Work in progress — Why are most underrepresented groups even more underrepresented in a vehicle design program?

Minority groups, especially females, provide a large pool of talent which is largely underrepresented in the engineering workplace. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that cause students to choose an engineering technology major, and more specifically, a vehicle design major in an engineering technology program, to help infer why minority groups are not choosing it. Preliminary data analysis shows that this particular program is well below the national average for nearly all underrepresented groups in engineering technology programs. The data does not indicate that a significant retention problem exists within this program; rather it is most likely an initial recruitment problem. Recognizing that some underrepresented groups are represented to an even lesser degree in engineering technology programs than in engineering programs may shed some light on this problem. Through the use of student and alumni surveys and interviews, this study will attempt to determine why students are choosing the vehicle design major and how they perceive the program in several areas to provide insight as to why underrepresented groups are not entering and finishing this major at nationally equivalent levels. It will also attempt to determine if common influencing factors exist for students choosing the vehicle design major.