Students who are working on their senior thesis project incorporate their efforts into the Capstone Project Electronic Portfolios (CPEP). CPEP is the brainchild of Kevin Parfitt, associate professor and director of the senior thesis program, and Jonathan Dougherty, co-instructor for the capstone course and doctoral candidate.

The portfolios are accessed from a website that is designed, created, and maintained by the engineering students. The e-portfolios include all aspects of the capstone project, from student resumes to project abstracts, technical assignments, and progress reports.

Students can use the e-portfolio as an extension of their resumes to offer potential employers insight into their background and capabilities through the comprehensive senior project.

“In recent years, the building industry has seen a tremendous increase in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT),” Dougherty explains. “The firms, who have implemented ICT solutions, are expanding their knowledge base by hiring recent engineering graduates who not only possess strong technical competencies, but are also able to function in an increasingly technology-savvy marketplace.”

Dougherty continues, “Engineering educators, especially those who teach capstone design courses, must continue to foster an academic environment that 

will prepare engineering students for the realities of their chosen careers. CPEP introduces future professionals to the ideals of project management and knowledge management through the adoption of ICT and thus, enhances their potential for success.”

The e-portfolios will also serve as an archive for faculty, future students, and the architectural engineering department.