The development of students' engineering identity revolves around cultivating their technical skills (Chachra et al., 2008; Meyers et al., 2012), and they rely on feedback to provide competence information with respect to engineering work (Godwin, 2014). This study explores the relationship between achievement goal orientations and…

The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of women engineering students through socialization processes during their cooperative education, co-op, experience., in which students gain work experience in their chose industries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with female engineering students who have completed at least…

This dissertation is split into two objectives: (1) to better understand the effect of relative humidity (RH) on charge transfer between metal electrodes and water droplets and (2) to assess the impact of The Design of Coffee, a general education, introductory chemical engineering course, on non-STEM students' ability to understand fundamental…

This quantitative research study analyzes the Practice Exam Program (PEP), a supplemental academic resource provided to KU School of Engineering students to improve retention to the university and persistence to engineering degrees. Utilizing institutional data, the study examines 1,590 first semester first-year engineering students who entered KU…

Engineering programs at historically White institutions (HWIs) often perpetuate stereotypes and racism against Black students, impacting their experiences and opportunities in the field. Minority engineering programs (MEPs) provide support and resources to minority students in engineering, challenging stereotypes and fostering positive identity…

The problem of the study was to determine if the use of a reflective writing assessment at the beginning, middle, and end of a college semester indicated an industrial technology student's knowledge and skills related to technological and engineering literacy. Experiences gained during project-based learning activities were used as the basis for…

This exploratory study attempted to determine if there were specific precollege or college experiences that female engineering students have had that impacted their perceived social self-confidence. Particularly, the study focused on female engineering students enrolled at private institutions of higher education. The study focused on private…

Despite decades of initiatives, engineering education continues to lack diversity. The proportion of women, BIPOC, LGBTQA+, low-income, first-generation, and disabled students in engineering education remains below national population levels. The culture of engineering is a barrier to increasing participation in engineering for students from these…

This mixed-method study explored female students' sense of belonging while studying in a mechanical engineering program. Mechanical engineering has one of the lowest proportions of women and remains one of the least chosen majors of female engineering students. To start to understand why, it is important to have research focused specifically on…

The purpose of this proposal was to examine how User Experience (UX) design principles can enhance traditional instructional design techniques in an online learning environment. Much of traditional instructional design methods come from a pre-internet era in an age in which online learning is growing exponentially (Troop et al., 2020).…

The benefits of experiential education are well known and a popular discussion topic on college campuses. The value of participation in a co-op work experience is recognized by employers, but not necessarily by the students they are hoping to hire. This study sought to determine whether or not students who did participate in a co-op found their…

The increasing complexity of modern power systems, coupled with the integration of diverse rapidly evolving technologies involving physical systems requiring cybersecurity, has presented significant challenges for engineers in the field and researchers in laboratory facilities. This research and dissertation presents the development of a…

Persistence and graduation rates continue to be important student success outcomes for engineering programs. In part, these outcomes reflect the effectiveness of the educational experience that has been delivered to the students. This educational experience is shaped by three main factors: 1) the organizational context, 2) the peer environment,…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the academic impact of a technology-based instructional module for content vocabulary instruction in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Introduction to Engineering course. The goal of the study was to answer two key questions: (1) How does implementing a technology-based instructional module impact…

This study explores students' perspectives regarding high school students receiving an Applied Associate of Science (AAS) degree while taking dual enrollment with career and technical education courses in the Engineering Systems Technology (EST) program. Using a qualitative study, the research captures the experiences and viewpoints of program…