The Roger E. Susi First-Year Undergraduate Engineering Experience

Students working in Susi Lab

New hands-on program teaches first-year students engineering problem solving

The Roger E. Susi First-Year Engineering Experience will take incoming students out of the lecture hall and into a lab environment in their first two semesters at Case Western Reserve University. The new introductory program, which has been in a pilot phase since spring 2019, is rolling out to all students interested in engineering in fall 2022.

The signature course of the program (ENGR 130) focuses on hands-on team projects, combined with data analysis and programming instruction. Each project is designed with a co-instructor with expertise from a different engineering field. Students in ENGR 130 also learn how to use equipment in the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears think[box].


Program Goals

The Roger E. Susi First-Year Engineering Experience is built on goals to help our first-year students not only experience different aspects of engineering, but also to build skills that will prepare them for future careers. These include:

  • Learning problem solving through hands-on projects  

  • Working in teams

  • Data analysis

  • Programming using MATLAB

  • Learn about different engineering majors and careers


Program Course

  • ENGR 130: Foundations of Engineering and Programming 
    The signature course of the Roger E. Susi First-Year Engineering Experience consists of hands-on projects, with a focus on general skill building, computer programming, and friendly competitions. Each module is co-designed by a professor in one of our engineering departments. For example, students explore civil and environmental engineering by designing and testing a water filter and sensor. In another module, they learn about biomedical engineering by building a heart rate monitor.


Roger E. Susi Laboratory

The first class of students began using the new Roger E. Susi Laboratory,  a work space specially designed for this program, in August 2020.

Outside glass doors of susi lab

Lounge space in the Roger E. Susi Laboratory
Student lounge space in the Roger E. Susi Laboratory

Students studying in Roger E. Susi Lab area

Faculty and Staff

Kurt Rhoads, PhD, PE
Faculty Director, Roger E. Susi First-Year Engineering Experience
Associate Professor
Division of Engineering Leadership & Professional Practice 
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Email: kurt.rhoads@case.edu

Kathleen Harper, PhD
Faculty Assistant Director, Roger E. Susi First-Year Engineering Experience
Associate Professor
Division of Engineering Leadership & Professional Practice 
Email: kma@case.edu

Michael Butler
Director, Roger E. Susi Laboratory
Division of Engineering Leadership & Professional Practice 
Email: mxb672@case.edu