2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

In this paper, the initial data from a multi-year approach is examined to establish notable trends for increasing encouragement of mechanical engineering students taking the FE Exam. At the institution described in this paper, completing the FE Exam is a degree requirement for mechanical engineering majors. However, students are not required to earn a passing score, which may negatively impact student levels of motivation and preparedness. Historically institutional pass rates have fallen below the national average. To improve institutional pass rates, faculty have developed a multi-year phased programming plan to provide additional resources and opportunities to encourage and support undergraduate students taking the FE exam before graduation. The first phase AY2023-24 involved course integrated strategies to help increase awareness and motivation at the freshmen and senior levels. Additional NCEES practice exams were made available to senior students for preparation. In the second phase, AY2024-25, the focus was to further increase preparation and awareness by integrating FE-style quiz problems into sophomore and junior level classes. Further FE practice exams were made available electronically on the ME program’s LMS website. At the end of the second phase a survey was developed to help trend the impacts of the new programming. Early data show that awareness and motivation generally increase as the student matriculates. Motivation and importance are currently lower or the lowest for the senior cohort. It is notable that the senior cohort has also had the least exposure to the new programming that is being phased in. Further, 50% of the senior cohort from AY2024-25 used a combination of the NCEES Reference Manual and digital NCEES Practice Exam for preparation. Both resources have been part of Phase 1 and Phase 2 programming. Phase 3, AY 2025-26, and Phase 4, AY2026-2027, will continue to integrate more programming to help build intrinsic motivation in students. Future work will include continued data collection and assessment to determine levels of student participation in and effectiveness of the programming.