Engineering accreditation criteria, as well as the Engineer of 2020 report, list lifelong learning as a critical attribute of future engineers. While exercises can be embedded in engineering curricula that promote independent learning, assessing the level at which lifelong learning has been achieved is difficult. The first year engineering curriculum at Louisiana Tech University provides activities that support development of lifelong learning skills. Examples include the requirement of student attendance at professional society meetings or service functions and independent research into global and societal issues that are likely to influence their careers. Our project-based curriculum requires skills beyond those imparted in the classroom. For example, students must learn with little or no classroom instruction to create parts and assemblies with a 3D modeling tool, to diagnose technical problems with their projects, and to learn to implement sensors as part of their design projects. By analyzing student questionnaires and curricular content, we measure the numbers of activities that promote lifelong learning as well as the extent to which these activities are completed independently. This paper will provide an overview of our first year engineering experience as well as the assessment results that help us measure the extent of lifelong learning.