Board 184: A Layered Mentoring Approach for Engineering Excellence

Katherine Acton; Jennifer E. Holte; Deborah Besser; Kundan Nepal

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: NSF Grantees Poster Session
Tagged Topic: NSF Grantees Poster Session
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/46748

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Jennifer Holte is on the faculty in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of St. Thomas and serves as the School of Engineering's Community College and Transfer Coordinator. She holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

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Deborah Besser University of St. Thomas

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Deb Besser, PE(CA), is the Associate Dean and founding chair of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering. She works closely with the Center for Engineering Education and Study Abroad programs. Her research focuses on engineering education including inclusive pedagogy and intercultural learning. Research grants include KEEN and NSF grants. Prior to her academic career, she was a design engineer with HNTB Corporation and completed new design and seismic rehabilitation of high-profile transportation structures.

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Kundan Nepal University of St. Thomas

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Kundan Nepal is currently Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering in the School of Engineering at the University of St.Thomas (MN). He teaches courses in areas of Engineering Design, Digital Electronics and Embedded Systems

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Abstract

The Alternative Pathways to Excellence (APEX) Program at the University of St. Thomas, funded by NSF as an S-STEM Track 2 project, aims to solidify transfer pathways, and assist Engineering students by providing financial, academic, and practical support.

The successful integration of transfer students into engineering programs presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for higher education institutions. The APEX program offers a spectrum of student support services, both structured and informal mentoring, curricular and co-curricular supports, and collaborative activities. The program is designed to forge accessible pathways into engineering careers for students with high academic potential, who are facing financial constraints by granting annual S-STEM scholarships to a select group of students.

This paper describes a layered mentoring approach adopted by our team that encompasses both pre-application and post-application phases. We explore the pivotal roles played by peers, faculty members, and industry advisors in mentoring aspiring engineers through their educational journey.

The paper describes the support structures and strategies implemented before students apply to engineering programs, shedding light on how early mentoring can influence students' preparedness and motivation to pursue engineering degrees. This paper also reports on the ongoing mentoring and support mechanisms vital for transfer students during their engineering studies. Peer mentoring, faculty mentoring, and industry advisor mentorship are all integral components of this stage. Furthermore, the paper discusses the training routines and strategies employed to prepare faculty, industry advisors, and peer mentors for their roles in supporting engineering students. This training ensures that mentors are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to guide students effectively, foster their academic growth, and nurture their professional aspirations.

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Acton, K., & Holte, J. E., & Besser, D., & Nepal, K. (2024, June), Board 184: A Layered Mentoring Approach for Engineering Excellence Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://strategy.asee.org/46748