Benefits, Drawbacks, and Effects on Retention Rates to a 5 Year, Inclusive, Dual Degree Engineering Program

Jeffrey Carvell; Tanja Greene

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Conference: 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Start Date: June 26, 2022
End Date: June 29, 2022
Conference Session: Educational Research and Methods (ERM) Division Poster Session
Page Count: 11
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--41063
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/41063
Download Count: 343

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Paper Authors

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Jeffrey Carvell Marian University

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PhD. Physics, Purdue University

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biography

Tanja Greene Marian University

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Tanja Greene, MSBME, received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering in 2013 and a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering in 2015, both from the Purdue School of Engineering at Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indiana. During her master studies, she investigated the influence of microenvironments on cell fate processes through the encapsulation of cells within chemically modified, biomimetic hydrogels. After graduating, she continued her research through working in a tissue engineering/ biomaterials laboratory until 2017. She then became an Instructor of Physics and Engineering at Marian University of Indianapolis, Indiana, where she currently teaches Physics I, Physics II, Biophysics, and will soon be developing courses related to biomaterials for the launch of the new ES Witchger School of Engineering at Marian University.

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Abstract

This paper is an evidence based practice paper. Across the United States, many universities, especially smaller, liberal arts universities, do not have the facilities to offer engineering degrees. One thing that has become very common in these schools that can’t or don’t offer engineering is the 3 + 2 program, where students receive a degree from one university in three years, then transfer to a partner engineering university after graduation to complete the engineering degree in the final two years. Students in these programs earn two bachelor’s degrees, one typically in math or science, and one in engineering. There are benefits and drawbacks to this type or arrangement and partnership, but they can be successful. Recently, we have been running a similar program but with a very important modification. Our program is still a five year program, and students still earn two bachelor’s degrees, one from a liberal arts school (primary university), and one from a world renowned engineering school (secondary university). The difference is that students in our program earn the degree from both schools at the same time and are enrolled students at both schools simultaneously for the full five years, and no transferring is required. Having run the program for ten years, we have noticed several benefits and drawbacks to this kind of program over the traditional 3 + 2 version. The biggest benefit is that all students are members of the home institution for the full five years, making financial aid much easier for students to deal with. All scholarships, including athletic, are valid for the full five years of the program, and the students deal only with the business side of one university. All bills and fees from the engineering institution are paid by the home university, and students never see those. By being at the home university for the full five years, students can settle and perform better knowing they don’t have to up and move after three years. There are many other benefits we see, but there are also drawbacks. Communication between the business offices at both universities, getting the bills paid and keeping track of students, can be difficult. Since students are getting degrees from both schools, all degree requirements must be met, and all classes must be clearly linked at the two schools so that no requirements are missing. Also, students have to register at two schools at the same time, and pre-requisites can be issues. Overall, although there are drawbacks, the benefits can outweigh them and make a program like this successful. This engineering program has retained 94% or its’ students from first year to second year from graduating classes, and 97% from current students. Of the students entering the program, 83% complete it and graduate with an engineering degree, and 89% have completed any degree at the primary institution. Finally, 100% of the students who have graduated from this program have either placed into graduate school or accepted a position within the engineering industry.

Citation
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Carvell, J., & Greene, T. (2022, August), Benefits, Drawbacks, and Effects on Retention Rates to a 5 Year, Inclusive, Dual Degree Engineering Program Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41063

TY - CPAPER
AB - This paper is an evidence based practice paper. Across the United States, many universities, especially smaller, liberal arts universities, do not have the facilities to offer engineering degrees. One thing that has become very common in these schools that can’t or don’t offer engineering is the 3 + 2 program, where students receive a degree from one university in three years, then transfer to a partner engineering university after graduation to complete the engineering degree in the final two years. Students in these programs earn two bachelor’s degrees, one typically in math or science, and one in engineering. There are benefits and drawbacks to this type or arrangement and partnership, but they can be successful. Recently, we have been running a similar program but with a very important modification. Our program is still a five year program, and students still earn two bachelor’s degrees, one from a liberal arts school (primary university), and one from a world renowned engineering school (secondary university). The difference is that students in our program earn the degree from both schools at the same time and are enrolled students at both schools simultaneously for the full five years, and no transferring is required. Having run the program for ten years, we have noticed several benefits and drawbacks to this kind of program over the traditional 3 + 2 version. The biggest benefit is that all students are members of the home institution for the full five years, making financial aid much easier for students to deal with. All scholarships, including athletic, are valid for the full five years of the program, and the students deal only with the business side of one university. All bills and fees from the engineering institution are paid by the home university, and students never see those. By being at the home university for the full five years, students can settle and perform better knowing they don’t have to up and move after three years. There are many other benefits we see, but there are also drawbacks. Communication between the business offices at both universities, getting the bills paid and keeping track of students, can be difficult. Since students are getting degrees from both schools, all degree requirements must be met, and all classes must be clearly linked at the two schools so that no requirements are missing. Also, students have to register at two schools at the same time, and pre-requisites can be issues. Overall, although there are drawbacks, the benefits can outweigh them and make a program like this successful. This engineering program has retained 94% or its’ students from first year to second year from graduating classes, and 97% from current students. Of the students entering the program, 83% complete it and graduate with an engineering degree, and 89% have completed any degree at the primary institution. Finally, 100% of the students who have graduated from this program have either placed into graduate school or accepted a position within the engineering industry.
AU - Jeffrey Carvell
AU - Tanja Greene
CY - Minneapolis, MN
DA - 2022/08/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Benefits, Drawbacks, and Effects on Retention Rates to a 5 Year, Inclusive, Dual Degree Engineering Program
UR - https://peer.asee.org/41063
DO - 10.18260/1-2--41063
ER -