The use of applied process control systems design to attract engineering students

Hands-on, design oriented experiences have been shown to increase awareness of engineering as a profession and to attract students to enter engineering programs. Most of these programs, while very successful, specifically target highly specialized industries. In an effort to appeal to a wider variety of engineering disciplines, the University of Texas at Tyler, with the aid of National Science Foundation grant funding, has proposed to use the multidisciplinary process control industry as a theme to attract students into the engineering profession. The topic area of process controls has applicability to a wide range of engineering disciplines including agricultural, chemical, electrical, mechanical, and petroleum engineering. This paper will describe how the process control breadboard, a proof of concept system developed to attract and retain engineering students, is being used as both a demonstration tool and a hands-on design, build, test activity for K-12 outreach activities. Preliminary results from initial outreach activities will be presented along with the plan for future activities to stimulate interest, awareness and enrollment of highly qualified engineering students.