Many of first-year students find that what worked to make them successful high school students may not work as a college student. The first-semester college experience is a huge life transition, and the course is designed to help make that transition as easy as possible.
Company recruiters tell us they need engineers who know their academics but also know how to work in teams, communicate effectively, deal with conflict, and sell their ideas. The course is also designed to aid in polishing those skills.
In the course, students will:
- Polish their resume for Engineering Expo which takes place each September - yes, it is possible for freshmen to receive internship offers
- Learn to write cover letters and thank you notes to interviewers
- Develop a four-year academic plan, charting classes
- Create an ePortfolio showcasing your strengths for potential employers link
- Learn methods of tracking grades in order to have a successful semester from the beginning
- Interview professional engineers about their path
- Participate in community events led by upper class committees
- Complete 10 hours of community service during fall semester and one event per month during spring semester, following the motto of the university of Ut Prosim – That I May Serve
The course meets twice a week. Students will meet with one of the CEED graduate students to work on material for some of the activities listed above. Participants will also meet in a large seminar on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 with the first-year students in Galileo and Hypatia. The seminar is designed to provide resources to students, including seminar topics on time management seminar led by the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence (http://www.caee.vt.edu/), undergraduate research panel, Engineering Expo preparation with company recruiters, course request advising session with engineering advisors, and a leadership workshop.
The two-credit course is required for all Galileo and Hypatia students. While the course only meets regularly in the fall, requirements for the spring include continued participation in community events. In the spring, students must participate in at least one event a month sponsored by each of the committees.