CMU’s blueprint for first-year engineering student success includes building community
Nathan McNeill, PhD, director of CMU-CU Boulder Engineering Partnership Programs, has addressed a subtle yet crucial gap in the education of prospective and incoming engineering students. To fuse this gap, McNeill initiated a scholarship program offering students a helpful nudge toward academic success before they begin their journey toward a degree.
The Engineering Summer Bridge Program is a new addition to CMU’s existing Early Start Program, designed to provide first-time, traditional students valuable skills and knowledge to build from before regular classes commence.
“All our engineering programs start with Calculus One. This program, the week before the fall semester begins, is designed to give them a head start,” said McNeill, who cultivated and taught the inaugural class.
Incoming students participating in the program who achieve a grade of C or better in a pre-calculus course (at CMU or elsewhere) are eligible for a scholarship of up to $1,800 to cover the cost of the class, as well as room and board if attending the class at CMU.
The intensive 4 ½-day course, worth one credit, replaces Introduction to Engineering, a 16-week course completed during the fall semester.
For new college students, the benefits are more than academic, McNeill explained.
“We know from research that students who start with a cohort typically do a better job of building community and are more likely to persist,” he said. “This gives us a chance to bring them to school a week early, help them build their community, find resources on campus and get a head start on their academic career. Helping students feel caught up on day one is a big boost.”
The CMU-CU Boulder partnership enables engineering students to earn an accredited CU Boulder degree at a more affordable cost, while benefiting from smaller class sizes and personalized instruction at CMU.
“They’re in the exact same classrooms, on the same campus, the whole time,” McNeill said. “I really haven’t seen anything else like that.”
This innovative initiative through the Engineering Summer Bridge Program stands as a beacon of opportunity for incoming engineering students. By addressing the critical gap in calculus readiness while fostering day-one community, McNeill is helping forge a surer path to success. Through programs like these, CMU continues to demonstrate its commitment to offering an opportunity for a better life for all students.