Assessing Upper Level Students to Determine the Impact of First-Year Engineering Programs: A Review of Existing Tools and Processes

• In Event: Poster Session 16
  In Poster Session: Education and Assessment in the Professions Poster Session

Abstract

Engineering programs with an integrated first-year curriculum, referred to as first-year engineering programs (FYE), have reported success in retaining students and ensuring timely graduation. The practice of measuring student retention and graduation rates of FYE students to demonstrate program relevance are commonplace. Beyond these common practices, this paper seeks to understand ways in which FYE programs assess and measure their upper-level students to better understand program effectiveness. Historical and current examples of indicators and measures utilized by FYE programs include professional and technical skills, communication skills, grade performance in subsequent courses to FYE, and rates of participation in co-op/internship experiences. This research provides a foundation for FYE programs nationwide to reflect on their own assessment efforts and establish future endeavors.

Authors

• Brad Hubbard, University of Kentucky

• Janet K Lumpp, University of Kentucky

• Kelly D. Bradley, University of Kentucky