Professionalism in engineering technology: A study of final course grades, student professionalism, attendance, and punctuality

Abstract

Final course grades and professionalism grades were compared to determine statistically significant differences for (1) students with 90% or higher final course grades, (2) students with 80–90% final course grades, (3) students with 70–80% final course grades, (4) students with 0–70% final course grades, and (5) all students with a final course grade. Forty-one engineering technology courses were offered over 16 semesters (fall 2013 through fall 2018) in 100% online, face-to-face, and hybrid formats. Student populations were both undergraduate and graduate (master’s) students in engineering technology courses at one Midwestern university. A total of 729 students were involved in the study. Study results indicate that professionalism grades, in terms of attendance and punctuality, were high (median of 93.33–100%) for students earning 80–100% median final course grades. Students earning 70–80% mean final course grades were less motivated to earn high professionalism grades— earning a 75.20% mean. There was little difference between final course grades and professionalism grades for students earning less than a 70% median for a final course grade. The aggregate of all student final course grades (median of 91.35%) in comparison to professionalism grades (median of 98.28%) yielded a significant difference.