DHC Third-Year ProjectDHC Third-Year ProjectSpring 2008Spring 2008
Shedding Light on Optics: Strategies to Increase Enrollment in Optical
Science and Engineering
Christian Commander
Huey Jiin Liu
Colleen Phillips
Project ChargeProject Charge
Devise a long-term plan to promote Devise a long-term plan to promote OSE and increase enrollmentOSE and increase enrollment
Project ObjectivesProject Objectives
Develop an understanding of the Develop an understanding of the enrollment difficulties enrollment difficulties
Develop and implement multiple Develop and implement multiple surveys for relevant demographicssurveys for relevant demographics
Use research to develop Use research to develop recommendations for methods to recommendations for methods to increase enrollmentincrease enrollment
Present findings and recommendations in a binder for future use
Background InformationBackground Information
Optical Science and Engineering Optical Science and Engineering (OSE) major was created in 2001.(OSE) major was created in 2001.
OSE encompasses the physical OSE encompasses the physical phenomena and technologies phenomena and technologies associated with the applications of associated with the applications of light.light.
OSE prepares students to design, OSE prepares students to design, analyze, andanalyze, and fabricatefabricate effective effective optical systems.optical systems.
OSE: Enrollment OSE: Enrollment ChallengesChallenges
63
97
111 108
71
45
29
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Enrollment Numbers for OSE for Fall ’01 to ’07Source: Office of Resource Management and Planning <http://www.ormp.ucdavis.edu/inform/index_enrollment.html>
SurveySurveyIdentify what motivates students to choose Identify what motivates students to choose their majortheir major
Use results to direct promotion and outreach Use results to direct promotion and outreach ideas of OSEideas of OSE
Survey instruments: Survey instruments: University of California Undergraduate University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES)Experience Survey (UCUES)
Student Affairs, Research & Information (SARI)Student Affairs, Research & Information (SARI)
QuickSurveyQuickSurvey
Question: Question: Which of the following aspects Which of the following aspects influenced you to choose your major?influenced you to choose your major?
Target Group: Target Group: Undergraduates (Upper Undergraduates (Upper Division) in UC DavisDivision) in UC Davis
Survey done via UCUES 2006.Survey done via UCUES 2006.
Inference:Inference: Students want to be intellectually Students want to be intellectually challenged.challenged. Financial income is important to Financial income is important to Engineering majors.Engineering majors.
Questions:Questions:
Have you heard of the Have you heard of the Optical Science and Optical Science and Engineering Major?Engineering Major?
Target group:Target group: Undergraduates Undergraduates in UC Davis in UC Davis
Survey done via QuickSurvey.Survey done via QuickSurvey.
Inference:Inference: Low enrollment numbers most likely due to lack of Low enrollment numbers most likely due to lack of awareness of the major.awareness of the major.
Question:Question:
Are you interested in attending Are you interested in attending an information social hosted by an information social hosted by the Optical Science and the Optical Science and Engineering department?Engineering department?
Target group:Target group: Undergraduates in Undergraduates in UC Davis UC Davis
Survey done via QuickSurvey.Survey done via QuickSurvey.
Inference:Inference: Promotional events need to be brought to Promotional events need to be brought to the students.the students.
RecommendationsRecommendations
OutreachOutreach
WebsiteWebsite
InternshipsInternships
Reaching out to FreshmenReaching out to Freshmen Welcome WeekWelcome Week
Tabling at events/fairs at dormsTabling at events/fairs at dorms Resources: Resources:
Poster describing highlights of majorPoster describing highlights of major handouts with major info and link to website. handouts with major info and link to website.
