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In Their Own Words: The Community College Experience toward an Engineering Baccalaureate Degree

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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

Committee on Educational Policy Presents: Holistic Students

Tagged Division

Civil Engineering Division (CIVIL)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

25

DOI

10.18260/1-2--43939

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/43939

Download Count

250

Paper Authors

biography

Joan Z. Carter Inver Hills Community College

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Joan currently teaches Engineering Fundamentals – the first two years of a bachelor’s degree in engineering – at Inver Hills Community College in Minnesota. In 2022, Joan was honored by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees as an Outstanding Educator. A licensed professional engineer in California, Iowa, and Minnesota, Joan helps students understand complex concepts while giving them a sense of belonging in the classroom. She has developed courses that easily transfer toward bachelor’s degrees in engineering. This article is based on her 2022 dissertation [1]. Joan's experience includes 15 years working professionally as a structural engineer and 15 years teaching college-level courses. She holds the following degrees: Doctorate in Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato; M.S. in Civil/Structural Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder; and M.S. in Mathematics with Emphasis in Education from Bemidji State University.

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Abstract

Abstract Women and underrepresented minorities can help fill the ever-growing demand for engineers in the United States. Quality teaching methods, an understanding of the cognitive aspects of learning, and faculty addressing biases help ensure student success in engineering majors. Accordingly, the community college engineering pathway can help fill the national need for engineers. This phenomenological study sought to describe the experience of students who choose the community college pathway toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. Thirteen participants were interviewed; all took engineering courses at the same community college, transferred to a four-year engineering university, and were progressing toward or have earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering. The community college pathway offers a lower-cost, quality education, allowing students of all math levels access to an engineering degree with courses that transfer to a four-year institution. These students gained the skills necessary to be successful and were able to earn an engineering degree with little debt. Relationships with peers and authority figures were crucial to the students’ successful journey. Through collaboration, students learn more and gain a deeper understanding of the material. Students need multiple sources of encouragement, recognition, and successes to persist toward an engineering degree. Seeing themselves in a role model is beneficial. Engineering lifestyle, comfort, money, and making a positive difference were factors in choosing an engineering major. Each participant experienced community, relationships, friendships, and were grateful they chose the community college pathway. The full results of this study are found in [1].

Carter, J. Z. (2023, June), In Their Own Words: The Community College Experience toward an Engineering Baccalaureate Degree Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43939

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