Using Student Instruction to Increase Retention in Engineering

The Citadel School of Engineering was challenged by the College President in 2011 to retain and grow the number of engineering students in respective program. The concept of increasing the number of engineering students thereby increasing the number of graduates was analyzed as part of strategic planning for the School of Engineering. Key indicators found during this study were increased marketing, preparedness of the incoming students, retention of those who arrive, and the addition of new programs. This paper will only focus on the retention of those students who arrive each year as freshman. The School of Engineering used a simple suggestion by one of its faculty concerning a well-known concept such as SI, supplemental instruction, to improve retention of engineering freshman by nearly 20%. This paper will establish the conditions prior to the implementation of SI, the challenges in implementing and sustaining SI, and the retention results that are greatly influenced by SI.