A Demographic Characterization Of First Year Engineering Students
Stephen Silliman, Leo McWilliams, J.J. Uhran, Catherine Pieronek
Abstract
The observation of substantially different retention rates of men versus women from initial enrollment as first-year engineering intents to enrollment as engineering majors at the beginning of the sophomore year at the University of Notre Dame has motivated an examination of demographic data to assess retention patterns. Based on the numbers of students enrolling in a required first-year engineering course, which has an initial population of approximately 360 students per year, women have exhibited a lower retention rate to the sophomore year (~50%) than have men (~65%). Demographic data discussed in the present manuscript include: gender; SAT scores; course grades; and intended major.