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Electrical & Computer Engineering Students’ Approach to Academic Advising and Course Selection

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Empowering Students: Self-Efficacy, Advising, and Transfer Success

Tagged Division

Electrical and Computer Engineering Division (ECE)

Page Count

10

DOI

10.18260/1-2--43256

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/43256

Download Count

101

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Paper Authors

biography

Christopher Martinez University of New Haven

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Christopher Martinez is an associate professor of computer engineering in the Connecticut Institute of Technology at the University of New Haven. His area of research is in the field of human computer interaction with a focus on embedded system interfacing.

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April Yoder University of New Haven

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Abstract

Although academic advising is one of the most important factors in student retention and completion, faculty and students at our university use a limited number of tools to aid in course selection and career planning. The most widely used tool has been paper worksheets that lay out required courses semester-by-semester. The university has also moved an online version of a worksheet by Degree Works called Degree Audit, which students can use as a checklist of requirements for graduation and provide quick access to pre-requisites and course descriptions of required and elective courses. We are currently in the process of developing a new online tool that will help students see the connections between the course requirements and technical domains, and technical skills.

To develop a tool that will actually help students, we surveyed students during the Fall 2022 advising period in the Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department about their approach, understanding, and goals of academic advising and course selection. The 18 questions survey asked for students’ feedback in the areas of: 1. The usefulness of the current tools of the worksheet and degree audit 2. Frustrations and satisfaction with current advising practices 3. How students currently choose courses 4. If and how students determine the best courses for their career goals 5. How clearly have students defined their professional goals

Our survey results provide insight into students’ understanding and attitudes about the advising process, curriculum requirements, and the connections between their curriculum and careers in the field. We will be able to determine if the students’ attitudes change as they progress through their time at the university and if there are any differences in the attitudes of ECE students compared to other majors. The survey results will help us create the best tool to address shortcomings in advising.

Martinez, C., & Yoder, A. (2023, June), Electrical & Computer Engineering Students’ Approach to Academic Advising and Course Selection Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43256

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