Abstract: | The present study focused on students who had been regularly admitted to the university, elected to attend a summer program, and declared engineering or science as an entry major. All (178) students who attended the Summer Program for Academic Careers in Engineering (SPACE) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) from 1992-1999 were included in this study. The students were divided into three categories for analysis only (Persisters, Major Changers, and Leavers). The successful SPACE student in engineering was self-confident; maintained close contact with a parent; the student’s primary support system included family and peers; the student’s career choice was influenced by early exposure to the field; and students who persisted in engineering were less likely to receive loans. SPACE, positively impacted the academic, social, and environmental adjustment of minority students, regardless of gender, who persisted at UCF. More than 70% of SPACE students remained and graduated from UCF.Index Terms --- Academic performance, bridge program, cohorts, minority engineering student. |
