Course Information

COEN 3100 - Engineering Transfer Success Seminar was designed to aid in a successful transition to CU Boulder Engineering for students transferring from another two- or four-year institution and was developed using input from current transfer students, as well as data analysis of past/current transfer student trends by the CEAS Transfer Advising Committee. It is a one-credit, graded course. 

Throughout this course, students learn about various college, campus and academic resources applicable to upper-division students, evaluate their skills, explore relevant issues associated with transfer students and the engineering profession, build on strengths and education as related to overall career goals, and establish a supportive transfer student community.

Participation, assignments and class discussions are essential to the course. Emphasis is placed on building a connection to CU Boulder Engineering (faculty/staff/students/departments) as well as the larger CU Boulder community.

Curriculum

The learning outcomes, course content and assignments were created and are maintained/updated by the CEAS Transfer Advising Committee within the Student Support and Advising Services (SSAS) Team. This group of CEAS academic advisors interested in transfer student success made decisions on course content based off transfer student feedback on their transition process to CU Boulder (as evidenced by qualitative/quantitative survey data, as well as direct advisor interactions).

Course learning outcomes are that after completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Develop a community within the engineering transfer student population
  • Form relationships with engineering faculty and staff to enhance academic college experience and learn about involvement opportunities in research, etc.
  • Identify and utilize campus resources to assist in academic, personal and professional success specific to engineering majors
  • Improve professional writing skills through self-reflection on personal transfer process as well as engineering ethics
  • Create a desired graduation plan, become familiar with academic policies and procedures regarding course registration and schedule adjustments with support from staff members and online resources
  • Understand engineering maker-spaces, lab-based workshops, library services and other resources through in-depth tours and presentations 

Time Commitment

Pre-Semester Trainings (required)

During these training days, you will learn the curriculum week-by-week, understand the assignment and grading structure, meet your peer mentors, and understand the expectations for the class.

This course is also supported by one student hourly TA position per section. You will be responsible for working with the TA for your section and appropriately delegating grading and other course support directives, as well as providing time to meet with and answer questions for this student support position.

CEAS Transfer Advising Committee (required)

Each instructor-mentor for this course is required to be a member of the Transfer Advising Committee. This committee provides overall curricular support and strategic direction for the course, as well as provides course content and learning objectives, as influenced by transfer student data. While the curriculum is fairly set, there is latitude for the instructor-mentor to add components to existing course topics, if they desire, based on their specific expertise and experience. The Transfer Advising Committee also provides logistical and hiring support for student support positions related to this class.   

Teaching Information

  • Your assigned section will be based on your availability, as well as a list of times when collectively may be best for incoming transfer students. Class times are carefully designated and based on classroom availability and location.
  • Each section is 50 minutes. Typically, instructor-mentors spend 10 minutes after class engaging with students if possible.
  • Two sections of this course are taught (one on Main Campus and one on East Campus).

Outside of Class Experiences (optional)

  • If you are inspired to create or attend outside of class experiences with your students, that is certainly welcome, though not necessary. Events during National Transfer Week (typically in the fall semester) are always encouraged as possible out-of-classroom engagement.

Grading (required)

  • This class is letter graded based on attendance, participation and completion of assignments.
  • The required assignments have rubrics and are designed to be straightforward to grade and require some, but not excessive subjectivity.
    • It is expected that when grading more subjective assignments, to provide thoughtful and helpful feedback to students, not only for transparency in grading, but more importantly, so they can learn how to improve, with the hopes that these lessons apply to concurrent and subsequent coursework.
  • Grading could take 60 minutes or less each week, with the maximum being up to a couple of hours for a few of the larger assignments, depending on the size of the class.

Compensation

  • Each instructor-mentor will receive a $1,600 stipend, which will be distributed via an additional pay form at the end of the semester. The payments may not be in line with your regular paychecks, as they are processed separately with your department’s HR representative.
  • You may or may not be taxed on the stipend up front; therefore, it is important that you consider the implications of this regarding taxes and any requirements you have regarding compensation.

Requirements

  • Each instructor-mentor must be a full-time employee at CU Boulder, preferably in CEAS or in a position which interacts with students in CEAS.
  • You must have 2-3 hours available each week during the semester.
  • Each instructor is required to have a master’s degree. This is an Office of Faculty Affairs requirement.  Please email Chris Anderson if you have questions.