Mechanical Engineering Concurrent Degree/Advanced Diploma Agreement

Authors
Chris Peirone
Darryl Danelon
Dr. Lindita Prendi
Barbara Sedlacek
Dr. Bruce Minaker
Dr. Jacqueline Stagner
Dr. Colin Novak
Reference Number
2017-06
Date
Status
Attachment(s)
Abstract

Executive Summary

A project has been developed by St. Clair College, in partnership with the University of Windsor, in which a concurrent agreement for students in the Mechanical Engineering degree program are able to earn the Mechanical Engineering Technology advanced diploma by attending a customized delivery of courses at St. Clair College during off-semesters, by focusing on complementary practical hands-on technical skills. By attending St. Clair College during their off-semesters, students will obtain practical hands-on skills in addition to the theoretical concepts developed during their studies at the University of Windsor; which are both appealing attributes that employers are in frequent search of. In the past, students have transferred from the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at St. Clair College to the University of Windsor’s Mechanical Engineering degree program. There is a high success rate for these transfer students completing the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Windsor. Of the many students who apply for Co-Op positions in the Mechanical Engineering Degree program at the University of Windsor, a significant amount of these students are denied access due to the competitive nature in the selection of applicants. Students who are not in the Co-Op program can complete the concurrent agreement during their off-semesters. The concurrent agreement will provide the students with valuable hands-on technical skills. As well, University of Windsor’s Mechanical Engineering degree program consists of many international students. Due to the barriers associated with employing these international students, it is more difficult for them to obtain employment. By offering this concurrent agreement, the international students have the option to gain additional credentials, which will better their chances of finding employment in North America as well as keeping them occupied while attempting to gain citizenship into Canada. It is expected that a sufficient amount of students will be interested in applying for this concurrent agreement.

The Concurrent Degree/Advanced Diploma agreement will require the university students to attend the St. Clair College during three off-semesters: (1) the summer off-semester between the second year, second semester and the third year, first semester; (2) the winter off-semester between the third-year first and second semesters; and (3) the fall semester prior to entering their fourth-year, first semester. Prior to the analysis, a selection of seventeen courses was made based on their hands-on practical course work. Of the courses not in the pre-selection of the agreement, further analysis was necessary to justify their absence in the curriculum.

When mapping courses for the Engineering Technologies at St. Clair College, two types of learning outcomes are necessary in the analysis: Program Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs) and Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs). The Program Vocational Learning Outcomes are general outcomes that must be met for all engineering technology programs. The Course Learning Outcomes are course-specific learning outcomes that define the topics that are assessed and taught in each course. These are the two types of learning outcomes assessed in the analysis for developing the concurrent agreement.

An initial attempt at matching the learning outcomes between the two institutions proved to be unsuccessful due to the significant differences in learning outcomes. A thorough analysis, which is specific to each course, was necessary. The pre-analysis for Program Vocational Learning Outcomes was obtained by comparing the St. Clair College courses which were not in the discussion of the curriculum. It was important to justify the absence of these courses in the curriculum via direct course comparison and proving that there were no sufficient gaps present in the comparative analysis. After the analysis, all courses which were absent in the curriculum were justified via VLO and CLO analysis.

Seventeen courses were pre-selected for inclusion in the concurrent agreement curriculum. After the VLO analysis, none of the seventeen courses were eliminated from the discussion. As for the CLO analysis, thorough course comparison was achieved by carefully considering the Course Learning Outcomes of each St. Clair College Course and comparing them with course outlines from the Mechanical Engineering Degree program at the University of Windsor. After the analysis of CLOs, two courses were eliminated from the concurrent agreement curriculum.

The final curriculum contains fifteen courses. The students will be required to complete five courses each semester during their studies at St. Clair College. Upon completion of the concurrent agreement, graduates will be equipped with the intended hands-on skills they obtain at St. Clair College as well as theoretical concepts they learn at the University of Windsor.