The Engineering Residential Experience
What is the Engineering Residential Experience?
Engineers in the 21st Century need the ability to innovate, communicate, and operate at a high level. Producing graduates that meet these demands is critical to retaining America’s technical leadership.
The MSU College of Engineering is responding to this need through an initiative that integrates the first year engineering program with a living and learning community that exposes freshmen to the engineering profession. First year students connect with upperclassmen, collaborate on early team project experiences, become engaged with the profession, and develop a “sense of place.” Combining an early engineering program (increasingly common at top engineering schools) with a residential living‐learning program fosters a community of thinkers who can explore solutions to society’s key problems.
In 2009, the Engineering Residential Experience (ERE) program transitioned from a small‐scale science and engineering residential program serving approximately 150 students, to a large‐scale living‐learning community with the potential to accommodate up to 1000 undergraduate engineering students.
ERE students have access to professional tutoring and mentoring services, engineering themed presentations, dinner conversations with executives and practitioners, student success seminars, academic advising, road trips to engineering companies, factories, and worksites, and numerous opportunities to become more engaged in the engineering profession.
In this engineering living and learning environment, students are encouraged to participate in “theme” communities brought together around important issues ‐ issues that the National Academy of Engineering has outlined as “the Grand Challenges of the 21st century”. Themed areas of the residence hall engage students in issues focusing on challenges such as transportation, sustainability or energy. Students can brainstorm technical solutions and societal transformations necessary to address issues and meet future needs. This innovative approach has the potential to familiarize students with Grand Challenges and connect these budding engineers with their passion early on.
Other aspects of the engineering residential experience include the following services: Tutoring, Peer Leaders, and Themed Presentations, and Student Success Seminars.
The Benefits of the Engineering Residential Experience
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| Students working on a Cornerstone Engineering project |
Students working in the project assembly lab | The Undergraduate Academic Advising Office |
Engineering tutoring session in Wilson Hall |
The Wilson Hall residential and facility configuration encourages academic and professional interactions among upper level and first year engineering students in an effort to create a sense of community.
Tutoring
Tutoring supports the academic success of all residential participants. Free academic tutoring in math and science will be offered in the residence hall. Tutoring services will be provided by students who have successfully mastered the academic skills needed for math and science comprehension. Tutors are available Sunday through Thursday (6:00pm-10:00pm) of each week to help students work through homework assignments and to prepare for exams. Tutoring will take place in Wilson Hall.
Peer Leaders - Click here to read more about our Peer Leaders.
Residential Experience Reserved Sections
The purpose of these reserved sections is to promote successful interactions with other residential participants with similar engineering majors. Reserved academic sections for residential participants, provides a solid foundation from which students will grow, learn, and progress toward successful completion of their baccalaureate degree.
Themed Presentations
Faculty members working in broad areas such as, Transportation, Materials, Energy, Security, and Health will talk to residential participants about their research and what professional opportunities that will be available to students in the college and in industry.
Student Success Seminars
All the engineering student success seminars are developed with the goal of helping residential participants develop successful strategies to becoming academically and socially prepared in their new academic environment. These seminars are coordinated by the Peer Leaders and the Co-Curricular Director.