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ARE POST-MILLENNIALS ENROLLED IN ENGINEERING MAJORS INCLINED TO BE SOCIALLY ACTIVE?

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Conference

2018 FYEE Conference

Location

Glassboro, New Jersey

Publication Date

July 24, 2018

Start Date

July 24, 2018

End Date

July 26, 2018

Conference Session

Technical Session V

Tagged Topic

FYEE Conference Sessions

Page Count

5

DOI

10.18260/1-2--31386

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/31386

Download Count

321

Paper Authors

biography

David Gee Gannon University

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FYS Coordinator, College of Engineering, Gannon Univ.
ASME Student Chapter, Faculty Coordinator
Asst. Professor of Mechanical Engineering

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Abstract

Abstract–As part of a curriculum redesign for AY2009-10, university faculty and administration created a new course –Freshman Year Seminar– which is required of all incoming first year students. A service learning component is included as a part of the course. For FYS students in the College of Engineering, their freshman year seminar course includes the engineering design and construction of a service project which serves a community need and also takes advantage of their particular skill set. For AY2017-18, the faculty team broadened the idea of community to include the global community in response to a joint United Nations/Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Humanitarian Technology Challenge Sustainable Development Goal for food security. The goal of this year’s project was to produce a working model of a solar-powered food dehydrator which, theoretically, could be used to combat hunger in communities far removed from our local one. In principle, a dehydrator can extend the shelf life of food by preserving them for consumption at a later time, thereby addressing one aspect of the availability and accessibility of food. The feasibility of the idea was demonstrated in the current designs, while future iterations will stress the global aspect by restricting the designs to include only parts and components easily accessible in the local environment. Finally, using an end-of-semester survey we found that not only were engineering students enthusiastic about working as a member of a multidisciplinary team (69% of respondents agreed that participating on a multidisciplinary team was beneficial to their educational experience), but they also indicated a willingness to contribute their time and (future) money in support of social issues like global hunger.

Gee, D. (2018, July), ARE POST-MILLENNIALS ENROLLED IN ENGINEERING MAJORS INCLINED TO BE SOCIALLY ACTIVE? Paper presented at 2018 FYEE Conference, Glassboro, New Jersey. 10.18260/1-2--31386

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