College of Engineering • College of Human Sciences • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

About SEEC

The goal of the SEEC Project is to increase the number of engineering graduates at Iowa State University by approximately 100 per year. The percentage of women and minority graduates will approach 20% and 10%, respectively. The objectives of the project are:

• To enhance the Learning Community (LC) model at ISU by improving programming and availability; and to create a LC model that spans DMACC and ISU. (Learning Village)
• To redesign the first-year engineering curriculum to enable flexibility and commonality across LCs; and to make selected engineering gateway courses available to DMACC students via distance education. (Connected Curriculum)
• To develop and enhance academic advising and mentoring programs for pre-college, community college, and university students. (Student-centered Advising)
• To establish a recruiting and outreach network across Iowa and with alumni using ISU Extension, DMACC, and involving parents and teachers; to tap into diverse communities of students; and to improve the awareness and understanding of engineering among those who influence student choices. (Coordinated Networking)
• To evaluate project effectiveness and improve project activities. (Evaluation)
• To share best practices on campus in other areas of STEM, with other community colleges in Iowa, with other institutions in the Big 12 consortium, and at national meetings. (Dissemination)

The objectives of the SEEC project will be achieved through a set of recruitment, retention, and engagement activities. These activities include the application of proven, research-based practices, alignment with national recommendations, institutional and SEEC team strengths, and expert evaluation. Two education research projects of direct relevance to the advising and networking objectives are underway by members of the SEEC team, and we plan to incorporate results from that work into this project.

The proposed activities strengthen the partnership between ISU and DMACC and advance the learning environment of each school. The SEEC project purposefully includes both proven and emerging strategies to increase enrollment and degree production and enhance student diversity. The emerging strategies, e.g., coordinated networking, are aligned with new national initiatives (such as the NAE’s Public Understanding of Engineering program); and thus provide an opportunity to discover approaches that are effective. They are also informed by new research. This is critical at a time when many approaches have been ineffective at substantially increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in engineering and STEM fields. The SEEC project expects to create awareness and interest in engineering across Iowa, with a special emphasis on attracting women, minority, and rural students onto the path of engineering study. This includes educating parents on the value of an engineering career. The learning village and networking methods will be applicable to other community colleges and universities in Iowa and around the nation. The project will sponsor a regional forum among Big 12 institutions to share best practices.

Iowa State University and Des Moines Area Community College will work together to attract more students to engineering. At Iowa State, the goal is 100 more students earning bachelor's degrees in engineering. At Des Moines Area Community College, the goal is more students studying science and technology. That's expected to increase the number of students transferring to Iowa State's College of Engineering.

"This National Science Foundation program is a tremendous opportunity for Iowa State University. It will help Iowa State meet the national goal of recruiting and retaining new engineering students. And, it will help Iowa State reach its goals of strengthening undergraduate education, increasing experiential learning opportunities and partnering with community colleges to facilitate student success."



"I think this is an excellent opportunity. This will enable us to build stronger bonds between the two institutions and help students make smooth transitions between them."





Award Information

Collaborating with: