BAA Day of Engineering
Held: April 3, 2009 

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For the past two years, guided by Brian Gravel and Linda Beardsley, the School of Engineering and the Education Department have collaborated on an effort to bring the freshman class (120 students) of Boston Arts Academy to the Tufts Campus for a Day of Engineering. This collaboration has been successful in several ways. First, it has deepened the relationship between the Tufts education department and the CEEO, two campus organizations clearly interested in education and equity, committed to furthering student achievement in the STEM disciplines. Secondly, the Day of Engineering brings a group of enthusiastic, urban 9th graders to our campus. The BAA freshman have just completed the Museum of Science Engineering Curriculum in their science classes. When they come to Tufts in April, they have a chance to see how a college curriculum expands on the tenets of engineering they have learned, the engineering design process, the integration of math, science, and physics. They have a chance to meet professors, problem solve in small groups on inquiry-based activities. For many students it is the first opportunity they have had to visit a liberal arts campus and imagine themselves studying in such an environment. They have a brief tour of the campus and eat lunch in Carmichael Hall with STOMP and other Tufts undergraduates to talk about the experience of being at Tufts. Third, it is an opportunity to give back to the BAA for all the work they do mentoring and supporting our UTTC Interns from the MAT program in the education department. The BAA Day of Engineering demonstrates how true partnerships between a local high school and a university enrich the experiences of students and faculties from both institutions.