| Abstract Scope |
Outreach and recruiting undergraduates are critical for Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Programs because many high school students and college freshman and their parents haven’t heard about MSE, its impact on technology and society, and potential MSE careers. While outreach and recruiting approaches vary by university and department size and goals, there are common barriers (especially visibility and access) as well as effective strategies (individual outreach, hands-on demonstrations, ASM Camps, etc.) that can be shared and leveraged. MSE enrollment grew faster than overall engineering enrollment from 2013-2018. Recently, many programs have seen enrollment level off or decrease. Restrictions on international recruiting and the necessity of recruiting admitted students virtually are new issues. Virtual MSE recruiting at the University of Maryland will be reviewed and compared to previous in person activities. Overall trends in recruiting and outreach will also be examined. |