in the bottomhalf of college completion.2 Some evidence suggests that graduation rates are declining becausethose