2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Building Research, Teamwork and Professional Skills in an Engineering Summer Bridge Program: Reflections Towards an Allyship Model

Presented at Women in Engineering Division (WIED) Technical Session 8: Leadership and Persistence

The RAMP summer bridge program in the Francis College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell began in 2018 to increase the number of women enrolling in engineering majors and prepare them for leadership. Over the last six years the program has invited all students who were interested in broadening the participation of women and students of color in engineering degree programs to participate in RAMP. High school juniors and seniors nominated by their teachers as potential advocates have participated during the last two years. To date, 107 students have completed the summer bridge. They are currently enrolled in various engineering majors across the four years of the undergraduate engineering degree pathway, in graduate school, or in the workforce. An analysis of student reflections from exit interviews of graduating students from 2018 and 2019 cohorts and journal entry data collected from students from the recent 2023 cohort is presented in this work. The themes emerging from this analysis show that both graduating students and current students seek to strengthen the RAMP community beyond the summer program. Their recommendations point to the need for continuing support in both personal achievement and for advocating the needs of their peers. With over a hundred RAMP participants now established across the engineering majors and the workforce, these recommendations will be integrated in the participatory action research framework that anchors the design of RAMP. We will address the training of juniors and seniors as allies and advocates to the newer cohorts, and engage RAMP alumni, thus establishing an agile model that is responsive to and supported by the program participants.

Authors

Prof. Kavitha Chandra University of Massachusetts, Lowell [biography]

Kavitha Chandra is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Francis College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She directs the Research, Academics and Mentoring Pathways (RAMP) to Success summer bridge and academic program for new engineering students, preparing them with research, communication and leadership skills. Her research interests are in computational and data-driven modeling of physical systems in acoustics and communication networks, model-based systems engineering, user-centric design of emerging technology and engineering education.
Dr. Susan Thomson Tripathy http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5359-6045 University of Massachusetts, Lowell [biography]

Dr. Susan Thomson Tripathy is a social science research consultant specializing in qualitative research methodology, including ethnography and participatory action research.
Dr. Sumudu Lewis University of Massachusetts, Lowell [biography]

Sumudu Lewis is an Associate Clinical Professor at the School of Education at UMass Lowell and also the Director of the STEM teacher preparation program called UTeach.
nadia sahila University of Massachusetts, Lowell [biography]

Nadia Sahila is a dedicated doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, specializing in research and evaluation in education. She holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Management. Currently, Nadia is a graduate research assistant with the River Hawks Scholarship Academy and a teaching assistant for the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement program, as well as the Research, Academics, and Mentoring Pathways program. Her research interests focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in educational settings. Recent projects have explored culturally responsive education and gender equity.

Nadia has presented her research at several national conferences and has published work on building teamwork and professional skills in engineering education. Her methodological expertise spans both qualitative and quantitative research. A recipient of multiple awards, including third place in the 2023 World Evaluation Case Competition and winner of the 2023 AEA United States Student Evaluation Case Competition, Nadia is recognized for her contributions to the field of educational evaluation and her commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments.

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Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology
engineering
gender
undergraduate