Assistant Professor of Practice Lawrence Technological University Livonia, Michigan, United States
Introduction: BME1002 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, a freshman-level course at Lawrence Technological University, aims to introduce students to the key concepts and diverse subdisciplines within Biomedical Engineering. A significant component of this course is the alumni guest lecture series, designed to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world practice. The series combines foundational lectures by faculty with insights from alumni who share their professional journeys and industry experiences. This series has been instrumental in achieving several educational goals: enhancing students' understanding of the field, fostering a sense of belonging, providing role models, and supporting professional identity formation. The design and benefits of the alumni guest lecture series are profiled and its impact on students, faculty, alumni, and the department is discussed. This innovative approach represents a transferable model for other BME programs seeking to empower their freshmen and cultivate robust alumni networks.
Materials and
Methods: The BME1002 course is structured to include both lectures and guest presentations. Faculty members and alumni deliver guest lectures each week discussing their career trajectories, daily work, and industry insights. To assess the impact of the guest lecture series, students are required to write reflection essays after each session. Qualitative analysis of anonymized student work charts the students' evolving understanding of the field, career outlooks, and sense of identity. Common themes and representative quotes illustrating the guest lectures' influence on student development are highlighted. Additionally, feedback from alumni and faculty was gathered to evaluate the broader benefits of the series for the department.
Results, Conclusions, and Discussions: Analysis of reflection essays reveals profound impacts on students' career outlooks, confidence in their chosen major, and appreciation of the practical applications of their studies. Representative quotes from the essays illustrate significant shifts in students' perceptions of career options in BME. The series has also strengthened departmental ties with alumni, facilitating networking opportunities, internships, job placements, and continuous professional engagement. The results indicate that systematically incorporating alumni guest lectures into introductory courses not only advances student development but also supports the department's goals of maintaining strong alumni relations and providing valuable opportunities for current students. The possibility of using a guest speaker series in introductory courses as a strategy for increasing student retention is also discussed.
