2024 Lunch with CBEE Chair -- building community with first semester pre-chemical engineering students.

Dr. Marten spoke with 31 first semester students during three “Lunch with CBEE Chair” events in September 2024. These lunches were a part of CBEE’s welcome week events.

During each lunch Dr. Marten and CBEE Student Ambassadors (who are current chemical engineering undergraduate students), met with groups of first semester students. The group enjoyed meeting each other over a lunch of pizza and sodas as they discussed the academic and research opportunities available to chemical engineering majors at UMBC. In one group, students learned they lived in the same dorm, while others recognized each other from classes. 

“This is the first year we've hosted this event, and it was a tremendous success! Not only were we able to help the students feel more connected with CBEE, but it allowed them to develop new connections with each other.” - Dr. Mark Marten, CBEE Chair

Every student received the highly coveted 2024 CBEE t-shirt. Since the first event on September 5, CBEE faculty have already recognized students with their shirts and connected with them while walking across campus. Thus, further building community among students and faculty. 

"I had just finished teaching my class and, as I was walking out of the classroom, I saw a student wearing their ChemE shirt as they were heading into class. Excited, I said, 'You’re a ChemE!' to the student, and they replied with a big smile, 'Yes!' Without the shirts, I wouldn’t have known they were first-year ChemE students so early in the semester." - Dr. Mariajose Castellanos, CBEE Undergraduate Program Director.

These efforts are part of a strategic approach to support student success in chemical engineering by connecting first semester pre-chemical engineering students with CBEE faculty and peers before their Gateway requirements are completed. 

Based on research CBEE conducted in 2021 with data provided from IRADS, early career undergraduate students have limited interaction with CBEE faculty and other chemical engineering students prior to completing their gateway coursework.

In Fall 2022, CBEE partnered with COEIT Advising to pilot CHemical Engineering Curriculum Knowledge (CHECK) meetings (cbee.umbc.edu/check). CHECK meetings provide pre-chemical engineering students with the opportunity to talk with a CBEE faculty member, receive specialized chemical engineering pre-advising and learn about internship and research opportunities for chemical engineering students. Due to the success of the Fall 2022 pilot, this program has continued each semester. 

We look forward to connecting with (pre-) chemical engineering students at our next event. See you there!