A Summer Jumpstart for Incoming Engineering and Computer Science Students

This summer, nearly 200 incoming engineering and computer science students at UC San Diego got a head start on their degrees thanks to two programs that empower students to succeed as undergraduates in these challenging majors, while also learning to make the most of the college experience.

The two programs are both run by the IDEA Engineering Student Center at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. The Summer Engineering Institute for first year students, and the Transfer Prep program for transfer students, both aim to help incoming scholars adjust to campus and college life; build the study skills and habits necessary to navigate the rigors of engineering coursework; and develop the community of friends and classmates that will support them and strengthen the foundations for success during their undergraduate years, and on into their careers.

“Facilitating the relationship-building and resource navigation that happens during these two programs is what the IDEA Center is all about,” said Jackie Duerr, director of the IDEA Engineering Student Center. “Our undergraduate engineering and computer science students work hard to earn their degrees, but they do so alongside a strong network of peers, mentors, faculty and staff who are here to help them succeed.”

Summer Engineering Institute

More than 110 first year students spent five weeks on campus through the residential Summer Engineering Institute, taking two credit-bearing courses: one in their major and one focused on study habits, time management, and the life skills needed to successfully transition from high school to the rigors of a bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science. The major-specific courses include the award-winning hands-on ECE5: Making, Breaking and Hacking Stuff class; as well as an Intro to Programming, Algorithms for Structural Engineering, and MATLAB programming for Engineering Analysis. All of the classes are meant to provide students with an introduction to some of the key skills they will need as students, and later as engineers in industry or academic careers.

“We’ve worked on a lot of things: Onshape, a computer-aided design software; MATLAB, a program used to process and compile data; we learned PCB design; how to program in C; how to use Arduinos; a lot about signals; and how to use virtual benches, which I didn’t even know existed,” said Imaan Virk, an incoming electrical engineering student and SEI participant who took the team-based ECE5 course. “Now we’re working on our final project which is a combination of all these skills.”

Aside from coursework, students participate in workshops designed to introduce them to the resources and academic support available at the Jacobs School and across campus. SEI students live on campus in residence halls with other SEI participants, getting to know classmates within and beyond their specific major and start to develop the friendships and community that will define their time at UC San Diego and beyond, and  take part in organized social activities and outings on weekends and evenings.

For SEI participant Rianne de Guzman, this has been one of the best parts of the program.

“I’m really enjoying the activities they plan for us. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they plan socials at night which are really engaging, and allow us to connect with other people in the program. And then also the weekend activities they have. We’ve gone to the beach, been able to explore downtown San Diego– it’s been great.”

Recent research from the IDEA Center shows just how important this social support system is to student success, particularly for students underrepresented in engineering. Students who participate in programs such as SEI that nurture these peer and mentor relationships are more likely to be involved in research opportunities, peer leadership roles and student organizations than students who do not. This community involvement is critical to supporting underrepresented students through to a degree in engineering and computer science.

Transfer Prep

The four day Transfer Prep program supported nearly 80 incoming transfer students as they transition from community college to UC San Diego. The program, which is free for all participants, familiarizes students to all relevant campus resources and programs they can take advantage of; helps students register for classes and map out their course of study; provides insights from current transfer students and transfer alumni; and helps transfer students build a peer network and community through social activities and outings.

Since the program is designed specifically for junior-level students, participants spend time learning how — and actively working to find — research opportunities on campus, build and refine their resume, and participate in mock interviews to help prepare them to secure internships and jobs.

As with first year students, building connections with mentors and faculty is a best practice for transfer student success, and a key aspect of the Transfer Prep programming, with students engaging in workshops, small group discussions and information sessions with faculty, staff, and current transfer students.

Current and alumni transfer students answered incoming student questions about everything from where to look for internships; what clubs to join; what classes to take; and thoughts on the combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program, at one such panel session. These current transfer students serve as mentors to the incoming students during the program and often long afterwards.

“As a transfer student myself, I joined the program last year to better understand how to network with faculty and industry professionals, balance my classes, and—of course—make friends. The incredible part? The same friends I made last year were the ones I got to work alongside for this year’s program,” said Grace Bassey, a bioengineering transfer student who served as a Transfer Prep Leader for this year’s program.

Both SEI and Transfer Prep students also participated in Industry Day, meeting with more than 30 industry professionals to hear about their current roles and their educational journey to get there. In informal group discussions, these industry leaders, many of whom are Jacobs School of Engineering alumni, shared advice on how to secure internships and jobs, and answered questions about what different careers look like in practice.

After these discussions, the students heard from industry panelists from their own major with degree-specific advice, before meeting one-on-one with an industry guest for a mock interview and headshot to propel students’ forward in their search for internships.

IDEA Engineering Student Center

“It’s a huge responsibility to be entrusted with the education of people who must learn to work together to solve the biggest challenges facing society. I am inspired by the creativity and intelligence of our Jacobs School undergraduates as well as all the faculty and staff who are engaged in their educational and professional success,” said Albert P. Pisano, Dean of the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and Special Adviser to the Chancellor. “As a broader Jacobs School community, we must continue to strengthen our efforts to give all students the most compelling and meaningful educational experiences possible, both inside and outside the classroom.”

The Transfer Prep and SEI programs have been a key offering of the IDEA Engineering Student Center and Jacobs School of Engineering for 12 and 8 years, respectively. The IDEA Engineering Student Center works to foster an inclusive and welcoming community, increase retention rates, and promote a sustainable culture of academic excellence among all engineering students at UC San Diego with a particular focus on students from groups underrepresented in engineering. Learn more about the Center’s programming at jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/idea.