The Role of Graduate Student Funding and Engineering Students' Experiences

• In Event: 75.033 - STEM Graduate Education: Challenges and Rewards

Abstract

This mixed methods study sought to understand the relationship between different types of funding mechanisms for engineering graduate students, and how the funding type influences perceived experience and success. Results indicated that the funding mechanism that students selected to fund their graduate engineering education and the sources of advice do indeed have a relation on perceived success. These results follow extant literature, however our findings also indicate that institutions should better consider and understand the implications that funding mechanisms have on students as they understand what they believe is true about success in graduate school.

Authors

• Thomas M Bluestein, Radford University

• Mayra S Artiles, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Dustin Grote, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Catherine Amelink, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University