Attach candy or voucher for free slice of pizza.Attach candy or voucher for free slice of pizza. Trivia WheelTrivia Wheel PrizesPrizes
Outreach to High School Outreach to High School and Community College and Community College
StudentsStudents Currently being doneCurrently being done
Optics Club membersOptics Club members
More OutreachMore Outreach Target broader radius (not just Target broader radius (not just
Davis High)Davis High) Funding and supportFunding and support
TransportationTransportation
Campus OutreachCampus Outreach
Open HouseOpen House Career/Internship FairsCareer/Internship Fairs Picnic DayPicnic Day Teaming up with current events is Teaming up with current events is
the most effective method:the most effective method: low intensity, cost and timelow intensity, cost and time network with other groups to increase network with other groups to increase
awarenessawareness
Outreach: Mailing Postcards to Outreach: Mailing Postcards to ParentsParents
Many OSE and Many OSE and other Engineering other Engineering majors report that majors report that parental influence parental influence affected their affected their major choicemajor choice
Mail a postcard to Mail a postcard to all students on the all students on the Statement of Intent Statement of Intent to Register listto Register list
Parental Influence on Students’ Major
Data obtained from UCUES 2006
Postcard BackPostcard Back
Postcard FrontPostcard Front
OSE Website RevisionsOSE Website Revisions The OSE website is the primary resource The OSE website is the primary resource
for students to gain information on the for students to gain information on the majormajor
These revision would make the website These revision would make the website
more informative and user-friendly:more informative and user-friendly: Less “solid-text”Less “solid-text” More ImagesMore Images Separate Area for ParentsSeparate Area for Parents Profiles of Current and Past StudentsProfiles of Current and Past Students Up-to-date InformationUp-to-date Information
Current OSE WebsiteCurrent OSE Website
Sample Sample Page for Page for Revised Revised WebsiteWebsite
AestheticsAesthetics- Less Text per Less Text per PagePage- More More GraphicsGraphicsNavigationNavigation-More InteractiveMore Interactive
-Images serve as Images serve as LinksLinks
Revamp the Internship Revamp the Internship ExperienceExperience
Low satisfaction of students with Low satisfaction of students with current optionscurrent options
Work with faculty to increase Work with faculty to increase internship opportunitiesinternship opportunities
Increase awareness of opportunitiesIncrease awareness of opportunities Updated binder in advising officeUpdated binder in advising office Updated list on the websiteUpdated list on the website
Attractive Features of Attractive Features of OSEOSE
Small majorSmall major Wide variety of career options Wide variety of career options Lucrative salary for a recent Lucrative salary for a recent
graduategraduate Practical preparation for easy Practical preparation for easy
transition into a careertransition into a career Low student to staff ratio enables Low student to staff ratio enables
better advising servicesbetter advising services
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
Carrie Devine, Carrie Devine, DHC Coordinator and DHC Coordinator and CounselorCounselor
Dr. Ann Orel, Dr. Ann Orel, DHC 3DHC 3rdrd Year Seminar Instructor Year Seminar Instructor
Kate Elias, Kate Elias, OSE Student Affairs OfficerOSE Student Affairs Officer
Dr. Hector Baldis, Dr. Hector Baldis, OSE Faculty AdvisorOSE Faculty Advisor
Kathy Davis, Kathy Davis, Analyst, Student Affairs Research & Analyst, Student Affairs Research & InformationInformation
Dr. Yin Yeh, Dr. Yin Yeh, OSE Department ChairOSE Department Chair
DHC 3DHC 3rdrd Year Seminar Peers Year Seminar Peers
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
General
Population
Engineering
Freshmen
Entry
Free Time
International Opportunities
Prestige
Second Choice Major
Easiness
1)On slide #8: you show UCUES data related to choice of major. First of all, you should make it clear that only UPPER DIVISION students were asked these questions, and you should show the number of respondents in each group. (For example, it should be clear that there were only 17 OSE respondents.)
2) On slide #8 and slide #12: freshmen did not answer those questions – they were only asked of upper division students. I think you must have misunderstood the variable that indicates whether a student was a freshman entrant or a transfer student. You should redo that bar to include ALL engineering students who responded.
3)On slide #6: you mention survey monkey, but I don’t see where that data is used in the presentation. Perhaps I overlooked it?
4)On slide #9: QuickSurvey results look correct, but you should show the number of respondents as well as the percentage.
5)On slide #19: you state the students are unsatisfied with internship options. How do you know? Do you have data to support that? If so, you should show it.