Meeting the graduate 10K+ challenge: Enhancing the climate for persistence and success in engineering (ECliPSE)

Abstract

The aim of our project is to significantly increase 1st and 2nd year retention rates and graduation rates in engineering and computer science at our institution. Our work has sought to re-form the undergraduate student experience in our college into one with a more welcoming climate, promoting strong faculty-student interactions and best practices in engineering education. In particular, we have focused on a multi-pronged approach to improving the quality of instruction and academic advising through a synergistic series of activities including: a well-supported faculty development program in teaching; the redesign of gateway courses and implementation of innovative and active learning pedagogies; guidance for faculty in their advising practice; and extension of previously tested first year academic support into the second year. over the course of this project, the two-year retention rate in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University has increased from 63% to 80%. The four and six-year graduation rates have also increased by 10 percentage points each. Student performance has improved significantly in gateway courses taught by faculty who have participated in more intensive faculty development programs (e.g. multi-day workshops). Successful academic support services, such as our Academic Excellence Workshop (AEW) courses, have been extended to almost all 2nd year courses in the college and students who participate in two or more AEW courses are retained in the college at a rate of nearly 100%.