Retention-Oriented Curricular Design

This paper presents a retention-oriented approach to the educational value stream within the STEM undergraduate area. Faced with several strategic challenges and opportunities, a Flex Advantage Plan was developed to enhance the undergraduate engineering technology programs and better utilize the curricular flexibilities inherent in the current structure. FAP provides distinction and uniqueness to these majors by presenting students with educational choices that add depth in a chosen discipline and/or another concentration. Flex Advantage has expanded awareness and increased enrollment in secondary degrees, minors and concentrations. In the next phase, the linkages between undergraduate and graduate studies will be addressed to provide a smoother transition for current undergraduate students and more relevant alternatives for part-time students. (Contains 2 tables.)