Predicting and Improving First Year Engineering Student Retention Through Lean Thinking and Quality Management Concepts

Predicting and Improving First Year Engineering Student Retention Through Lean Thinking and Quality Management Concepts

Author: Thomas Bereza

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13:

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While the percentage of undergraduate engineering degrees awarded has increased over the past decade, it has been outpaced by the overall growth in bachelor degree attainment. With this, the amount of enrollment in engineering programs has increased, but still a significant number of engineering students choose to drop out or pursue other educational paths. Universities and policy makers are motivated to increase the retention of engineering students to graduation. This thesis explores the quantitative data that makes up a first year engineering student's profile. The data is used to develop an ordinal logistic regression model to predict 2nd year student retention. Ideas to improve retention are discussed with a focus of applying Lean Manufacturing techniques in conjunction with the proposed prediction model. Data from a college of engineering within a public land-grant research university is used to test for significance as indicators for freshman retention. Data used in this study is from 2010 and 2011 freshman engineering cohorts. Using collected student data, a prediction model is developed that assesses the probability of a first year engineering student either i) returning to engineering in their second year, ii) leaving engineering but remaining at the university, or iii) leaving the university altogether. Then, using concepts from lean manufacturing and quality management this prediction model is incorporated in a proposed engineering education quality system.This study creates a prediction model to identify students that are likely to be: retained in engineering, switch majors out of engineering, and drop out of the university. This prediction model is then incorporated into the proposed engineering education quality management system to assist with identifying; where and when students may not persist in engineering curriculum, and ideas to promote student persistence using the prediction results.


Lean Six Sigma in Higher Education

Lean Six Sigma in Higher Education

Author: Jiju Antony

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing

Published: 2020-11-30

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 1787699293

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This book illustrates the integration of both Lean and Six Sigma as a process excellence methodology which can be utilized in Higher Education environments for achieving and sustaining world class efficiency and effectiveness. It showcases various studies carried out by leading research scholars, academics and practitioners.


Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma

Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma

Author: Theodore T. Allen

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2010-04-23

Total Pages: 573

ISBN-13: 1849960003

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Lean production, has long been regarded as critical to business success in many industries. Over the last ten years, instruction in six sigma has been increasingly linked with learning about the elements of lean production. Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma builds on the success of its first edition (Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Six Sigma) to reflect the growing importance of the "lean sigma" hybrid. As well as providing detailed definitions and case studies of all six sigma methods, Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma forms one of few sources on the relationship between operations research techniques and lean sigma. Readers will be given the information necessary to determine which sigma methods to apply in which situation, and to predict why and when a particular method may not be effective. Methods covered include: • control charts and advanced control charts, • failure mode and effects analysis, • Taguchi methods, • gauge R&R, and • genetic algorithms. The second edition also greatly expands the discussion of Design For Six Sigma (DFSS), which is critical for many organizations that seek to deliver desirable products that work first time. It incorporates recently emerging formulations of DFSS from industry leaders and offers more introductory material on the design of experiments, and on two level and full factorial experiments, to help improve student intuition-building and retention. The emphasis on lean production, combined with recent methods relating to Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), makes Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma a practical, up-to-date resource for advanced students, educators, and practitioners.


Student Success in College

Student Success in College

Author: George D. Kuh

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-01-07

Total Pages: 422

ISBN-13: 1118046854

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Student Success in College describes policies, programs, and practices that a diverse set of institutions have used to enhance student achievement. This book clearly shows the benefits of student learning and educational effectiveness that can be realized when these conditions are present. Based on the Documenting Effective Educational Practice (DEEP) project from the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University, this book provides concrete examples from twenty institutions that other colleges and universities can learn from and adapt to help create a success-oriented campus culture and learning environment.


Minority Serving Institutions

Minority Serving Institutions

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2019-02-05

Total Pages: 255

ISBN-13: 0309484448

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There are over 20 million young people of color in the United States whose representation in STEM education pathways and in the STEM workforce is still far below their numbers in the general population. Their participation could help re-establish the United States' preeminence in STEM innovation and productivity, while also increasing the number of well-educated STEM workers. There are nearly 700 minority-serving institutions (MSIs) that provide pathways to STEM educational success and workforce readiness for millions of students of colorâ€"and do so in a mission-driven and intentional manner. They vary substantially in their origins, missions, student demographics, and levels of institutional selectivity. But in general, their service to the nation provides a gateway to higher education and the workforce, particularly for underrepresented students of color and those from low-income and first-generation to college backgrounds. The challenge for the nation is how to capitalize on the unique strengths and attributes of these institutions and to equip them with the resources, exceptional faculty talent, and vital infrastructure needed to educate and train an increasingly critical portion of current and future generations of scientists, engineers, and health professionals. Minority Serving Institutions examines the nation's MSIs and identifies promising programs and effective strategies that have the highest potential return on investment for the nation by increasing the quantity and quality MSI STEM graduates. This study also provides critical information and perspective about the importance of MSIs to other stakeholders in the nation's system of higher education and the organizations that support them.


