Developing a Learning Community to Support Student Success in MECH 223 Engineering Statics

Project Details

Project PI: Dr. Logan Perry

Project Co-PIs: Drs. Jessica Deters, Libby Jones

Amount and Years: $100,000, 2023 - 2024

Funding: Fred J. Kelly Fund

Abstract: Engineering mechanics courses like Statics (MECH 223) are the backbone of the civil, architectural and mechanical engineering curricula and provide foundational knowledge upon which later engineering courses depend. The DFW rate for MECH 223 is significantly higher than DFW rates for the university, which leads us to classify it as a bottleneck course and draws attention to its impact on student retention and student success. Ultimately, this research aims to reduce the DFW rate in MECH 223 at UNL to improve student retention and success in engineering.