Research
Persistence in Engineering and Computer Science
This project looks at local and national surveys to understand student persistence. The local survey was designed to investigate aspects of persistence and the reasons behind switching majors. An analysis was performed to determine what impacts student persistence including factors such as major, gender, student-student and student-faculty interactions, and career opportunities. The project focuses on engineering and computer science undergraduate students.
Project Team
Main Faculty Researchers
- Laura E. Brown, Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science - Gretchen L. Hein, Senior Lecturer
Department of Engineering Fundamentals - Nilufer Onder, Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science - Leonard J. Bohmann, Professor and Associate Dean
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Students
Researchers
- Kaitlyn J. Bunker, Ph.D. '14, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Raven R. Rebb, B.S. '14, Computer Science
Publications and Presentations
Conference Proceedings
- Bunker, K.J.; Brown, L.E.; Bohmann, L.J.; Hein, G.L.; Onder, N.; Rebb, R.R. Perceptions and Influencers Affecting Engineering and Computer Science Student Persistence, in Proceedings of Frontiers of Eduction Conference FIE-13, pp. 1138-1144, Oct. 2013.
- Hein, G.; Brown, L.E.; Onder, N.; Bunker, K.J.; Rebb, R.R.; Bohmann, L.J. University Studies of Student Persistence in Engineering and Computer Science, in Proceedings of 119th American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference ASEE-12, June 2012.
Abstract - Bunker, K.J.; Rebb, R.R.; Brown, L.E.; Onder, N.; Hein, G.L. Compositional Effects on the Persistence of Women Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduates, in Proceedings of Women in Engineering ProActive Network Annual Conference WEPAN-12, June 2012.
Abstract | Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C | Appendix D | Appendix E - Bunker, K.J; Rebb, R.R.; Brown, L.E.; Hein, G.; Onder, N.. Why do Women Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduates Persist in their Major, in Proceedings of Women in Engineering ProActive Network Annual Conference WEPAN-11, June 2011.
Paper | Presentation
Panels
- Brown, L.E.; Bohmann, L.J.; Bunker, K.J.; Rebb, R.R.; Onder, N.; Hein, G.L.; Berry, T.; Molter, L.; Litzler, E. Are we there yet? Increasing Student Persistence and Retention in STEM, Women in Engineering ProActive Network National Conference (WEPAN-13), June 20, 2013.
Workshops
- Changing the Culutere: Micro-aggresions and Micro-affirmations, Workshop at Women in Engineering Proactive Network National Conference (WEPAN), June 2014.
Presentations
- Rebb, R.R.; Bunker, K.J.; Brown, L.E.; Onder, N.; Bohmann, L.J.; and Hein, G. People and Organizations Working towards Equity and cultural Responsiveness: The POWER of Diversity, Presented at Annual Conference for Women Engineers (sWE), Oct. 2014.
- Bunker, K.J.; Rebb, R.R.; Brown, L.E.; Onder, N.; Hein, G.; and Bohmann, L.J. Why do Women Engineering Students Persist?, Presented at Annual Conference for Women Engineers (sWE), Nov. 2012.
- Bunker, K.J.; Rebb, R.R.; Brown, L.E.; Onder, N.; Hein, G. An Exploratory Study of Persistence in Engineering and Computer Science, Presented at Annual Conference for Women Engineers (sWE), Oct. 2011.
Poster
- Rebb, R.R.; Bunker, K.J.; Brown, L.E.; Onder, N.; Bohmann, L.J.; Hein, G. Factors on choosing a Computer Science or Engineering Major, Poster at Michigan Celebration of Women in Computing conference (MICWIC), 2013.
Links
Michigan Tech Resources
- Department of Computer Science (CS)
- College of Engineering (CoE)
- Women in Computing Science (WiCS)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI)
- Institutional Diversity (Ins. Div.)
Conferences