Karl Ewald, PhD and Jo-Ann Panzardi, PE
Cabrillo College
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Community College with Mission:
transfer, CTE, life long learning
Head Count: 18,000+; FTES: 10,000+
67% full-time
80% first generation
HSI: 45% Latino/a
Engineering Department
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Transfer Program
Faculty: 1 full-time; 4 adjuncts
Engineering is one of the top five majors
350+ engineering students
43% Latino/a
~50-75 students transfer/year
1995 – 2014 Stats:
62.7% CSU; 21.6% UC;
15.7% Private/Out of State
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Grants:
USDE Title III HSI STEM (2011-16)
NSF EAGER Abroad Program (2014-16)
NSF S-STEM (2015-20)
Cabrillo’s Formula for Success
Incoming Students
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Searching for Direction
Unsure
Insecure
“Outside”
Poor Study Skills
Low Math Scores
Broad STEM Efforts
 STEM Center – MESA, Tutoring, Peer
Leaders, Workshops, Colloquia
 PREP Program
 Committed, Accessible Faculty
Engineering Department
 ENGR 5 – “Engineering as a Profession”
Transferring Students
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Optimistic
Confident
Professional
Involved
Self-directed
Collaborative
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Hands-on Engineering Projects
Engineering is a Helping Profession
Job Shadows (Alumni)
Engineer Your Education
 ENGR 25 – Graphics and Design
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Sustainability – Engineering as Activism
Group Projects
 Scholarships (Alumni)
 Engineering Abroad (EA) Program
Goals of the EA Program:
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Knowledge of Real World Engineering
Commitment to the Engineering Discipline
Professional Skills: Communication, Team Work, Design, …
Understanding that Engineering is Global
Success in Courses, Persistence in Program, and Transfer
Realization that Engineering is a Helping Profession
Structure of the EA Program:
Selection
Process
Preparation
Meetings
Guatemala
Experience
Culmination
Meetings
Out of 25 EA Chosen Students:
17 male; 8 female; 15 Caucasian; 10 Latino/a; 8 returning students; 3 older students; 9 Spanish speakers
Guatemala Experience: Tikal
• Engineering pre-dates modern math and science
Message: “You can adopt an engineering mindset now!”
• Engineering is experiment focused
Message: “Try it! If it works, then it works!”
Structure
Water System
Guatemala Experience: Projects
Additional
Water Storage
Concrete
Tanks
Gutters
Remote
Fill
Health
Pump
Center
• Water, Water, Water…
• Community Driven Collaborations
“Your skills are respected!”
• Skills Meet Needs
“Your skills are valued!”, “You can make a difference!”
Guatemala Experience: Projects
• Real Problems, Real Unknowns
“You can become the expert!”, “You are capable!”
• Engineering is a Problem-Solving Strategy
“Engineering ideas can be used everywhere!”
• Cooperation over Competition
“Share information!”, “We can succeed together!”
Assessment and Evaluation
Qualitative Evaluation:
Self-Assessment Surveys and Focus Groups:
• Start and End of EA Program
• Prior and After the Guatemala Experience
Quantitative Evaluation:
Statistical Analysis: Focus Groups and Comparison Group
• Course Success and Retention
• Transfer
• Time to Transfer
Self Assessment Rankings
Winter 2014
[ 1 to 10 scale, 10 being the highest rank]
n=10
Overall
How businesses are run
Project management/leadership skills
Team work skills
Overall presentation skills
Comfortable interacting with engineers
Overall Industry Skills
Knowledge about social issues
Desire to be involved in your community
How important is community service
Awareness of needs in a community
Engineering is a helping profession
Overall Civic Engagement
Understanding community needs
Connection to the “world community”
Work effectively in a diverse environment
Comfortable interacting with people different cultural
Knowledge that engineering is global
Overall Global-Cultural Skills
PRE POST
Mean Mean
6.5
8.6 (*)
5.8
7.6
6.0
7.7 (*)
6.9
8.4
5.9
8.7 (*)
6.2
8.7 (*)
6.2
8.2 (*)
Mean
Change
2.2
1.8
1.7
1.5
2.8
2.5
2.1
7.3
6.9
7.1
6.6
6.9
7.0
8.6
8.8
8.8
8.9
9.1
8.8
6.1
5.8
6.9
8.3
8.4
9.0
(*)
(*)
2.2
2.6
2.1
7.1
9.2
(*)
6.8
6.5
9.3
8.8
(*)
2.1
2.5
2.3
(*)
(*)
(*)
1.3
1.9
1.7
2.3
2.2
1.9
*Colored cells are present on statements in which the difference between means is
significant at the 0.05 level. Blue cells have highest ranking. Pink cells have lowest ranking.
Self Assessment RankingsWinter 2014 - Continued
[ 1 to 10 scale, 10 being the highest rank]
n=10
Solidify classroom concepts
Personal satisfaction
Connection with other students
Confidence in facing challenges
Development of empathy
Personal growth
Build confidence in ability to make a difference
Enthusiasm for the engineering profession
Motivation to complete your engr education
Overall Personal Growth
Knowledge of sustainable design
Real life applications of engineering principles
Overall Engineering skills
PRE POST
Mean Mean
5.1
8.1 (*)
6.8
8.3
5.5
8.6 (*)
6.2
8.6
7.3
8.6
6.5
8.7
6.0
8.9 (*)
6.3
9.1 (*)
7.2
9.3 (*)
6.3
8.7 (*)
6.7
5.8
6.3
8.5
8.7
8.6
(*)
Mean
Change
3.0
1.5
3.1
2.4
1.3
2.2
2.9
2.8
2.1
2.4
1.8
2.9
2.4
*Colored cells are present on statements in which the difference between means is
significant at the 0.05 level. Blue cells have highest ranking. Pink cells have lowest ranking.
Incredible Findings
• EA Students see engineering as a helping profession.
• EAP creates a family-like cohort whose members
support each other.
• Students formed six active STEM clubs.
• STEM students hold ~½ the seats on the student
senate.
• Students and faculty collaborated to form an LLC to
design and build water systems in Santa Cruz County.
For more information…
Website: http://http://www.cabrillo.edu/academics/engineering/engrabroad/
Cabrillo – Vuelta Grande Community