dr. vijay vaidyanathan associate dean – undergraduate studies unt college of engineering
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College of Engineering. Dr. Vijay Vaidyanathan Associate Dean – Undergraduate Studies UNT College of Engineering. Bottlenecks in the Pipeline: Identifying data needed for success of STEM Transfer Students. An Engineering Perspective. Objective. Identification of potential ‘problem’ areas: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Dr. Vijay VaidyanathanAssociate Dean – Undergraduate Studies
UNT College of Engineering
College of Engineering
Bottlenecks in the Pipeline: Identifying data needed for success of STEM Transfer Students
- An Engineering Perspective
Objective
• Identification of potential ‘problem’ areas:– Advising in community colleges– Core complete vs Math ready?– Lack of university advising presence in community colleges– Lack of perceived empathy from 4 year institutions– Lack of bridges or pipeline infrastructure
• Pave the way for ‘efficient’ transfer from 2-year to 4-year institutions– Student success is the key to retention– Create avenues for student success– Sustain the process
Outline
• Introduction to UNT College of Engineering• Transfer advising and recruiting
– New appointments• Participation in statewide articulation efforts• Emulating successful models
– Scholarships, peer tutoring, LLC– Summer research
• Building bridges– Introduction to engineering
• Conclusion
Fall 2011• 553,000 square feet• 70 Full Time T/TT Faculty• 13 Full Time Lecturers• Approx. 2000 students• 5 Departments• Located within UNT
Discovery Park (290 acres)
The College of Engineering
Degree Programs
• BA Information Technology• BS Computer Science• BS Computer Engineering• BS Electrical Engineering• BS Mechanical Engineering• BS Materials Science and Engineering• BS in Engineering Technology in
– Construction– Electronics– Nuclear– Mechanical
• MS Computer Science and Engineering• MS Electrical Engineering• MS Mechanical Engineering• MS Materials Science and Engineering• MS Engineering Systems
• PhD Computer Science and Engineering• PhD Materials Science and Engineering
Transfer Recruitingand Advising
• Advising Infrastructure– Located at Discovery Park– Advising director with 3 advisors– New advisor for transfer students
• University Commitment– Addition of new transfer recruiters/advisors
Transfer Orientation
• Preceded by visits to local community colleges• Separate transfer orientation sessions• One-on-one advising with CENG advisors and
departmental advisors• Information provided in the form of a detailed
booklet• Adherence to articulation agreements
Participation in Statewide Articulation
• Tuning Texas : Statewide initiative undertaken by THECB to streamline transfers from 2-year to 4-year institutions.– EE– MEE
Statistics on Transfer Students-1
Transfers UNT FreshmenMath 1650 (Pre-Calculus) 55.93% 71.0%Math 1710 (Calculus I) 52.44% 62.7%Math 1720 (Calculus II) 46.03% 53.01%Physics 1710 (Mechanics) 50.91% 57.97%Physics 2220 (Electromagnetics) 62.34% 66.8%Chemistry 1410 58.68% 67.8%Biology 1710 65.05% 68.47%
Engineering students: Pre-calculus (63% pass rate), Calculus I (54.5% pass rate),Calculus II (45% pass rate)
Statistics on Transfer Students - 2
2009 FTIC & New-Transfer Students
Fall 2009 to Fall 2010 Retention Rates
Retained Not Retained
N % N %
FTIC 2566 77.2 758 22.8
New Transfer 1172 32.91 2389 67.09
Fall 2009 to Fall 2010 Retention Rates
Retained Not Retained
N % N %
Freshman 3652 72.72 1370 27.28
Sophomore 4262 75.19 1406 24.81
Junior 3785 73.74 1348 26.26
Senior 1600 60.79 1032 39.21
Emulating Successful Models
• Transfer Scholarships– Dean’s scholarship– CENG scholarship
• Peer Tutoring– Engineering Excellence
• Living and Learning Community (LLC)– Kerr Hall– Grown from 20 to 47 students– Academic and non-academic activities
SUPER
• 17/10 undergraduates participated in our summer research program
• Complete program with seminars, social activities, mentoring, etc.
