Enriching the Diversity of the Engineering Workforce: Addressing Missed Opportunities to Support Student Transition from a Two- to a Four-Year Institution

Insights on Retention of Underrepresented Minority Electrical and Computer Engineering Transfer Students (Experience)

“…Since the ETS project ended, TAMU COE has partnered with Chevron and several two-year institutions across Texas to form the Engineering Academies [9], [10]. The Engineering Academies are unique programs in which students are co-enrolled at the two-year institutions for one or two years and then transition to complete their TAMU engineering bachelor degrees in residence at College Station, TX.…”

“…The Engineering Academies programs include components that address several concerns that ETS participants noted in their transfer experiences: building a community of academic peers, aligning pre-transfer coursework with eventual degree requirements to minimize non-transferable courses, and acclimating transfer students to the TAMU campus culture. Students in the Engineering Academies begin their journeys in cohorts and take math, science, and engineering courses together at their two-year institutions [9], [10]. Coursework for participants in the Engineering Academies aligns with engineering degree plans at TAMU, and COE faculty reside and teach at each of the two-year institutions [9].…”

“…Students in the Engineering Academies begin their journeys in cohorts and take math, science, and engineering courses together at their two-year institutions [9], [10]. Coursework for participants in the Engineering Academies aligns with engineering degree plans at TAMU, and COE faculty reside and teach at each of the two-year institutions [9]. During their first and/or second years at their two-year institutions, students enrolled at the Engineering Academies visit the TAMU campus in College Station for engagement experiences to help acclimate the students for their eventual residence there.…”

“…During their first and/or second years at their two-year institutions, students enrolled at the Engineering Academies visit the TAMU campus in College Station for engagement experiences to help acclimate the students for their eventual residence there. Past engagement experiences included attendance at sporting events and participation in the engineering career fair and in dedicated TAMU career center and TAMU academic success center sessions [9].…”