2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Factors Affecting On-Time Graduation of Engineering and Construction Management Undergraduates at a Minority Serving Institution

Presented at Construction Engineering Division (CONST) Technical Session 4

Graduation rates, degree completion, and time to degree are of utmost importance to academia. Although the bachelor’s degree is traditionally a four-year degree, the time for its completion has increased significantly in the United States over the past two decades. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) only 44 percent of students completed their bachelor’s degree within four years. This translates to more than half undergraduate students failing to complete their degrees on time. Despite these concerning statistics, there is not much research published that addresses why students fail to complete their degree within four years, or even leave their education institution before graduating. The goal of this study is to identify some of the main reasons why undergrad students from Engineering and particularly Construction Management programs take longer to complete their degree, or fail to graduate, and how can education institutions help students graduate on time. To achieve these objectives, this study: (a) identified the main factors contributing to this paramount problem from previous literature; (b) gathered and assessed data regarding students’ graduation rates from one of the largest minority serving institutions in the United States; (c) conducted a survey to students at the minority serving institution, which helped analyze degree completion, the factors contributing to delays in undergraduate program completion, as well as the motivators and resources to finish their degree within four years; and (d) proposed strategies that could be implemented at educational institution to aid students in completing their degree on time. The data collected regarding graduation rates shows that approximately (a) 50 percent of STEM, Engineering and Construction Management students graduate in four years; (b) 60 percent graduate in six years; and (c) 35 percent of students have not graduated after six years. The results of this research show that several academic, financial, and social factors play a significant role in students’ failure to complete their degree within four years. This research proposes several strategies including an inclusive educational experience that embraces peer-to-peer mentoring and tutoring, equitable financial aid mechanism, and establishing a clear educational curriculum path that can be implemented at institutions to enhance learning and motivate students in graduating within four years.

Authors

Ms. Claudia Calle Müller http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2023-9361 Florida International University [biography]

Claudia Calle Müller is a Ph.D. Candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida International University (FIU). She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru ́ (PUCP). Claudia has over 4 years of experience in structural engineering designing reinforced concrete residential and commercial buildings in Peru; over 2 years of experience in entrepreneurship; and over 4 years of teaching experience. Currently, she is a Graduate Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant at the Moss School of Construction, Sustainability, and Infrastructure at FIU where she focuses on multidisciplinary research on sustainability, equity, resilient and sustainable post-disaster reconstruction, engineering education, circular economy, and well-being. Claudia holds professional credentials in LEED Green Associate for sustainable buildings and ENV SP for sustainable infrastructures.
Mais Kayyali Florida International University [biography]

Mais Kayyali is the Associate Director of Academic Support Services in the Office of the Dean at Florida International University’s (FIU) College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). In her current role, she oversees all aspects of Graduate Education and Admissions for the schools and departments under CEC. Her duties vary from admissions, recruitment, marketing, data analysis, graduate funding, etc. She also provides administrative support to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Prior to her current position, she was the Program Coordinator/Coordinator of Administrative Services at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and prior to that the Program Assistant at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the college. Mais holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Master’s degree in Hospitality Management, and is currently a doctoral student in the Engineering and Computing Education program at FIU. Her research interests are in graduate and postdoctoral education with a focus on mentorship and transitions as well as faculty development and the use of technology in engineering and computing education.
Mr. Mohamed Elzomor, P.E. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7734-9601 Florida International University [biography]

Dr. Mohamed ElZomor is an Assistant Professor at Florida International University (FIU), College of Engineering and Computing and teaches at the Moss School of Construction, Infrastructure and Sustainability. Dr. ElZomor completed his doctorate at Arizona

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