Lean Thinking

Lean Thinking

Author: James P. Womack

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2013-09-26

Total Pages: 365

ISBN-13: 1471111008

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Lean Thinking was launched in the fall of 1996, just in time for the recession of 1997. It told the story of how American, European, and Japanese firms applied a simple set of principles called 'lean thinking' to survive the recession of 1991 and grow steadily in sales and profits through 1996. Even though the recession of 1997 never happened, companies were starving for information on how to make themselves leaner and more efficient. Now we are dealing with the recession of 2001 and the financial meltdown of 2002. So what happened to the exemplar firms profiled in Lean Thinking? In the new fully revised edition of this bestselling book those pioneering lean thinkers are brought up to date. Authors James Womack and Daniel Jones offer new guidelines for lean thinking firms and bring their groundbreaking practices to a brand new generation of companies that are looking to stay one step ahead of the competition.


Learner-Centered Teaching

Learner-Centered Teaching

Author: Maryellen Weimer

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2008-05-02

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 0470366419

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In this much needed resource, Maryellen Weimer-one of the nation's most highly regarded authorities on effective college teaching-offers a comprehensive work on the topic of learner-centered teaching in the college and university classroom. As the author explains, learner-centered teaching focuses attention on what the student is learning, how the student is learning, the conditions under which the student is learning, whether the student is retaining and applying the learning, and how current learning positions the student for future learning. To help educators accomplish the goals of learner-centered teaching, this important book presents the meaning, practice, and ramifications of the learner-centered approach, and how this approach transforms the college classroom environment. Learner-Centered Teaching shows how to tie teaching and curriculum to the process and objectives of learning rather than to the content delivery alone.


Cracking the code

Cracking the code

Author: UNESCO

Publisher: UNESCO Publishing

Published: 2017-09-04

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13: 9231002333

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This report aims to 'crack the code' by deciphering the factors that hinder and facilitate girls' and women's participation, achievement and continuation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and, in particular, what the education sector can do to promote girls' and women's interest in and engagement with STEM education and ultimately STEM careers.


Indicators for Monitoring Undergraduate STEM Education

Indicators for Monitoring Undergraduate STEM Education

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2018-04-08

Total Pages: 245

ISBN-13: 0309467888

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Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals generate a stream of scientific discoveries and technological innovations that fuel job creation and national economic growth. Ensuring a robust supply of these professionals is critical for sustaining growth and creating jobs growth at a time of intense global competition. Undergraduate STEM education prepares the STEM professionals of today and those of tomorrow, while also helping all students develop knowledge and skills they can draw on in a variety of occupations and as individual citizens. However, many capable students intending to major in STEM later switch to another field or drop out of higher education altogether, partly because of documented weaknesses in STEM teaching, learning and student supports. Improving undergraduate STEM education to address these weaknesses is a national imperative. Many initiatives are now underway to improve the quality of undergraduate STEM teaching and learning. Some focus on the national level, others involve multi-institution collaborations, and others take place on individual campuses. At present, however, policymakers and the public do not know whether these various initiatives are accomplishing their goals and leading to nationwide improvement in undergraduate STEM education. Indicators for Monitoring Undergraduate STEM Education outlines a framework and a set of indicators that document the status and quality of undergraduate STEM education at the national level over multiple years. It also indicates areas where additional research is needed in order to develop appropriate measures. This publication will be valuable to government agencies that make investments in higher education, institutions of higher education, private funders of higher education programs, and industry stakeholders. It will also be of interest to researchers who study higher education.


Success in Higher Education

Success in Higher Education

Author: Leigh N. Wood

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-10-26

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 9811027919

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This book explores successful transition strategies to, within and from university for students from around the globe, with Macquarie University, a large Australian university, studied in depth. It addresses the meaning of success taking a variety of perspectives, including student, staff and employer views. The chapters present a series of initiatives that have proven to be successful in assisting students in developing their academic potential throughout university and beyond. The authors of the chapters use a variety of methodologies and approaches reflecting the diverse local contexts and requirements. These international perspectives demonstrate a triumph of practice that has led to the empowerment of individuals and groups. The approaches from twelve universities located in eight different countries stem directly from the coalface and provide many valuable lessons and tools that colleagues in the sector will be able to consider and adapt in their own contexts. Small interventions matter, from a mentor of a nervous student who goes on to achieve greatness, to the use of a curriculum design model that hooks a whole group of students into learning and achievement. This book covers both the small, individual victories and the larger scale strategies that support success. Contributions emanate from Australia, Bangladesh, India, China, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, USA, Uruguay and South Africa.