Impact of a Two-Day Workshop on Chemical Engineering Second-Year Students

Authors

  • Bradley A. Cicciarelli Louisiana Tech University, United States
  • Eric A. Sherer United States
  • Timothy C. Reeves Louisiana Tech University, United States
  • Steven R. Toaddy Louisiana Tech University, United States
  • Marisa K. Orr Clemson University, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18260/2-1-370.660-136993

Abstract

To address attrition early in the chemical engineering curriculum, we provided students the opportunity to attend a two-day workshop focused on the major.  Workshop attendees received information about upcoming courses and career paths and interacted with upper-level students and faculty in the major. Surveys were administered to assess student’s self-efficacy and integration, and statistically significant increases were found in the chemical engineering self-efficacy, coping self-efficacy, and social and academic integration ratings of workshop attendees.

Accessibility Summary:

In accordance with Title II regulations this content meets all points of exemption as Archived web content and/or Preexisting conventional electronic documents.

Author Biographies

Bradley A. Cicciarelli, Louisiana Tech University, United States

Brad Cicciarelli is a Distinguished Lecturer in the chemical engineering and mechanical engineering departments at Louisiana Tech University. He earned a B.S. from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. from M.I.T., both in chemical engineering. He teaches a variety of courses, including material and energy balances, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and mass transfer.

Corresponding author: bradc@latech.edu

Eric A. Sherer, United States

Eric Sherer is a Staff Data Scientist at Corteva Agriscience. He received a BS in chemical engineering from Caltech and a PhD in chemical engineering from Purdue University and was an Associate Professor in chemical engineering at Louisiana Tech University before joining Corteva Agriscience.

Timothy C. Reeves, Louisiana Tech University, United States

Timothy Reeves is a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana Tech University.  He began teaching there in 2013. His primary teaching area is Dynamics. He holds a Ph.D. from Clemson University in Mechanical Engineering/Solid Mechanics.

Steven R. Toaddy, Louisiana Tech University, United States

Dr. Steven Toaddy (affectionately known as ./) is an Associate Professor and Department Head of Psychology at Louisiana Tech University who, when not upskilling his undergraduate, Master’s, and Ph.D. students directly, works with those and other individuals to explore and realize paths towards the future of work. He has an abiding interest in workplace experiences of affect and of fairness, is decidedly O focused, and is contagiously impractical.

Marisa K. Orr, Clemson University, United States

Marisa K. Orr is an Associate Professor in Engineering and Science Education with a joint appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University. Her research interests include student persistence and pathways in engineering, gender equity, diversity, and academic policy. Dr. Orr is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award for her research entitled, ”Empowering Students to be Adaptive Decision-Makers.”

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Published

2025-02-03

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 2 (2025): Spring 2025

Section

Manuscripts