Assessment of Short and Longer-term Impacts of a 1-credit Chemical Engineering First-Year Seminar.

Authors

  • Deborah S. Goldberg University of Maryland, College Park
  • Ganesh Sriram University of Maryland, College Park

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18260/2-1-370.660-129531

Abstract

We report the short- and longer-term impacts of offering a 1-credit introductory seminar to first-year chemical engineering students. Students who completed the seminar demonstrated a better awareness of the major, career opportunities, and academic success strategies than students who did not enroll in the seminar. A longer-term comparison showed that even though students who opted to enroll in the seminar were less confident to start, by graduation there were no significant differences in retention or academic performance between students who did or did not take the seminar course. Therefore, we encourage departments to consider offering a chemical engineering first-year seminar.

Author Biographies

Deborah S. Goldberg, University of Maryland, College Park

Deborah S. Goldberg, PhD. is a senior lecturer in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park.  She earned her BS in chemical engineering, her PhD in bioengineering, and worked in the biopharmaceutical industry for six years before joining the University of Maryland in 2016. She developed and co-teaches the first-year chemical engineering seminar and has spearheaded initiatives including a peer mentoring program, pedagogical training of teaching fellows, and implementation of learning communities. 

Ganesh Sriram, University of Maryland, College Park

Ganesh Sriram, PhD. is an associate professor and chair of undergraduate studies in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. He oversees the undergraduate program and is committed to its continued improvement. He co-teaches the first-year chemical engineering seminar and has spearheaded departmental efforts including development of novel course modules, development of a manual of prerequisite concepts in chemical engineering, development of learning communities, and the pedagogical training of teaching fellows.

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Published

2022-04-14

Issue

Vol. 56 No. 3 (2022): Summer 2022

Section

Manuscripts