Results of Graduating Survey

Each year we conduct an Exit Survey of our graduating seniors. The students are asked to respond to questions regarding their overall experiences in the BAEM program, both lower and upper division. Respondents are given a range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 3 (neutral) to 5 (strongly agree) to check off. The responses to the survey are summarized below:

Number of Surveys: 41
The percentage of students who checked either a 4 or 5 “strongly agree” and is shown in parentheses.

Preparation
A high percentage of students agreed that their education has prepared them to:
• apply knowledge of math, science and engineering fundamentals (90.2 percent)
• design and conduct experiments and to analyze and interpret data (83 percent)
• design a system, component or process to meet desired needs (80.5 percent)
• identify, formulate and solve engineering problems (87.8 percent)
• have the fundamentals for continued learning throughout life (80.5 percent)
• with a good understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities: (73.2 percent)
There were some areas in which students felt not as well prepared. The percentages of 4s and 5s were much lower when students were asked if they felt that they were well prepared:
• communicate effectively in both oral and written form: (60.9 percent)
• to use modern tools (e.g., CAD) necessary for engineering practice (61 percent)
• with an understanding of the impact of technology on society (60.9 percent)
Students had the following response to questions about their Lower Division and Liberal Education coursework:
Advising
Of all students surveyed, 31.7 percent agreed that lower division academic advising was good, 36.6 percent remained neutral and 31.7 percent strongly disagreed to the question of whether lower division advising prepared them well for upper division. Sixty one percent of the students felt that their liberal education courses gave them an appreciation of the societal context in which engineering is practiced. Students felt that the science components (70.7 percent) and math components (70.8 percent) had prepared them well for their major courses.
Experience
Students were more satisfied regarding:
• whether computational facilities were available for their use (62.5 percent with 27.5 percent remaining neutral)
• whether instructors were available to discuss course related issues outside of class (72.5 percent); and
• whether their courses included active learning experiences, such as discussion and team work (90.3 percent)
Students were positive about their Upper Division experience, with 48.8 percent who thought the upper division academic advising was good, and 22 percent remaining neutral. The majority of the students felt that their education provided them with:
• a good understanding of engineering materials (78.1 percent)
• a good understanding of aerodynamics (87.8 percent)
• a good understanding of aerospace structures (80.5 percent)
• a good understanding of aerospace propulsion systems (82.5 percent)
• a good understanding of atmospheric flight mechanics (82.9 percent)
• a good understanding of orbital mechanics and space flight (78 percent)
• a good understanding of flight dynamics and control (75.6 percent)
And the rest...
The balance of the survey asked the students to respond to:
a. whether they felt the design experiences provided throughout the BAEM curriculum: 67.5 percent responded positively while 12.5 percent were neutral.
b. whether the intern and/or experience enhanced their education; forty percent responded positively while 57.1 percent remained neutral.
c. whether the quality of facilities provided were good; 38.5 percent responded positively while 33.3 percent remained neutral.
d. whether the quality of the computational facilities provided were good: 43.6 percent responded positively and 35.9 percent remained neutral.
e. whether the senior design courses improved their ability to work as part of a team: 67.5 percent responded positively, while 17.5 percent remained neutral.
f. whether the hands-on laboratory experienced provided them with a good understanding of how to conduct and design experiments as well as analyze and interpret data: 67.5 percent responded positively.
Although the majority of the graduating seniors were generally satisfied with their educational experiences in the BAEM program, there are clearly areas that need improvement. These areas will be addressed by the AEM faculty.
Details of the survey can be found at: http://www.aem.umn.edu/teaching/undergraduate/BAEM_prog_assessment.shtml