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Math Preparation and Progress of Undergraduate Students in Civil Engineering Programs in Virginia

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Conference

ASEE Southeast Section Conference

Location

Arlington, Virginia

Publication Date

March 12, 2023

Start Date

March 12, 2023

End Date

March 14, 2023

Conference Session

Mathematics and Material Science

Tagged Topic

Professional Engineering Education Papers

Page Count

12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--45026

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/45026

Download Count

42

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Paper Authors

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Rebekah L Martin Virginia Military Institute Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-8188-7683

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Dr. Martin completed her bachelor's in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Bucknell University and her PhD in Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech. She is currently an assistant professor at VMI teaching fluids, environmental engineering and water resources courses. Her research focuses on drinking water quality and public health. She also co-advises the newly formed Society of Women Engineers at VMI.

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Charles D Newhouse P.E. Virginia Military Institute

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Charles D. “Chuck” Newhouse received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech after working nine years as a consulting structural engineer for MMM Design Group in Norfolk, Virginia. He spent three years teaching at Texas Tech University before joining the faculty at the Virginia Military Institute in 2008 where he is now the Charles S. Luck, Jr. ’20 Institute Professor in Engineering. He is also currently serving as the department head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department.

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Matthew K Swenty P.E. Virginia Military Institute Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-1166-3817

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Matthew (Matt) Swenty obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Civil Engineering from Missouri S&T and then worked as a bridge designer at the Missouri Department of Transportation. He obtained his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech and worked at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center on bridge research. He is currently The Jackson-Hope Professor of Civil Engineering at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He teaches engineering mechanics and structural engineering courses and enjoys working with the students on bridge related research projects and the ASCE student chapter.

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Kacie Caple D'Alessandro Virginia Military Institute

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Abstract

Math preparation and progress continue to be roadblocks for incoming undergraduate engineering students, with each college or university addressing these issues in its own manner. At Virginia Military Institute, the Civil Engineering faculty advisers consistently work with cadets to progress in the math curriculum, maintain proper sequence with the Civil Engineering degree program, and ultimately graduate on time. Culminating in Differential Equations, students begin the math sequence in Pre-Calculus or begin at a higher level of math if they score well on the math placement test or transfer credits from high school. The four-year graduation plan requires students to enter ready to take Calculus I; however, almost half are only prepared for Pre-calculus and are forced to catch up on math. Even with pre-requisites in the curriculum and established math tutoring resources, math progress continues to be an issue and one of the main reasons students discontinue the program. This paper aims to address why math preparation and progress continue to be an issue at Virginia engineering programs and what solutions exist to overcome deficiencies. This study will focus on 1) the math sequences for engineering students at undergraduate engineering programs in Virginia, 2) the standards of learning used by Virginia high schools and when students typically meet these standards, and 3) the programs in place that help students gain math skills to be successful at Virginia undergraduate engineering schools.

Martin, R. L., & Newhouse, C. D., & Swenty, M. K., & D'Alessandro, K. C. (2023, March), Math Preparation and Progress of Undergraduate Students in Civil Engineering Programs in Virginia Paper presented at ASEE Southeast Section Conference, Arlington, Virginia. 10.18260/1-2--45026

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