About Us

Who are the Fellows?

The Engineering Fellows of the College of Engineering and Applied Science are an honorary service organization. The Fellows are a select group of academically successful, service-oriented students of the College who actively seek to promote academic excellence in the College through peer academic support. Selection and service as a Fellow is one of the College's highest honors.

Each Fellow serves as a subject matter mentor in one or more areas in which they have a comprehensive understanding of the material. Activities of the Fellows include organized tutorials and review sessions for large courses, and scheduled times that they will be available to provide general academic advice and assistance. Fellows differ from teaching assistants or tutors; Fellows are likely to have recently taken the relevant courses (in all likelihood from the same instructor), and therefore are able to provide a fresh and focused discussion of difficult concepts.

Fellows have significant flexibility in what they do and how they do it. Each Fellow has the freedom to incorporate concepts and ideas that he or she believes are most effective in aiding others. Acting as both role models and mentors, the Fellows are committed to providing the next generation of engineering students with not only knowledge, but a sense of encouragement that they too can succeed.

Responsibilities

Study Sessions

Engineering Fellows conduct instructional study sessions intended to reduce complex concepts to essential ideas, and to demonstrate how those principles interrelate within the context of the class. Study sessions also highlight those concepts that will be most applicable in future courses and seek to facilitate collaborative learning among students.

Advising

Engineering Fellows are at times called upon to provide sound and practical advice, based upon their personal experience, judgment and training. The advisor role that the Fellows play can assist students in their academic pursuits. Fellows are not only subject matter experts in the courses for which they provide study sessions; they can also serve as a source of knowledge and assistance for selecting classes or accessing general campus resources.

Mentoring

Fellows are also available as a mentor to all students. They are trained to help others cope with issues that may arise in school, as well as personal concerns. If you need the advice of a peer on how to confront issues that may arise in your undergraduate career, the Fellows are there to help (or to help you find someone who can help).

History

The Engineering Fellows organization was established in the Fall of 2004 by eight engineering students (Dan Bellinghausen, Charles Gruenwald III, Justin V. Migacz, Ashley Moore, John Nibe, John W. O'Brien, Kathryn E. Rash and Erin Reed) and Faculty Advisor (then Associate Dean for Education) John Bennett. Since that time, the Fellows have grown to a steady state of about 30 members, representing most majors in the College.