Work in Progress: Modeling a Tutoring Center to Improve Retention and Promote Student Success in Lower-level Engineering Classes

摘要

In recent years, engineering programs have experienced an increase in the number of students admitted due to the growing demand for young Engineering professionals. Lower division engineering classes, offered to students from multiple engineering disciplines, have been facing challenges to accommodate a large number of admitted students. Even though such courses may be offered in numerous sessions every semester, a ratio of one instructor to 100+ students is typical in these classes. The large class size and lack of support available to students in these classes contribute to high failure rate and significantly lower the retention rate. The CSU's "Graduation Initiative 2025", started 2015, has identified "student support services," such as tutoring and mentoring, as one of the leading elements that contribute to students' success, figure 1.