In the fall of 2007, the College of Engineering introduced the Freshman Engineering Program, with a goal of raising retention and graduation rates, as well as introducing students to the different engineering disciplines and the academic standards of the College of Engineering. Four years later, the first group of Freshman Engineering students are graduating at a higher rate than would have been expected before the program started.

“Previously, based on the size of the incoming class, we would have expected 62 students to graduate in four years, and instead, we are expecting 88 of these students to graduate.” said Richard Cassady, professor of industrial engineering and director of the program.

Cassady explained that the Freshman Engineering Program provides several different resources to incoming students. In addition to an Introduction to Engineering course, which helps students choose which field of engineering they want to concentrate on, the program also provides tutoring, academic and career advising, access to a study area and computer lab and peer mentoring.

Every student in the program is paired with a student mentor, who can help guide the freshman through his or her first year.

“That part of the program is really crucial,” said Maci Dickson, an industrial engineering major and Honors College student who has been through the Freshman Engineering program and has also been a peer mentor. “Hearing things from an upperclassman is really important,” Dickson explained.

Christina Smith, another former Freshman Engineering student, agrees. “It was really nice to meet another female in engineering who was able to give me some guidance,” she said. Smith also appreciated the chance to explore different engineering disciplines before choosing a major. “It’s good that they expose you to the different types of engineering,” she said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do; I liked being able to have that first year to decide.”

The staff of the Freshman Engineering program is always looking for ways to improve students’ experience in the program. In its second year, the program added a research opportunity for honors students, and the staff has worked with the math department to improve math placement for its students. Cassady hopes to continue to see the numbers rise. “We’re looking toward the 6-year graduation rate,” he explained. “That’s the big one.”