Our Mission
To improve the retention and graduation rates of undergraduate engineering students.
What is EESI?
The Educating Engineering Students Innovatively (EESI, pronounced “Easy”) Program is designed to inspire and motivate undergraduate engineering students. The program was created in 2017 to engage engineering students, ensuring an “easy” journey to the STEM workforce. It allows students to practice engineering, provide community engagement, and reinforce fundamental engineering in an environment designed to provide a better college experience. The EESI Program allows students to participate in one of four different tracks: Industry, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Community Engagement, or Research.
EESI Tracks
EESI consists of four different tracks that provide experimental learning experiences from student’s sophomore to senior year to aid them in project management, engineering ethics, and user-centered engineering design.
Industry
Similar to a senior design capstone project, students in this track participate in an industry-sponsored project. The students meet with their industry technical advisor to discuss and work on the expected deliverables. This track allows students to experience firsthand how to obtain a job in the industry, about company work culture, and the different company benefits.
- Whirlpool
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
As the world has evolved, students have evolved with it. Most students do not plan to work for a company after graduation, but rather be self-employed. This track allows students to create their own original solution to an engineering design problem of their interest. Their potential solutions and prototypes consider users and the market using the engineering design process.
Engineering Projects in Community Service
Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS), created at Purdue University, is a program in which students participate in engineering service-learning projects. These projects have shown a great deal of improved retention, especially in female engineering students. They allow students to experience first-hand how engineers benefit mankind.
- Ford Technical Challenge
Research
Similar to other structured research programs, EESI students work in laboratories with faculty on the latest cutting-edge technology. However, the faculty are selected to ensure they have a passion for student success and provides a safe space for students. Sample research areas are robotics, sustainable and resilient infrastructures, high performance materials, and environmental biotechnology.
- Dr. Choi - Resilient Infrastructure & Disaster Response Center (RIDER)
- Dr. Jung - AI-Assisted Design of Structural Components
- Dr. Moses - Connected and automated Vehicles
- NASA - United Leadership Initiative (ULI) Integrated Zero Emissions Aviation (IZEA)
EESI Outcomes
Figure 1. FAMU Engineering Students Fall-to-Fall Retention (2018-2020 Cohort)
Figure 2. Probability of Retention in Engineering from Sophomore to Senior Year
The EESI program has shown a great model for producing prepared engineers for the workforce. Figure 1. exhibits that engineering students, specifically students from the EESI program, have a higher matriculation rate year to year than STEM and non-STEM students. Almost double the amount of EESI students have successfully progressed to senior year at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering than non-EESI students. The engineering probability retention statistics from sophomore to senior year are depicted in Figure 2. EESI scholars are more likely progress from sophomore to senior year at a higher rate than general engineering students. This notable difference in EESI students shows how an experiential learning program mixed with student support provides better retention of students than just a freshman engineering support program. As stated in our mission statement, EESI works to achieve excellence in the engineering workforce.
EESI Partners
In 2020, the project was awarded a 5-year $1M grant from the National Science Foundation. This activity is also supported by funding provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Title III Program. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Title III, which helps strengthen and enhance our programs for the benefit of our students and community. In addition to Title III, the EESI program is supported by donations from other industrial partners:
How to Donate
1. Visit https://my.famu.edu/give
2. Please select “Schools/Colleges”
3. Insert amount to donate
4. Select “College of Engineering (FAMU/FSU)”
5. In the drop-down box, select “Educating Engineering Students Innovatively”
6. Click “Add donation” box
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