2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Lower-division introductory courses provide students with a valuable foundation for future success. In this Work-in-Progress paper, we discuss the development of a lower-division, seminar-based course for chemical engineering students and assess its impact. Students face social and professional challenges when entering college due to the significant adjustment from high school or community college. Additionally, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools present a new challenge to lower-division engineering education, as students have varying levels of experience and familiarity with using them appropriately as educational tools. The course was structured to address these challenges through weekly lectures on diverse topics, helping students adjust to the university's learning environment while exposing them to campus resources and professional development opportunities.

Preliminary survey results show that students responded positively to the course, finding the presentations useful for their learning experience. A comparison of pre- and post-course surveys revealed that students had gained significantly improved understanding of potential career paths in chemical engineering, developed peer connections, and become familiar with the university's academic resources. Survey results also show that students obtained a better understanding of how to use GenAI tools ethically and effectively. Finally, students provided suggestions for future course improvements as also discussed in this paper.