Benefits of a Decade Dedicated to FE Preparation

A decade ago the authors at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) reported on how the addition of an engineering course dedicated to preparing students for the Civil Specific Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE) enhanced the capstone experience [1]. Preliminary results indicated that the course, which did not specially teach to the FE exam but covered an array of topics, did improve pass rates and attitudes. The course also supplemented the capstone experience by creating a bridge between the fundamental concepts learned (and relearned) and the future responsibilities of professional engineers experienced during the capstone course. In the past decade, the pass rate has remained much higher compared to years before the course was added, and the course has evolved into an asset that has helped both the students and the department. This paper details how the course has been used to contribute to ABET assessment, specifically by long-term tracking of scaled scores [2], internal end-of-year reporting in annual reports, and curriculum improvements. Initially considered a concern, the course occasionally covers topics some students have been exposed to at some level in other classes. However, instead of becoming a liability, this repetition has proved to be a valuable way for cadets to gain a deeper understanding of many topics covered and ultimately increase their chances of passing the FE exam. Reflecting on the past decade since the course was introduced, both cadets and the department have benefited from the course, both in unanticipated ways. For the cadets, the course has developed into a pre-capstone experience. For the department, the course has allowed the curriculum to adjust rapidly to ever-changing industry needs.