Projects & Initiatives

Academic Programs

EDAB has provided ongoing consultation to the Engineering Administration on various opportunities for engaging promising Engineering Scholars in a rigorous program of research intensive study. EDAB members have actively sought feedback from students and faculty members. The carefully documented the results of various surveys and focus groups have been instrumental in shaping the nature of the structure of the program.

SEAS Portal

EDAB has worked with the Engineering Administration to make the SEAS website more user friendly by editing the different links on the homepage to cater more to student’s wants and needs. Additionally, EDAB has added a tab of its own picks for interesting links worth checking out. This is an ongoing project that will keep the website easily accessible and updated.

Freshman Survival Guide

Since 2004, EDAB has distributed the Freshman Survival Guide for entering students during New Student Orientation (NSO). It is intended to help engineers through their first year with advice from other students on various topics such as academic advising, course selection, and student clubs. The guide is also available here.

EDAB’s Guide to Research

Many students consider pursuing undergraduate research. EDAB has compiled a guide to help facilitate the search for research areas. The following outline is organized by research area as related to each area of each department. If you find an area that might interest you, check out the website by clicking on the link (if it exists). More information about undergraduate research opportunities can be found at the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) at http://www.upenn.edu/curf/.There is a complete Research Directory organized by faculty member at http://www.seas.upenn.edu/faculty/facdir.html. EDAB’s guide is not intended to be an official listing of all available research. Rather, it is merely intended to help you in your search.

Bagel Breakfast & Ice Cream Social

Every few months EDAB sponsors a Bagel Breakfast or Ice Cream Social for all engineering undergraduates.  The purpose of these social functions is to foster community within the engineering school and give students a quick break in their busy schedules.  It is also a marketing opportunity for EDAB and allows us to attain first-hand student feedback.  The students love socializing in between classes with faculty, the EDAB board, and each other!

Dean’s Lunches

In an effort to facilitate forums between the engineering administration and the students, EDAB sponsors a luncheon with Engineering Dean Eduardo Glandt every semester. This opportunity allows students to voice their concerns and thoughts about the Engineering School directly to the Dean. Be on the lookout for more announcements.

Sample Curricula

EDAB introduced additional sample curricula to the department websites to help students plan their curriculum more effectively. These curricula are examples of possible course selections for students considering dual degree majors, minors, or pre-professional tracks (such as pre-medicine) in addition to their major. As requirements change and new minors and majors arise, EDAB will continue to update and add curricula to ease the process of course selection for students.

Study Collection

Designed specifically with the engineering student in mind, the Study Collection was a joint effort between EDAB and the Engineering Library. It allows students to have access to multiple textbooks for introductory engineering and basic science courses including Math (104, 114, 240, 241), Chemistry (101, 102), Biology (121, 202, 221, 241), and Physics (150, 151). The collection is housed in the Engineering Library. If you have any suggestions or have textbooks that you would be willing to donate please contact edab@seas.upenn.edu

Library

EDAB is collaborating with the Engineering Library to provide student perspectives on renovating the Engineering Library for better study spaces and group collaboration rooms. We will continue to work with the library as plans more forward.