2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Streamlining an Engineering Summer Camp with Engineering Management and Operational Methodologies

For several years, Tennessee Tech University has hosted an engineering summer camp for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students. The camp provides participants with an opportunity to explore the university's seven engineering, engineering technology, and computer science programs, fostering both interest and foundational knowledge in these fields. As a culminating benefit, rising 12th-grade students are eligible to compete for a College of Engineering scholarship. In an effort to increase incoming first-year student enrollment, broaden the recruitment area, reduce the overall camp cost, and improve participant student experiences, the College of Engineering leadership streamlined the program. The goals were to enhance diversity in applicant pools, increase engagement with various sectors of the engineering community, reduce the workload on faculty and staff, and improve the efficacy of students in applying engineering concepts. To achieve these objectives, the College implemented Lean Systems principles alongside other engineering management methodologies. This paper outlines how the application of resource optimization, stakeholder engagement, improved communication flow, and continuous improvement processes have not only improved the overall camp experience but also significantly enhanced students' efficacy in grasping and applying engineering skills. As a result, the number of camp participants has quadrupled over four years.

Authors

Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0072-3909 Tennessee Technological University [biography]

Kumar Yelamarthi received his Ph.D. and M.S degree from Wright State University in 2008 and 2004, and B.E. from University of Madras, India in 2000. He is currently the Associate Dean and Professor in the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University. In the past, he served as the Director for School of Engineering and Technology, and Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering and at Central Michigan University (CMU). He served as the chair for Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering programs, and Assistant to the Dean of College of Science and Engineering at CMU. His research interest is in the areas of Internet of Things, wireless sensor networks, edge computing, embedded systems, and engineering education. He has published over 175 articles and delivered over 100 talks in these areas. He has successfully raised several externally funded grants of over $8.0 Million from organizations such as NSF, NASA, and the industry.
Dr. Mazen I. Hussein Tennessee Technological University [biography]

Mazen is an Associate Professor in the General and Basic Engineering Department at Regional University. His research interests include: Freight modeling and logistics, facilities planning and material handling, optimization and simulation modeling, production planning and control, reverse logistics and recycling, modern manufacturing systems, microalloying and mechanical behavior, teaching statistics and increasing the data analytics content in engineering curricula, and the impact of the administrative policies on the engineering education. Memberships: Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, American Society for Quality, Institute for Supply Management, and Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences.
Dr. Elizabeth A. Powell Tennessee Technological University

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025