This engineering education research initiation grant involves a comprehensive study to understand how students? experiences at an academic institution affect students? interest in pursuing a degree in engineering. The study aims to understand the role of classroom and out of classroom experiences in influencing students? persistence in engineering. The project will generate new knowledge on activities and experiences that promote retention and those that promote non-persistence.
The broader significance and importance of this project is that it will help to identify events and experiences that promote students? persistence in engineering. By understanding the role of the environment in persistence, engineering programs can devise better interventions to deal with the problem of attrition. This project overlaps with NSF's strategic goals of educating and preparing a diverse, world class STEM workforce.
