An analysis of a pre-engineering program model used to predict a student´s persistence to graduation

This paper presents the evolution and implementation of the pre-engineering program at the joint Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering. The program was initiated in 2004. It was revised several times between 2004 and 2009. These revisions were made to accommodate unexpected or unattended consequences in the program´s implementation. The current program consists of five courses taken by engineering students including First-Year Engineering Laboratory, Calculus I, Calculus II, General Chemistry I, and General Physics I. Chemical engineering students replace General Physics I with General Chemistry II Between 2004 and 2008, almost 2000 first-time in college (FTIC) engineering students participated in the program. The analysis suggests that students who successfully complete the pre-engineering program graduate from the college with a degree in engineering at a very high rate. Additionally, it appears there are no statistically significant differences in graduation rates among pre-engineering program completers with respect to home institution, gender, and race/ethnicity.