Mentoring Incoming Freshmnn Stem Engineering Students By Senior Engineering Students

For a month in the summer of 2008, six incoming freshmen STEM students (mentees) were mentored by two senior undergraduate engineering students (mentors) in a robotics based project. The project focused on the “ground-up” realization of a swarm robot prototype. It differed from most entry-level robotics projects in scope. Instead of using preassembled and pretested robotics components, the students were asked, as a team, to design their own mechanical and electrical systems under the supervision of the senior engineering student mentors. The mentees appeared to be divided as to how they felt about the program. Two students expressed that the program was difficult and were uninterested in the team environment. The other four were much more eager to be engaged in an experience like this, and worked hard to help it succeed. Since the summer program, they have been engaged with the mentors, their fellow classmates, and have had an increased confidence in their abilities to handle an engineering program. These students are currently continuing this project as undergraduate research assistants under the mentorship of the senior engineering students. The mentors expressed that they also benefitted from this program. They gained valuable experience in project and group management. They also increased their in-depth understanding of the mechanical and electrical systems through providing technical support to the incoming freshman students.