Upward Bound/Junior Engineering Technology Summer Program

Abstract

This paper will discuss the various factors that contribute to the success of minority students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines by exploring paradigms that promote success for the underrepresented group of students. Savannah State University (SSU) offered and administered a six-week Junior Engineering and Technology Summer (JETS) program sponsored by the U.S Army Research Office. The primary goal of the JETS program was to provide high school students with interests in mathematics and sciences a preview of engineering studies at the college level. This high quality program nurtured the top 25 academically talented high school students' interests in engineering and science through handson activities, team dynamics, faculty and current engineering technology student instruction and a field trip to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The summer program was supplemented by Upward Bound, an existing summer outreach program at SSU, to attract students who would be able to cope with the requirements of baccalaureate degree programs in STEM disciplines. In this paper we will present the curriculum module, student activities, and an evaluation of student learning.