Lipscomb seniors score 100 percent pass rate on national engineering exam
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By Katera Bolander
Seniors at Lipscomb University's Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering recently scored a 100 percent pass rate on the national Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE exam) while the national pass rate was only 63.2 percent and the Tennessee pass rate was only 58.8 percent. The exam is used throughout the nation as a mandatory step for people wanting to acquire an engineering license.
"This success speaks to the quality of our program," said Fort Gwinn, associate professor and chair in the department of engineering mechanics at Lipscomb University. "We use the FE exam to measure how well we are teaching the material, and we are very pleased that the numbers show we are doing well. The results also show us that our students are succeeding in the areas the profession thinks are important.
"A large portion of this success is due to the personal relationships we develop with our students. With a low student-to-teacher ratio, we can work one-on-one with students, helping them with trouble areas. Also, we have been blessed to recruit and retain extremely competent students. And the two of those together make for an unbeatable combination."
Sarah Cothran, who graduated in 2004 and is now working at Arnold Engineering Development Center in the Advanced Missile Signature Center as an Engineer/Scientist Level 1, agrees that personal relationships are a key to success.
"The most unique aspect of the engineering program at Lipscomb is the fact that you have an actual relationship with your professors, said Cothran. "You don't have to worry about teaching assistants or classes with 300 students. Your professors care about you as a student, but also as a person. They were concerned about me and I didn't have to think twice about going to them when I had questions. They taught me that it is okay if I do not understand something. I just have to ask questions. "
Matt Sheppard, who also graduated last year, is now working at the Nevada Automotive Test Center as a test engineer. He believes that the Lipscomb engineering program prepared him well for every aspect of his future.
"Lipscomb not only provided me with an outstanding engineering program, but also with an outstanding education in life," said Sheppard. "My education prepared me, not only to become an engineer, but to become a Christian engineer. Lipscomb was the best fit for me and I cannot think of a better place to have gained my degree."
Last year marked the first time that Lipscomb students took the FE exam. The Lipscomb program received accreditation for its computer engineering and engineering mechanics programs in August of last year from ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). Only universities with ABET accreditation or schools that are within two years of receiving ABET accreditation are eligible. ABET is the only organization recognized by the U.S. Government that can evaluate and accredit engineering programs.
Last spring the first group of Lipscomb seniors took the exam. 87.5 percent passed compared to the 100 percent who passed this fall.
"The difference is a slight variation in classes," said Gwinn. "Overall, the two groups of students have different strengths. The class before was focused on working experience and all went directly to jobs after graduation. The class in spring included several that went on to graduate programs. All of the students are extremely bright, but the academic focus was slightly different for the group this fall."
Engineering faculty spent time helping students prepare for the FE exam.
"Last fall, we offered a review course for students, which we believe helped them achieve this success," said Fred Gilliam, associate dean of the Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering. "We are working on making it an adult studies course next fall. Then people in the community who are looking to become licensed can join our students in a formalized review."
The success of recent graduates from the engineering program serves as a strong foundation for future efforts.
"We are very proud of all of our students and the success they have achieved," said Gwinn. "We now plan to concentrate on the programs we already have in place and to make sure that we continue improving them. We have two fields accredited and we need to spend some time making them the best they can be before trying to add more programs. Our goal is to have over 10 percent of the students at Lipscomb in the engineering program. Once we achieve that goal, we will look at adding other programs. For now, we want to spend time perfecting the ones we already have."
"Our students have set a standard of success that we plan to maintain and grow on," said Gilliam. "Prospective students can look at the success of our graduates and know that at Lipscomb, they are going to get a very strong engineering education. We are very proud of all of our students."
Students from Lipscomb who took and passed the FE Exam this fall include Karla Childress, Ben Corn, Pai Douangvilay, Jeremiah Macer, Katie McDonald and Darren Whorton.
For more information about Lipscomb's engineering program, visit http://engineering.lipscomb.edu or contact Gilliam at 615.279.5887, 1.800.333.4358 ext. 5887 or fred.gilliam [at] lipscomb.edu.