Engineering - Student Resources

Engineering Learning Initiatives programs enhance the learning environment of the college with opportunities for peer-facilitated collaborative learning, faculty-mentored undergraduate research, inspired leadership development, and effective teaching assistant preparation.  These enriching programs exist and thrive with the support of our corporate and alumni partners.  Below we highlight several ways to contribute to maintaining and enhancing the excellence of the Cornell Engineering student experience through ELI program sponsorship.

Academic Excellence Workshop (AEW) Cooperative Learning Program

Offers weekly,1-credit cooperative learning workshops corresponding to core engineering courses in math, chemistry, and computer science.

• Students engage in active problem solving in small groups with peer discussion.
• Problems are designed to be at or above core course level and to enhance understanding of core course concepts.
• Approximately 35% of all engineering students participate in AEWs.
• Weekly workshops are led by upper-level engineering student facilitators, screened and trained by the ELI program.
• Facilitators attend bi-weekly trainings throughout the academic year.
• Corporate and alumni donors are highlighted on training and marketing materials and on program website.
• Funding opportunities:

• $50,000 per year would fund full programming costs, including facilitator wages, training materials, room fees, and refreshments.
• $1,000 would support one engineering student in the AEW facilitator position over the academic year; $10,000 would support 10 AEW facilitators.

• Participation opportunity:

• Corporate partners may deliver 1-2 facilitator training sessions over the course of an academic year.

LeaderShape Institute

A dynamic six-day residential retreat in which students engage in vision-planning and community-building, and gain the awareness and tools necessary to be an effective leader on campus and beyond.

• Approximately 40 Cornell engineering students per year attend a six-day retreat immediately following spring semester.
• Rising sophomores and juniors who show leadership potential in student organizations or other student groups are nominated by faculty and staff and invited to attend.
• Students gain skills and experience related to self-awareness and personal vision, effective communication and community-building, sensitivity to diversity, and the dynamics of leadership.
• Corporate and alumni donors are highlighted on program materials and website.
  
• Funding opportunities:

• $15,000 per year would fund one-third of programming costs and ensure the continuation of the program in coming years.
• $1000 would sponsor institute participation for one engineering student; $5000 would sponsor five students.

• Participation opportunity:

• Corporate and alumni partners are invited to participate in the Guest Leader Forum and evening program on Day 3 of the retreat.
  

Undergraduate Research Program
Provides funding to support undergraduate student participation in a research project together with a faculty mentor. 

• Recipients are selected through a competitive application process. 
• Demand for undergraduate research funding exceeds available resources.
• Corporate and alumni donors are highlighted on program website, in marketing materials, in funding announcements, and in formal award letters.
• Funding opportunities: 

• $40,000 would fund approximately 20 students on research projects during the academic year or the summer; $20,000 would fund approximately 10 students.
• $6000 would fund 4 semester projects at $1500 per project; or 2 summer projects at $3000 per project.  

Peer Tutoring Program

Provides tutoring free-of-charge for most first and second year engineering courses.

• Interested students are screened and trained to be peer tutors for core engineering courses.
• Students in need of tutoring help for a class contact tutors on list and arrange tutoring sessions free-of-charge.
• Peer tutors are paid an hourly wage for hours spent tutoring.
• Special group study sessions facilitated by tutors are targeted to women and underrepresented minority students.
• Corporate donors are highlighted on training and marketing materials and on program website.
• Funding opportunities:

• $600 would support materials and refreshments for tutor trainings over one academic year.
• $2500 would support marketing efforts to expand program visibility over the next two academic years.
• $2500 would support approximately 300 hours of one-on-one tutoring.
• $300 would support two group study sessions within a semester.

Teaching Assistant Development Program

Provides comprehensive TA training, mandatory for all new TAs in the College of Engineering, as well as offering ongoing professional development opportunities to promote excellence in teaching practice.

• New engineering TAs attend 13 hours of training at the outset of each semester.
• Approximately 300 new TAs are trained each academic year.
• Training content includes:  active learning strategies, diversity in the classroom, creating a classroom presence, and videotaped presentation practice.
• Experienced TA educators are trained throughout the summer to develop and facilitate the training modules for incoming TAs.
• Corporate sponsors can be highlighted in training materials, in the Engineering TA handbook, and on the program website.
• Funding opportunities:

• $2000 would fund the stipend for one TA educator to complete the summer training program and serve as a facilitator for TA training sessions.
• $14,000 per year would fund the training and stipends for the group of 7 TA educators who serve as TA facilitators each year.
• $22,000 per year would fund full programming costs, including TA educator stipends, training materials and equipment, room fees, and refreshments.