ENG2 Builds Better Students

October 8, 2008 —Engineering Engagement for Student Success (ENG2), one of the College of Engineering’s (COE) most recent academic initiatives, is designed to increase the retention and graduation rates of engineering and construction management students during the pre-college, freshman, and sophomore years. This multi-faceted and inclusive COE project engages students, faculty, staff, and industry participants to build a collaborative community that benefits all parties. Enhanced support and success of the College of Engineering’s undergraduate programs are particularly important, given the impact of recent catastrophic events on the region’s academic institutions.

ENG2 seeks to raise the COE’s cumulative sixth-year graduation rate by 3-4 percent per year to a six-year goal of 50 percent. Achieving this goal will put the COE closer in line with the current average graduation rate for all entering LSU freshmen, and based on the typical size of the freshman class over the past six years, increase the number of engineering graduates by almost 100 students per year by 2012.

A team of faculty directs ENG2 and the Minority Engineering Program (MEP). Student professional organizations, and the local professional community of practicing engineers play important roles in the project.

ENG2 is building upon the findings of numerous researchers in the various academic and professional fields involved as well as input from constituents to all our programs. Active faculty involvement, earlier connection to the engineering community, improved self-management skills, and interaction with industry professionals are recognized as keys leading to students’ success. Each of these are addressed by the following ENG2 actions and activities:

Establishing the E2 Encounter Engineering program, a summer “bridge type” program to jump start pre-freshman in academic content and university-life experiences and expectancies;
Expanding the successful Minority Engineering Program activities to integrate all incoming engineering students, while neither diluting nor spotlighting efforts on behalf of women and under-represented groups;
Providing the environment and training necessary to develop mentoring relationships among students, faculty and practicing professional partners;
Providing opportunities for faculty development and engagement to improve student learning and provide better faculty-student interaction; and
Establishing mechanisms for effective monitoring and continual improvement.

Through ENG2 programs, the College of Engineering intends to lay the proper foundation for students to successfully navigate the academic challenges they face as engineering undergraduates.

Support for ENG2 programs are supported by the Forever LSU Campaign. Forever LSU is LSU’s largest fundraising effort in its history, with a goal of generating more than $750 million in support for LSU by the end of the year 2010. To find out how you can become LSU’s next hero through the Forever LSU campaign, visit www.foreverlsu.org.