• Targets for graduate recruiting
• Program has attracted $75,000 from RIM
Faculty Response to SUPER
• Students highly motivated• Outreach activities were useful• Would have liked to see a ‘richer’ pool of
students from outside UNT• Grades did not reflect ability to do research –
in a positive way• Extend to 10 weeks• Conduct during regular academic semesters
Student Responses to SUPER - 1
Task
Extent of Increase In Your Confidence No
Increase A Little
Increase A Good Increase
A Great Increase
Not Sure
1. Formulating a research question 3 3 5 5 1
2. Planning a research project 2 5 2 8 0
3. Conducting research 0 2 9 6 0
4. Managing your time while working on a research project 3 2 7 5 0
5. “Fitting in” with a new group 3 3 4 8 0
6. Communicating with project faculty 1 3 3 10 0
7. Preparing for formal research presentations 2 3 3 9 0
8. Working collaboratively with other undergraduates 5 4 2 6 0
9. Working independently to find answers to questions 2 4 5 6 0
10. Working collaboratively with faculty mentors 0 4 6 7 0
11. Working collaboratively with graduate students 6 3 3 5 0
12. Conducting a literature review 5 5 6 1 0
13. Writing a technical report 3 4 6 4 0
14. Analyzing data 2 2 7 6 0
15. Dealing with unanticipated delays in conducting research 1 3 5 7 1
16. Submitting a paper for publication 1 8 3 4 1
17. Applying to graduate school 2 4 7 4 0
18. Obtaining a graduate degree 2 5 5 5 0
19. Making a technical presentation 2 4 5 6 0
20. Asking for help when I don’t understand something 2 1 5 9 0 21. Learning to use equipment and/or software related to my
research 2 4 2 8 1
Student Responses -2
Statements
Level of Agreement/Disagreement Strongly
Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
31. I plan to obtain a graduate degree. 9 6 2 0
32. I need more information about careers in engineering. 5
33. I have good knowledge about how to apply to graduate school. 3 10 4 0
34. I believe it was worth my time to participate in the SUPER program. 12 5 0 0
35. I have good knowledge about what it takes to conduct research. 9 6 2 0
Student Responses - 3
Components of the SUPER Experience
Your Perception of the Value Very
Valuable Valuable Somewhat Valuable
Not Valuable
Not Sure
36. Working on my research project 9 7 1 0 0
37. Mentoring by faculty 9 3 3 0 1
38. Working with graduate students 5 5 4 1 2
39. Working with undergraduates 3 4 4 1 5
40. Lab work 9 6 2 0 0
41. Wednesday sessions 4 4 7 2 0
42. Trip to Texas Instruments 11 1 2 1 2
43. Social outing to Six Flags 7 4 3 2 0
44. Preparing for the oral presentation 7 7 3 0 0
45. Writing the technical paper 10 4 2 1 0
46. Living in the dorm 7 4 1 2 3
47. Overall SUPER program 11 5 1 0 0
Common Themes
• Opportunity to conduct research, learning about nature of research, meeting fellow engineers, learning time management skills
• The most valuable for me about the SUPER experience was to have the opportunity to work with nice and smart people.
• The hands on lab work I did w/ my professor allowed me to really utilize what I learned in the classroom to real life experience. This is my most valuable experience
SUPER - Transfer
• Open to 10 students to conduct research projects
• 8 weeks during the summer under the banner of SUPER-Transfer (Summer Undergraduate Program in Engineering Research for transfer students).
Features
• Students who have completed at least two years of study in a community college with a grade of B or better in Calculus I. Their overall Grade point average should be 3.0 or higher at the end of the previous spring semester.
• Participants in the 8 week program are provided a stipend of $2,500, and tuition for one hour of college credit (if needed).
• SUPER-Transfer will also provide avenues for the students to participate in non-academic, social activities to foster team spirit.
Building Bridges
• ENGR 1201 – Introduction to Engineering– Taught in Community Colleges– Plan to co-teach in CC
• WECM Question– Bridge courses in math (summer)– ABET accredited Engineering Technology
Conclusions
• Bottlenecks cannot be sorted out overnight, but can be overcome with good communication
• Remember: students are the most important part of transfer process
• A multi-pronged approach is needed – combination of research activities, bridge course and tight articulation