Learn Engineering through Applied Projects, or LEAP, is a win-win-win for first year students, project sponsors who want to make an environmental or social impact, and the Thayer School of Engineering.
Through participation in the LEAP program, students will learn and practice engineering in advance of taking core engineering courses, exposing them to the creative joy of engineering with the goal of helping more students (especially students who are traditionally underrepresented in engineering) complete an engineering degree.
Students benefit
First year students are paid to learn engineering design skills (more on that here) over the winter and spring terms while they work on a project for a non-profit. Working in teams of 3-4, students can participate in LEAP and gain engineering experience rather than work a non-skill building campus job. This can set students up for greater success in engineering classes while also allowing them to have real examples of engineering project work they can reference in future internship and job interviews. The two-term LEAP project culminates in a poster presentation at the Wetterhahn Symposium for Undergraduate Research in the Sciences.
Non-Profit Sponsors benefit
Non-profits who with a tough engineering problem to solve can sponsor a project through the Cook Engineering Design Center. The best sponsors for LEAP projects have an environmental or socially impactful mission, and typically the sponsor has a point of contact who loves to work with students.
The Thayer School of Engineering Benefits
Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering has a proud history of being diverse in engineering, and LEAP aims to continue that legacy by building skills in human centered engineering while students are still working through prerequisite courses.
Data shows that first generation / low income (FGLI) students are less likely than others to major in engineering, and in their first terms studying STEM, FGLI students are more likely to switch out of a STEM major. LEAP students are prepared to pursue subsequent research work or internships with the LEAP experience on their resume, and they are set up to better contextualize the theoretical learning they pursue at Thayer.
Is LEAP for you?
Please email the CEDC director if you are interested in being a student in LEAP or sponsoring a LEAP project.
The LEAP program welcomes all students regardless of prior academic and work experience. We value curiosity and a commitment to learn and grow in the program.
References
See Thayer-specific research: Bonfert-Taylor, P., & May, V. V., & Wilkinson, H., & Betsinger, A. (2017, June), Work in Progress: Improving First-Year Retention Through Support and Engagement Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--29162 https://peer.asee.org/29162 andBonfert-Taylor, P., & Betsinger, A., & Wilkinson, H., & Helm, R., & Zhang, Y., & Ponaka, P. (2019, June), Impact of First-Year Programming for Underprepared Students Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32932 https://peer.asee.org/32932
Strayhorn, T. L., & Johnson, R. M. (2016, June), What Underrepresented Minority Engineering Majors Learn from Co-Ops & Internships Paper presented at 2016 ASEE International Forum, New Orleans, Louisiana. https://peer.asee.org/27273
