2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Extracurricular activities can afford students the opportunity to develop knowledge, skill sets, and professional connections that enhance the value of their undergraduate preparation. These experiences often increase students’ marketability and employment prospects. The CHEM E CAD & Industrial Automation group at THE INSTITUTION is such an activity where students dedicate time to develop knowledge and skill sets in practical computer aided design (CAD) and automation that complement their core chemical engineering coursework. CHEM E CAD is a student-led group learning experience made possible by a succession of student leaders, who first learned with the group during one academic year, and then volunteered to lead the group learning experience during subsequent years. Starting at the beginning of the academic year, students in the Fall term focus on learning the basics of CAD software (Solidworks and AutoCAD), get trained to use the 3D printers in THE INSTITUTION’S Engineering Student Design Center, and produce a 3D print of their choosing. In the Winter term, students work in teams under the mentorship of practicing automation engineers to construct a programmable logic controller (PLC) system in a briefcase with a human-machine interface (HMI), buttons, and lights. In the Spring term, students learn how to program their PLCs and HMIs using Ladder Logic and C-MORE software. These topics involve modern engineering tools that are not typically included within the scope of the standard chemical engineering curriculum but are nonetheless valuable to many companies from which the students may wish to gain employment. Course activities were geared towards encouraging each student to create virtual and physical products that could be included in a professional portfolio. Since its inception, more than 250 students have participated, and anecdotally there have been many instances, particularly among the student leaders, where students have used this experience to gain employment in the automation industry.