Overview of Louisiana State University'S stem talent expansion program, engineering engagement for student success

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Abstract

The Louisiana State University (LSU) College of Engineering's ENG 2 Project is designed to increase the number of engineering and construction management graduates through retention programs aimed at developing and maintaining a sense of community among the students and faculty, enhancing academic skills of the students, and providing a framework for interactions between faculty, students and industry personnel. The project hosts three main programs: a Faculty Development Workshop, the Encounter Engineering Bridge Camp (E2), and a freshman course, ENGR 1050 Introduction to Engineering. The project also hosts several of its professional development and academic enhancement activities in the Engineering Residential College (ERC), a residential hall for freshmen. Finally, the project is expanding Peer Mentoring, which emerged from the bridge camp team captains, and now is incorporated into ENGR 1050. Assessment includes individual program elements and overall impact on retention. Feedback on the individual components includes surveying the attitudes and value of the various activities by the participants, instructors and other personnel. The ENGR 1050 course and the Peer Mentoring program were assessed by an outside evaluator. The overall project impact includes tracking the graduation and attrition rates of all students, comparing these rates between programs and to a control, obtaining attitudinal and perception feedback from student surveys on program components and independent observations of faculty and an outside evaluator. Based on the 2 years of data for Cohort 1 (07/08 AY) and 1 year of data from Cohort 2 (08/09 AY), preparation for calculus appears to be the positive significant factor in retention in the College of Engineering and the university. Participation in the camp and ENGR 1050 is also positive. Overall students who participate in any ENG2 program activity have a higher retention in the College of Engineering and in STEM programs than those who do not participate. This manuscript describes the main ENG2 program elements and their assessment in detail as well as the retention data for 2 cohorts. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings

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