ENGI 120 faces decreased enrollment

By Matthew Anaya     2/2/16 9:21pm

Introduction to Engineering Design (ENGI 120), the freshman engineering design class, has faced issues with underenrollment over the past few semesters. There are 38 students currently enrolled in the class this semester, down from 53 students in spring 2014 but up from spring 2015’s 29 students. According to scheduleplanner.rice.edu, the website used to design course schedules, there were a total of 100 available spots for this year’s ENGI 120 section.

According to Matthew Wettergreen, one of the ENGI 120 professors, there have been a number of changes made to the course in response to student-submitted evaluations.

“Some students feel there is too much technical writing,” Wettergreen said. “As a result, for the fall, we cut several writing assignments.”

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Wettergreen also said he and the other instructors are constantly modifying the course by revising what needs improvement and listening to student feedback.

“Class time is now reserved for practicing steps in the engineering design process instead of for lectures,” Wettergreen said. “This spring we are further streamlining the workflow of the course to place the practice of engineering design as the central component of the course.”

The course, which was first offered in Spring 2011, allows students to learn the engineering design process and apply it to a known need in the community, according to Wettergreen. The main graded assignments of the class consist of technical memos, prototypes and a final presentation on the overall project.

McMurtry College freshman David Zhou, who is currently enrolled in the course, said the technical memos were a major part of why ENGI 120 is perceived as a difficult course.

“[Tech memos] take a lot of work and require our group to meet up outside class, which can be difficult with our busy schedules,” Zhou said.

Many freshmen are aware of the difficulty of the course, though the work is rewarding and worth it in the end, according to Baker College freshman Madison Nasteff.

“Students are hesitant to enroll because they are worried about the work associated with the class,” Nasteff said. “While there is a lot of work associated with the class, it is 100 percent worth it.”

Esther Tang, a McMurtry College freshman who took the class last semester, said the course was rigorous and emphasized group work.

“The class is a lot of work, and the professors can be harsh with their criticism at times,” Tang said. “How well you do in the class largely depends on your group members,” Tang said.

Despite the heavy workload, Tang said she would recommend incoming freshmen who are interested in engineering to take the class.

“Even though the class is a lot of work, it’s worth it in the end because you learn a lot about working with others as well as the overall engineering design process,” Tang said.

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