Responding to Need for Improved Communication Skills of Engineering Students at Louisiana State University

Through the generosity of a distinguished alumnus, Louisiana State University was able to establish a campus-wide program that focused on improving students’ communication skills. This program, Communication across the Curriculum (CxC), created three central initiatives: Communication Studios, Communication-Intensive Courses, and the Distinguished Communicator award. To address the ABET requirements for communication and teamwork, the College of Engineering, in cooperation with CxC, opened the Engineering Communication Studio, which provides state-of-the-art technology, a physical space conducive to teamwork, and communication instruction from three full-time staff members. The Studio resources include a 3D scanner, a rapid prototype modeler, a large-format printer, and a range of engineering and communication software packages. The Studio also features fourteen computer workstations; a Wi-Fi hotspot lounge; a conference room with teleconferencing capabilities, a wall-mounted video capture system, and a SMART Board™; and, finally, a wide range of audio-visual equipment and technical references in the Studio lending inventory. On the curricular level, the staff works with faculty to integrate communication assignments within existing courses in order to incorporate communication skills without detracting from traditional content. These courses are identified as Communication-Intensive in the University Course Offerings Booklet, and then become a critical component of the Distinguished Communicator award. A second component of this award requires students to build a digital portfolio that showcases their communication skills. As the students progress in their engineering curricula, the Studio provides a vital support system to improve the requisite communication skills to succeed as engineering professionals.