Push and Pull: Exploring the Engineering Retention Problem for Underrepresented Groups and Gauging Interest in Interdisciplinary Integration into Undergraduate Curriculum
- Conference
- Location
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Baltimore , Maryland
- Publication Date
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June 25, 2023
- Start Date
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June 25, 2023
- End Date
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June 28, 2023
- Conference Session
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Student Division (STDT) Technical Session 6: Underserved Student Experiences
- Tagged Division
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Student Division (STDT)
- Tagged Topic
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Diversity
- Page Count
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15
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--43996
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/43996
- Download Count
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299
Paper Authors
Anastasia M. K. Schauer Georgia Institute of Technology
Anastasia Schauer is an NSF GRFP Fellow pursuing her PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. She earned her MS in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2021 and her BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 2019. Her dissertation work focuses on cognitive bias in the engineering design process. Her other research projects have included the study of heuristics as education tools, and academic makerspaces as opportunities to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering. *Both authors contributed equally to this work as co-first authors.
August Kohls Carnegie Mellon University
August Kohls is pursuing his PhD in Electrical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He earned his MS in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2022 and his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 2020. His academic research focuses on fabricating novel nanomaterial integrated microdevices for cancer and viral diagnostics. His other personal research projects include investigating methods to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering. *Both authors contributed equally to this work as co-first authors.
Katherine Fu Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Kate Fu is the Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. From 2014 to 2021, she was an Assistant and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to these appointments, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). In May 2012, she completed her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon in 2009, and her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Brown University in 2007. Her work has focused on studying the engineering design process through cognitive studies, and extending those findings to the development of methods and tools to facilitate more effective and inspired design and innovation. Dr. Fu is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, the ASME Design Theory and Methodology Young Investigator Award, the ASME Atlanta Section 2015 Early Career Engineer of the Year Award, and was an Achievement Rewards For College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Scholar.
Abstract
Underrepresented minorities (URMs) leave the engineering field at a rate significantly higher than average. Researchers conclude that low self-efficacy, lack of support, and hostile and benevolent discrimination are contributing causes. We contend that URMs’ lack of retention in engineering is due to a push by these causes, as well as a pull towards fields that more closely align with their identity. To explore further, a Qualtrics survey instrument was developed to understand the experiences of people who have fully or partially left the engineering field. We surveyed 47 URM and 38 non-URM participants at various stages of their careers, and found that when URMs leave the engineering field for a non-engineering career, they not only face less bias and discrimination, but also feel as if they are more positively impacting the world. We suggest some methods for retaining URMs in engineering by leveraging interdisciplinary studies to offer better identity coherence by incorporating complex, impactful problem solving into their fields. All participants, especially URMs, expressed interest in the following methods of introducing interdisciplinary aspects to engineering: (1) promoting interdisciplinary internships and intracollegiate research, (2) a revised first-year curriculum to introduce meaningful interdisciplinary-based projects, and (3) facilitation of accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree programs across different disciplines.
Schauer, A. M. K., & Kohls, A., & Fu, K. (2023, June), Push and Pull: Exploring the Engineering Retention Problem for Underrepresented Groups and Gauging Interest in Interdisciplinary Integration into Undergraduate Curriculum Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43996
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