THE GENESIS OF TRANSFORMATION: PREVENTING 'FAILURE TO LAUNCH' SYNDROME IN GENERATION IY FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING STUDENTS

摘要

Students who fail to identify with engineering at the very beginning of their studies will often become retention statistics. The second semester is already too late to introduce students to engineering activities, and the senior year is too late to introduce professionalism in order for students to make the successful transition to workplace engineer. In order to combat high attrition rates and prepare students to be the engineers of 2020, the first course in engineering has been reworked and implemented at LeTourneau University. This new course, required for all first year engineering students, is intended to increase retention in the engineering program by providing "iY Generation" students with a realistic view of what "real" engineers do and what is expected of engineering students. The course attempts to engage this new type of first semester engineering student with engineering flavored in-class activities and labs (e.g. wind generator design with wind tunnel testing) to provide a balance to the non-engineering core courses (Calculus, Chemistry, English) that fill the first year of the engineering curriculum.