Seminar Series | Weaving Students Into Engineering versus Weeding Them Out

Abstract

For much of its history, engineering has worked to weed out all but the perceived “brightest and best”. While collectively we have broadened our view of who can do engineering in recent years, the weed-out philosophy still perpetuates many of our structures, policies, mindsets, traditions, and approaches in engineering education. It’s time to update our notions of teaching and learning engineering. Our WINWO (Weaving in not weeding out) initiative has talked with a variety of experts and students across the nation this last year to develop a draft framework of evidence-based practices that help institutions change their recruiting., admissions, onboarding, and student skills development practices, as well as make curricular and policy change. 
 
In this research development session, we will ask the following questions:
What perspectives, ideas, approaches, etc., are missing from this framework? What is redundant?
How well does the framework communicate and connect people to the identified evidence-based practices?
What evidence-based practices are we missing in the identified areas?
How could we help institutions assess their areas of need with respect to the framework?
What training might institutions need before using the framework?
How might institutions use the framework to implement needed changes?
How could we construct an effective pilot program for institutions interesting in helping us advance this effort?

Biography

Dr. Carpenter is Founding Dean and Professor of Engineering at Campbell University and President of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). An expert on issues impacting success of women in STEM and innovative STEM curricula, she has held national leadership roles including ASEE Vice President, WEPAN (Women in Engineering ProActive Network) President, and Mathematical Association of America First Vice-President. In addition, she chaired the National Academies Ad Hoc Committee on the Gulf Scholars Program.

Dr. Carpenter is co-recipient of the 2022 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Techology Education from the National Academy of Engineering, recognizing her contributions as one of the pioneers of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program. Carpenter is an ABET Program Evaluator and on the Executive Committee of the Global Engineering Deans Council. In 2015 DreamBox Learning selected her as one of 10 Women in STEM Who Rock! for her advocacy and TEDx talk, “Engineering: Where are the Girls and Why aren’t They Here?”, the only academic on a list of CEOs, politicians, and actresses. She received the 2019 ASEE Sharon Keillor Award for Women in Engineering Education, as well as the 2018 WEPAN Founder’s Award and 2013 WEPAN Distinguished Service Award.