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Current Status of the Affirmative Sustainable Support for Scholars in Energy Technologies (ASSSET) and its Impact of Engineering Education

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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

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Page Count

6

DOI

10.18260/1-2--41941

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/41941

Download Count

300

Paper Authors

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Farzad Ferdowsi University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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Heather Stone University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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Associate Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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G. H. Massiha University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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Terrence Chambers University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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Mehdi Mokhtari University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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Afef Fekih University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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Abstract

This study is an Evidence-based Practice. The research describes the current status of the affirmative sustainable support for scholars in energy technologies (ASSSET) program and explores its potential impact on the graduate and retention of engineering students. This NSF S-STEM funded project provides scholarships and educational support to low-income, academically talented students entering and pursuing engineering studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Its main objective is to increase the retention and graduation in fields related to energy technology. It supports students in the chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, industrial technology and petroleum engineering. The ASSSET program was developed with the plan of incorporating evidenced-based practices such as a cohort model, mentoring, field experiences, internships with local industry, workshops, and seminars to support a senior research project. Each ASSSET scholar has a matched faculty mentor from their engineering discipline who will be with them from the time they enter the program until graduation. The focus is on energy technologies as this will help the United States to remain competitive in the global market. Energy is a highly interdisciplinary field, and it can be studied from different engineering perspectives. The project is in its inaugural year and currently supports 12 students including eight freshmen, three sophomores and one junior. This research delineates the process by which the cohort of students was selected, describes the educational and mentoring opportunities, and discusses the programs impact on students in this first year. The paper will also discuss the potential for retention and quality of education for the ASSSET scholars.

Ferdowsi, F., & Stone, H., & Massiha, G. H., & Chambers, T., & Mokhtari, M., & Fekih, A. (2022, August), Current Status of the Affirmative Sustainable Support for Scholars in Energy Technologies (ASSSET) and its Impact of Engineering Education Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41941

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