Battlefield Perceptions of Engineering: An Institutional Response to Absent Pathways and Missing Engineering Students

这个工程教育研究项目将提供有关退伍军人对工程的信念以及这些信念与该领域现状之间的差异的基本知识，并开发以领导力为重点的干涉性课程，以帮助退伍军人在工程学位课程中取得成功。为了填补关于退伍军人信念的知识空白，团队将采访退伍军人的焦点小组。收集的数据将用于制定和部署三种干预措施：为招聘会制定可移动的课程，选择学者导师作为退伍军人融入活动的校园领导者，以及举办领导力研讨会。这个项目更广泛的意义和重要性在于为那些管理退伍军人工程项目的人提供退伍军人对工程的看法的数据，并开发研究工具，可用于计划退伍军人进入高等教育。这些数据可以重振工程，并为退伍军人提供终身的机会。该提案的重点是在纽约州建立网络和伙伴关系，这可以作为其他希望解决退伍军人向大学过渡问题的州、团体和联邦政府的案例研究。

This engineering education research project will both provide fundamental knowledge about veterans' beliefs of engineering and the difference between those beliefs and the actuality of the field, as well as develop interventional classes focused on leadership to help veterans succeed in engineering degree programs. To fill in the knowledge gap about veterans' beliefs, the team will interview focus groups of veterans. The data collected will be used to develop and deploy three interventions: a transportable curriculum for career fairs, choosing scholar-mentors as on campus leaders in veteran integration activities, and a leadership seminar.The broader significance and importance of this project are to provide data on veterans' beliefs about engineering to those who administer programs to pipeline veterans to engineering, and develop research tools that can be used in planning for the influx of veterans into higher education. Such data can reinvigorate engineering and provide life-long opportunities for veterans. The broad focus of the proposal on creating networks and partnerships in New York may serve as a case study for other states, groups, and the Federal government wishing to address veteran to university transition issues.