METS: a collaboration to assist students transitioning into engineering from the community colleges to the university

Abstract

The METS project-Maricopa Engineering Transition Scholars -is a two-year pilot collaboration between Arizona State University (ASU) and MaricopaCounty Community College District (MCCCD) funded by the National Science Foundation. The project is designed to 1) recruit, 2) retain and 3) graduate engineering transfer students. The project targets MCCCD women and underrepresented minority students.The research-grounded project activities were designed based on analysis of best practices piloted over many years at both MCCCD and ASU. Three of the METS activities include: Be an Engineer event designed to interest students in engineering by allowing them to participate in "hands-on" engineering activities at local community colleges, Pizza with a Professor to allow students to interact with an ASU professor, and METS workshops on survival strategies for students who have transferred from a community college to the ASU Fulton School of Engineering.The paper discusses what we have learned to date about the METS activities which are the most effective to assist community college students who transition into engineering.METS activities also assist community college students transferring from a two-year community college to a 4-year engineering program at ASU. In addition, the paper provides an analysis of community college students seeking engineering degrees by demographics, motivation, and needs and provides trends in enrollment, retention, and graduation.

An Academic Scholarship Program For Transfer Students In Engineering And Computer Science: A Five Year Summary

“…We work with the MCCCD colleges and, if at all possible, support their transferring CSEMS scholars. 4,5,6…”

Community College Transfer Students: Does Gender Make A Difference?

“…The Motivating Engineering Transfer Students (METS) program in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University includes a support program especially for the new transfer students through a METS Center where the students can study, relax, socialize, and attend workshops. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] In addition, there is a National Science Foundation supported academic scholarship program for transfer students which gives them financial support as well as help in learning, finding resources, engaging in research, and encouragement to graduate and to attend graduate school. 22,23 Gender Issues for Transfer Students: Freeman 24 discusses recruiting and retention effectiveness and in particular addresses persistence in community colleges and the engineering discipline, as well as the persistence of minorities and women.…”

Recruiting and Retention of Engineering Students: Using a One Year Scholarship at Two-Year Partner Schools

“…The first-generation college students population has been given additional scrutiny for encouragement to study engineering as colleges and universities have attempted to draw in engineering students through the community or junior colleges [18][19][20] . More recently, community colleges and baccalaureate institutions have collaborated to deliberately design practices and coursework to optimize the enrollment and retention of women and minorities into engineering degree programs [21][22][23][24] .…”