2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This paper focuses on faculty mentorship in supporting student engagement through extracurricular engineering clubs at a small private college in the Northeastern United States. Since the establishment of the Mechatronic Engineering program in 2008, followed by Mechanical and Electrical Engineering programs, faculty members have recognized the value of structured co-curricular experiences to extend classroom learning and foster professional growth. Faculty advisors have actively guided the development of student organizations, including the Robotics Club, UAV Club, and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) – College Chapter, providing mentorship in project planning, technical problem-solving, leadership, and community engagement.
Through competitions, workshops, and outreach events, students have applied engineering principles in real-world contexts, developed teamwork and leadership skills, and deepened their understanding of engineering as a career path. Faculty involvement has also enabled students to present at professional conferences, lead workshops for pre-college students, and integrate competition projects into capstone design experiences. Over more than a decade, these mentorship-driven activities have contributed to measurable student outcomes, including advanced technical skills, professional preparedness, and leadership growth, while simultaneously sustaining community-engaged initiatives. This paper shares faculty strategies, lessons learned, and longitudinal evidence that can inform other institutions seeking to enhance student engagement, experiential learning, and community impact through faculty-supported co-curricular programs.