Research Experience for Undergraduates – Motivating and Retaining Bright Engineering Students

Abstract

From 1997–2000, the National Science Foundation has funded a research program at Florida International University with the purpose of encouraging bright engineering undergraduates to pursue graduate degrees and careers in engineering. The program was initiated because of a realization that the first two years of the undergraduate curriculum is full of math-intensive courses that undergraduates find to be very difficult and often perceive them as irrelevant. As a result, many good students get disillusioned with engineering and transfer to other majors. Our hypothesis is that if they get involved in applied projects early in their academic programs and have a chance to participate in real engineering design, they will be motivated to complete their engineering degrees. The long term success of the REU program cannot be measured until the careers of these students are established. However, immediate results can be seen both quantitatively and anecdotally. At the completion of each academic year and summer session, participating students Fill out questionnaires about their experience in the program and their plans for the future. Their responses indicate a strong likelihood for retention in engineering. The students' actions also indicate success. Several of the students have pursued internships and other extra curricular activities in the subject areas of their projects, suggesting that they plan to pursue these areas further. Early participation in research projects clearly provides motivation for students.