Engineering Technology Graduates: A Survey of Demographics and Mentoring
- Conference
- Location
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Tampa, Florida
- Publication Date
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June 15, 2019
- Start Date
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June 15, 2019
- End Date
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June 19, 2019
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Engineering Technology
- Tagged Topic
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Diversity
- Page Count
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13
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--32739
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/32739
- Download Count
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349
Paper Authors
Anne M. Lucietto
Purdue Polytechnic Institute
orcid.org/0000-0003-0053-753X
Dr. Lucietto has focused her research in engineering technology education and the understanding of engineering technology students. She teaches in an active learning style which engages and develops practical skills in the students. Currently she is exploring the performance and attributes of engineering technology students and using that knowledge to engage them in their studies.
Elizabeth Dell Rochester Institute of Technology
Professor Dell is an associate professor in the Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology department at RIT. She serves as the Faculty Associate to the Provost for Women Faculty. Her research interests include: characterization of biodegradable plastics and environmental consideration in materials selection for production design, and effective strategies for increasing diversity in STEM disciplines.
Elaine M. Cooney Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis
Elaine Cooney is a Professor and Program Director of Electrical Engineering Technology at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Elaine is a leader in the development of core competency documents for Engineering Technology for State of Indiana's Transfer Single Articulation legislation. She is also a Senior IDEAL Scholar with ABET, which means that she presents assessment workshops with other Senior IDEAL Scholars.
Liza Ann Russell Purdue University
Liza Russell is an Undergraduate Researcher working under Dr. Lucietto. She is a student at Purdue University, pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering. She began working under Dr. Lucietto in the summer of 2017 as a part of Purdue's Summer Stay Scholars program and has thus far continued her work. In addition to her Mechanical Engineering coursework, Liza is pursuing minors in Physics and Anthropology. Outside of class, she serves as Treasurer of Convocations Volunteer Network (CVN) and is a member of Tau Beta Pi.
Emily Schott Purdue University
Emily Schott is an Undergraduate Researcher working under Dr. Lucietto. She began working for Dr. Lucietto in the summer of 2018 as part of Purdue's Summer Stay Scholars Program. She is a junior in Aerospace Engineering and is pursuing a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Emily is also a member of the Purdue Society of Professional Engineers Chain Reaction Machine Team and is helping to plan next year's Amelia Earhart Aerospace Summit at Purdue.
Abstract
Early in 2017, a team of engineering technology practitioners along with others interested in the state of engineering technology published a report entitled “Engineering Technology Education in the United States.” This report garnered a list of recommendations and things that needed to be investigated to further our understanding of this student population; specifically focusing on the students and how they relate to other students studying both similar and different material.
A team of like-minded engineering technology education researchers have been working together to ascertain the answers to the findings. They prepared two surveys, obtained institutional approval, and distributed it throughout the United States. One survey was designed to query undergraduate students and the other student graduates or those who have already graduated. This paper is intended to provide a high-level review of what was found in the graduate survey, while future journal publications will take a deeper look into some of the prevailing issues identified by the report.
The survey was designed to address issues described in the report as “loose coupling” of completed degrees and employment. In this case, we are examining the demographics of graduates and potential influences of their career and academic choices. Later work will focus more on salaries and other factors that influence engineering technology graduates and their lives post-graduation.
Responding graduates are closely aligned to the graduate demographic with nearly 57% male and nearly 42% female. Since STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) graduates were polled, the number is expected to be closer to par, representing the general graduate population. Most students were white, followed by Hispanic and Asian; other races are far fewer in number. Nearly 17% of the graduates began their studies in a two-year institution, and the balance at a 4-year institution. Thirty-three percent of the respondents stated they had a graduate degree. This paper will focus on the engineering technology graduate subset of the STEAM graduate survey respondents.
Lucietto, A. M., & Dell, E., & Cooney, E. M., & Russell, L. A., & Schott, E. (2019, June), Engineering Technology Graduates: A Survey of Demographics and Mentoring Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32739
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