Engineering Scholars´ Program at FAU

A dual-enrollment credit summer program offered by the College of Engineering at Florida Atlantic University for high-achieving high school students is described. Known as the Engineering Scholars´ Program, and funded partially by the State of Florida Governor´s Summer Program, this activity provides gifted students challenging educational opportunities not available in regular high school settings. This program is designed around nine learning objectives that focus upon teamwork, communication, and placement of math and science concepts into the context of real-world problems. Typical course offerings are automation and robotics, electronic design with operational amplifiers, introduction to inventive problem solving, and introduction to Web authoring/programming. Select members of the College of Engineering faculty, assisted by a class mentor, provide instruction for these courses. Program assessment is based primarily on student evaluations. Currently, over 80% of the student participants report a high level of satisfaction with the program. When it began in summer 1997, the program involved four courses and about 70 students, it has now expanded to five courses and over 100 students, with a wait-list for participation.