Factors Affecting On-Time Graduation of Engineering and Construction Management Undergraduates at a Minority Serving Institution

Claudia Calle Müller; Mais Kayyali; Mohamed Elzomor,

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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: Construction Engineering Division (CONST) Technical Session 4
Tagged Division: Construction Engineering Division (CONST)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 14
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--43687
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/43687
Download Count: 86

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Paper Authors

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Claudia Calle Müller Florida International University

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Claudia Calle Müller is a Ph.D. student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida International University (FIU). She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP). Claudia has 4+ years’ experience in structural engineering designing reinforced concrete residential and commercial buildings in Peru; 2+ years’ experience in entrepreneurship building a successful health coaching and wellness business; and 4+ years teaching. Currently, Claudia is a Graduate Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant at the Moss School of Construction, Sustainability, and Infrastructure at FIU where she focuses on multidisciplinary research on sustainability, equity, resilient and sustainable post-disaster reconstruction, engineering education, and well-being.

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Mais Kayyali Florida International University

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Mais Kayyali is the Associate Director of Academic Support Services in the Office of the Dean at Florida International University’s (FIU) College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). In her current role, she oversees all aspects of Graduate Education and Admissions for the schools and departments under CEC. Her duties vary from admissions, recruitment, marketing, data analysis, graduate funding, etc. She also provides administrative support to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Prior to her current position, she was the Program Coordinator/Coordinator of Administrative Services at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and prior to that the Program Assistant at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the college. Mais holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Master’s degree in Hospitality Management, and is currently a doctoral student in the Engineering and Computing Education program at FIU. Her research interests are in graduate and postdoctoral education with a focus on mentorship and transitions as well as faculty development and the use of technology in engineering and computing education.

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Mohamed Elzomor, P.E. Florida International University orcid.org/0000-0002-7734-9601

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Dr. Mohamed ElZomor is an Assistant Professor at Florida International University (FIU), College of Engineering and Computing and teaches at the Moss School of Construction, Infrastructure and Sustainability. Dr. ElZomor completed his doctorate at Arizona

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Abstract

Graduation rates, degree completion, and time to degree are of utmost importance to academia. Although the bachelor’s degree is traditionally a four-year degree, the time for its completion has increased significantly in the United States over the past two decades. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) only 44 percent of students completed their bachelor’s degree within four years. This translates to more than half undergraduate students failing to complete their degrees on time. Despite these concerning statistics, there is not much research published that addresses why students fail to complete their degree within four years, or even leave their education institution before graduating. The goal of this study is to identify some of the main reasons why undergrad students from Engineering and particularly Construction Management programs take longer to complete their degree, or fail to graduate, and how can education institutions help students graduate on time. To achieve these objectives, this study: (a) identified the main factors contributing to this paramount problem from previous literature; (b) gathered and assessed data regarding students’ graduation rates from one of the largest minority serving institutions in the United States; (c) conducted a survey to students at the minority serving institution, which helped analyze degree completion, the factors contributing to delays in undergraduate program completion, as well as the motivators and resources to finish their degree within four years; and (d) proposed strategies that could be implemented at educational institution to aid students in completing their degree on time. The data collected regarding graduation rates shows that approximately (a) 50 percent of STEM, Engineering and Construction Management students graduate in four years; (b) 60 percent graduate in six years; and (c) 35 percent of students have not graduated after six years. The results of this research show that several academic, financial, and social factors play a significant role in students’ failure to complete their degree within four years. This research proposes several strategies including an inclusive educational experience that embraces peer-to-peer mentoring and tutoring, equitable financial aid mechanism, and establishing a clear educational curriculum path that can be implemented at institutions to enhance learning and motivate students in graduating within four years.

Citation
Format

Calle Müller, C., & Kayyali, M., & Elzomor,, M. (2023, June), Factors Affecting On-Time Graduation of Engineering and Construction Management Undergraduates at a Minority Serving Institution Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43687

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Graduation rates, degree completion, and time to degree are of utmost importance to academia. Although the bachelor’s degree is traditionally a four-year degree, the time for its completion has increased significantly in the United States over the past two decades. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) only 44 percent of students completed their bachelor’s degree within four years. This translates to more than half undergraduate students failing to complete their degrees on time. Despite these concerning statistics, there is not much research published that addresses why students fail to complete their degree within four years, or even leave their education institution before graduating. The goal of this study is to identify some of the main reasons why undergrad students from Engineering and particularly Construction Management programs take longer to complete their degree, or fail to graduate, and how can education institutions help students graduate on time. To achieve these objectives, this study: (a) identified the main factors contributing to this paramount problem from previous literature; (b) gathered and assessed data regarding students’ graduation rates from one of the largest minority serving institutions in the United States; (c) conducted a survey to students at the minority serving institution, which helped analyze degree completion, the factors contributing to delays in undergraduate program completion, as well as the motivators and resources to finish their degree within four years; and (d) proposed strategies that could be implemented at educational institution to aid students in completing their degree on time. The data collected regarding graduation rates shows that approximately (a) 50 percent of STEM, Engineering and Construction Management students graduate in four years; (b) 60 percent graduate in six years; and (c) 35 percent of students have not graduated after six years. The results of this research show that several academic, financial, and social factors play a significant role in students’ failure to complete their degree within four years. This research proposes several strategies including an inclusive educational experience that embraces peer-to-peer mentoring and tutoring, equitable financial aid mechanism, and establishing a clear educational curriculum path that can be implemented at institutions to enhance learning and motivate students in graduating within four years.
AU  - Claudia Calle Müller
AU  - Mais Kayyali
AU  - Mohamed Elzomor, P.E.
CY  - Baltimore , Maryland
DA  - 2023/06/25
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Factors Affecting On-Time Graduation of Engineering and Construction Management Undergraduates at a Minority Serving Institution
UR  - https://strategy.asee.org/43687
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--43687
ER  -