Matriculating Nuclear Engineering Students: The North Carolina State University Case
- Conference
- Location
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Publication Date
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June 22, 2008
- Start Date
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June 22, 2008
- End Date
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June 25, 2008
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Nuclear and Radiological
- Page Count
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8
- Page Numbers
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13.873.1 - 13.873.8
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--3861
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/3861
- Download Count
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497
Paper Authors
Lisa Marshall North Carolina State University
Ms. Marshall is the nuclear outreach instructor for the Department of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. She is currently the chair of the ASEE – Nuclear and Radiological Division, the education committee for the American Nuclear Society – Eastern Carolinas Section and NC State’s Provost Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Her research interest lies in engineering studies and science policy; a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Mohamed Bourham North Carolina State University
Dr. Bourham is the interim department head and professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. His research area lies in plasma-matter interactions, from interaction with solids to liquids to energetic combustible materials to fabrics and micro-organisms. Dr. Bourham is also an affiliated professor in the joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, N.C. State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His biomedical research areas include biomedical imaging, fluid dynamics, mathematical modeling, and medical imaging.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Matriculating Nuclear Engineering Students – The North Carolina State University Case
Lisa Marshall and Mohamed Bourham Department of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University
Abstract First-year nuclear engineering students typically complete a common freshman year that does not include courses(s) in nuclear engineering. How then does a department engage students who have expressed their intent to major in nuclear engineering but haven’t matriculated into the discipline as of yet? Through an analysis of matriculation trends and a survey of current nuclear engineering students, we will report on why students choose nuclear engineering, what makes them stay, and what impact current retention programs for un-matriculated students have on their decisions? Students surveyed provide insight into factors they deem important and subsequently have an effect on their commitment to a nuclear engineering education at North Carolina State University.
Key Words Nuclear engineering; first year engineering; undergraduate program
N.C. State’s Department of Nuclear Engineering has seen a 74% increase in the undergraduate student population from 37 students in 2000-01 to 143 students in 2007- 08. The portion of un-matriculated students in the department has increased by 55% over the same eight year timeframe, from 15 in 2000 to 52 in 2007. For 2007-08, the percentage of un-matriculated students in the undergraduate population stands at 36%. There are larger numbers of admitted students expressing their intent to major in nuclear engineering. Since most un-matriculated students have not taken a course in their desired major, the department must rely on (non) academic retention programs to assist students in matriculation – a crucial step to progress towards degree completion that students must navigate. Ultimately, it impacts the supply side of the increasing employment demand for nuclear engineers.
Why students choose nuclear engineering; why do students continue in this major; and, what retention programs they value become crucial questions to understanding some of the variables that impact the nuclear engineering student body. A project in progress, this paper reports on initial observations.
Proceedings of the 2008 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2008, American Society for Engineering Education
Marshall, L., & Bourham, M. (2008, June), Matriculating Nuclear Engineering Students: The North Carolina State University Case Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--3861
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