Recruitment, retention, and service-learning in engineering

Abstract

In this study, an average of nearly 800 students per semester has participated in S-L projects integrated into courses throughout the four-year engineering curriculum at a public university. Over the academic years 2004-2008, an average of 30 core required engineering courses have had S-L projects each year. The hypothesis is that because the students would see with S-L more directly how engineering can improve the lives of those in the local and international community, they would be more motivated to enter and stay in engineering and try to learn the subject matter better. In terms of recruitment, S-L is advertized to prospective students as the number two reason to come to the college (number one is value). Twenty-two percent of first year students at the end of their first semester reported that S-L was one of the reasons for coming to the college, roughly the same as the 24% in December 2007 and 23% and 21% the previous years. In terms of retention, at the end of the spring 2008 semester, from a representative sample of students across 4 years and 5 departments (n = 369), 64% reported that S-L had a positive impact on the likelihood that they would continue in engineering (25% reported a very strong impact, i.e., chose 9 on a Likert scale of 1 - 9), while only 3.5% reported a negative impact, with the rest neutral. Females and underrepresented groups by race indicated a significantly (5%) more positive impact of S-L on retention on average. The retention responses also correlated positively with a number of responses indicative of factors known to affect retention (e.g., relationship with faculty, previous S-L experience). Enrollments have in fact increased, and overall retention has remained about the same over the last three years, but the effect of the S-L program will probably not be felt for some more years as it matures and improves. In conclusion, the effect of S-L on recruitment and retention of engineering students appears to be positive from the students themselves, and underrepresented groups in engineering appear more motivated to persist and be concerned about helping others in the profession. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2009.