ECSEL Coalition techniques and results for improving retention

Abstract

Summary form only given. ECSEL, one of the first of the NSF-sponsored Engineering Education Coalitions, has been engaged in an ambitious and multifaceted effort, woven around the twin goals of the transformation of the learning environment and improving attraction and retention rates, particularly for underrepresented groups. The diverse platform of schools in the coalition, as well as the diverse approaches that have been developed at the various schools, offer us the opportunity to gain insight into a variety of aspects of the interplay between these twin goals. We present results to date on the impact of changes in the learning environment, both in-class and out-of-class, on retention of students in engineering in our seven schools. The focus in our first five years has been primarily on the first two years of the undergraduate program, as well as on K-12 outreach efforts, while in Years 6-10, we are placing a heavy emphasis on upper level interdisciplinary design experiences. Our presentation outlines how what we have learned as a coalition in Years 1-5 informs the strategies for our newer efforts.