American Society for Engineering Education Advancing Engineering Pedagogy

The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) is a non-profit member association founded in 1893, dedicated to the promotion and improvement of engineering and engineering technology education. Its primary mission is the advancement of education across all functions pertaining to engineering and allied branches of science and technology, including teaching, learning, counseling, research, extension services, and public relations.

History and Evolution

The society was originally founded in 1893 as the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education (SPEE). Its creation coincided with a period of significant growth in American higher education, spurred by the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862, which enabled states to establish public institutions focusing on practical skills for agriculture and the mechanic arts.

As more students entered the workforce with applied knowledge, professors began to realize that a lack of grounding in scientific and engineering principles was a hindrance. This led to the formation of SPEE during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (the World's Columbian Exposition), where members dedicated themselves to shifting engineering curricula away from hands-on apprenticeship and toward fundamental scientific and mathematical principles.

Transition to ASEE

During World War II, the federal government's increased emphasis on research led SPEE to form the Engineering College Research Association (ECRA). After the war, the desire to integrate the research-oriented ECRA with the teaching-focused SPEE resulted in the formation of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) in 1946.

Modern Era and Diversification

Through the 1960s and 1970s, ASEE reorganized to return its focus to teaching and began administering various government contracts, including fellowships from NASA and the Department of Defense. A significant part of this era was the initiative to recruit minorities and women into engineering. ASEE created the Black Engineering College Development program and conducted research to attract more women and American Indians to the field, establishing dedicated divisions for these efforts.

Publications and Resources

ASEE produces a wide array of publications to support the engineering education community:

• Prism: A monthly magazine covering cutting-edge technology, innovative curricula, and K-12 outreach activities.
• Journal of Engineering Education: A peer-reviewed academic journal published quarterly that focuses on research in engineering education.
• Advances in Engineering Education: Another peer-reviewed journal dedicated to research and pedagogical improvements.
• Profiles of Engineering and Technology Colleges: A comprehensive data source on engineering colleges and universities.
• eGFI: Engineering, Go For It!: A magazine and website designed to attract high school students and their parents to the engineering profession.

Additionally, ASEE administers the engineering technology honor society, Tau Alpha Pi.