Introducing Underrepresented Minority High School Students To An Aeronautical Technology Program At Purdue University

The Purdue Aviation Technology Department developed an introductory aviation course for students participating in the six weeks Upward Bound rising sophomore program. Upward Bound is a pre-college preparatory program providing academic support, personal counseling and cultural enrichment for eligible low income and potential first-generation college participants in the East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, and the Lake Station target area. The goal of the introductory aviation course was to interest young people in the aviation industry, which is traditionally underrepresented by minorities. The students were exposed to all three components of the Aviation Program: Flight training, maintenance technology and business management. They were introduced to aerodynamics, propulsion, airframe structures and aircraft systems. A qualified pilot taught them the basics of flying a B-727 full motion flight simulator, and they made a flight in a light aircraft. As a final hands-on project the students built an aluminum winglet section. Last summer the faculty organized field trips to a major air carrier maintenance facility and an Air Force museum. The authors will discuss in this paper the unique challenges of developing a curriculum that attracts young minority students and the teaching strategies to overcome the cultural differences between minority students and faculty. I. Overview of the Upward Bound program Since 1966, Purdue University Calumet has hosted an Upward Bound program developed to improve the educational opportunities of first generation participants from low-income families in an area east of Chicago in northern Indiana referred to as “the Region”. First generation participants are defined as those students whose parents do not have a four-year college degree. The demographics of the target area indicate a relatively high concentration of ethnic minorities and urban populations. The Region has a large high school drop out rate, up to 50% in some areas, and a high unemployment rate among the minority groups. The number of people with a four-year college degree in the region is well below the state and national average. Thirteen high schools participate in the program, and Upward Bound is funded to serve 120 first generation low-income students. Of this number, 1/3 of the students are either low income or first generation, while 2/3 are both low income and first-generation students. At the present time 73 students are enrolled, and it is anticipated that the goal of 120 students will be reached at the beginning of the summer of 2002. Primary goals of the program are: High school academic success, effective preparation for postsecondary education, and eventual graduation from college. The students will be enrolled in the program during their last three years in high school. The program consists of two components: a nine-month academic year program during which the students will attend classes every Saturday morning at the Purdue Calumet campus to reinforce and supplement high school P ge 753.1 “Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2002, American Society for Engineering Education” offerings and three summer components. During their first summer, the rising sophomores will participate in a three weeks intensive session that will focus on Math, Science, English and foreign language skills. At the end of the session, students will have received approximately seventy hours of academic instruction. During their second summer, the rising juniors will participate in a seven weeks residential summer program at Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. The students will take courses in foreign language, mathematics concepts and applications, advanced topic in mathematics, writing, introduction to biological sciences, and introduction to technology and magazine production. The students have a full-day schedule with four 75-minutes classes, and scheduled mandatory study sessions between 6:30 and 8:30 PM. During this summer period, the students will live in the residence hall under the guidance of resident advisors. For the final summer session, the rising seniors will have the opportunity to experience the demands of learning on a non-residential, commuter campus. The students will take classes at the Purdue Calumet campus, which is located in the target area, while they live at home. The University stimulates participation by waving all student fees and tuition in order to give every student the opportunity regardless of financial status. Given three courses from which to choose, Communication, Psychology, and College Algebra, each student will select and enroll in two and will earn up to six hours of college credit. In addition to the first three years, there is an optional eight-week Bridge summer program for graduating students. The intent of the bridge program on the West Lafayette Campus is to prepare students for the fall semester and make all necessary arrangements to assist in the adaptation and integration into the campus community. Each student who participates in the full sequence of the program will experience: one residential summer, two nonresidential summers, three academic years, and an optional bridge summer. II. College enrollment and completion The number of Upward Bound graduates enrolled in College is encouraging, as illustrated in table 1. Students attending College 100% Students attending Indiana University 25% Students attending Purdue University 35% Students attending Purdue Calumet University 30% Students attend out-of-state universities or other Indiana colleges 10% Students graduating from college (tracked since 1996) 80%