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

7

Corporate Involvement

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