A Freshman Design Experience: Multidisciplinary Design of a Potable Water Treatment Plant
Abstract
To increase the retention of engineering freshmen and to provide them a design experience in their first year, we developed a course that focused on a multidisciplinary design of a water treatment plant. An existing course, Introduction to Engineering, served as the course foundation. Overall, the students scored the class as a positive learning experience, successfully built and operated a pilot plant, and the retention rate is 62%, which represents a significant improvement in retention.