2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Longitudinal Outcomes of a Redesigned Gateway Experience in Engineering Technology

Presented at Engineering Technology Division (ETD) Technical Session 2

This paper reports on a four-year longitudinal study examining the outcomes of a redesigned first-year gateway course in an undergraduate engineering technology program at [Institution]. The redesigned course ([Course Redacted]) replaced two previously separate introductory experiences with a single, integrated format that combines lecture, recitation, and laboratory components across multiple engineering technology domains. This work builds on a previously published Work-in-Progress paper that reported initial findings from the first cohort of the redesigned course. Data were collected from four consecutive freshman cohorts (Fall 2022–Fall 2025) through end-of-semester surveys measuring students’ perceived preparation for academic success, discipline-specific technical areas, and professional practice. Follow-up data were collected in the subsequent spring semesters for three of the four cohorts, after students matriculated into discipline-specific courses ([Courses Redacted]). The follow-up surveys used Likert-scale items to quantify students’ retrospective perceptions of preparedness and open-ended questions to elicit qualitative feedback on areas in which the gateway course was perceived as less effective. Qualitative responses were coded by topic area to identify recurring themes in students’ reflections. This paper presents longitudinal trends across cohorts and between immediate and delayed measures of perceived preparedness, providing insight into the durability of learning outcomes and the transfer of first-year experiences into subsequent coursework within engineering technology programs.

Authors

Dr. Matthew Turner Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Purdue University – West Lafayette [biography]

Dr. Matthew Turner is an Associate Professor of ECET at Purdue University.
Dr. Rustin Webster Purdue University, New Albany [biography]

Dr. Rustin Webster is an associate professor in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute at Purdue University and specializes in mechanical engineering and computer graphics technology. Prior to academia, he worked for an aerospace and engineering company as a mechanical engineer, product development lead, and researcher. Dr Webster designed various solutions for multiple branches of the Armed Forces, the Department of Defense, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He holds a B.S. in Engineering Graphics and Design and a M.S. in Management of Technology from Murray State University, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Webster is a certified GD&T-Technologist, SOLIDWORKS Expert, and Six Sigma Green Belt. For his teaching and mentoring of students he has been awarded the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Engineering Technology (ET) National Teaching Award, Purdue University Teaching Academy Fellowship, School of Engineering Technology Outstanding Faculty in Teaching and Learning Award (twice), Purdue Teaching for Tomorrow Fellowship, Purdue Teaching Academy Pandemic Teaching Award, ASEE Engineering Graphics and Design Rising Educator Award, and SME Distinguished Faculty Advisor Award (twice). Dr Webster’s research interests include ET design education with focus areas in computer-aided design (CAD) and pedagogy.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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