Engineering Practice Requirement (EPR)

The Engineering Practice Requirement (EPR) assignment guides GELs to transform an engineering project experience into an introspective leadership practice and growth opportunity.  Both GEL 1s and GEL 2s complete an EPR over the course of the academic year.

GELs will identify project experience(s) within their MIT coursework, the MIT community, or beyond. Projects must be of realistic scale (i.e. relatable to industry projects) and contain an engineering component. By creating a structured plan to practice at least 3 of the following 6 criteria ("e" must be included), GEL1s fulfill the EPR. Meanwhile, GEL2s tailor their EPR to practice any of the remaining criteria they did not meet as GEL1s. All GELs have the option of either identifying an existing project they’re involved in or selecting a new project to be the basis of their EPR. Students can also fulfill the requisite criteria using more than one project.

CRITERIA

  1. As an established leader of a team
  2. With peers with other disciplinary backgrounds and skills (e.g., other engineering disciplines, business, law, etc.)
  3. With colleagues from diverse backgrounds (e.g., not from research intensive universities)
  4. On a real industrial deliverable
  5. On a deliverable that is delivered on schedule, to specification and to cost [mandatory]
  6. On a project with international components and perspectives

DELIVERABLES

  1. GELs will submit an EPR Proposal early in their first GEL semester (via GEL Student Website), briefly explaining their project(s) and how it meets the criteria. Proposals will be renewed and approved by the GEL staff.
  2. GELs are asked to present their EPR status during an Engineering Leadership Lab late in their first semester
  3. GELs will submit an EPR Completion Form late in their second GEL semester (via GEL Student Website).

OPTIONS

Students may select from among three optional tracks to identify the project(s) for their EPR.

Option A Student-identified project Provided the above criteria are met, students may identify projects they’re already involved in, or are interested in joining, to serve as their EPR.
Option B ESD.051-facilitated project Students opt to participate in a voice recognition system development project that’s facilitated through GEL’s Engineering Innovation and Design course (ESD.051).  If students opt for this track, they are eligible for 3 units of credit for the project.
Option C Student is matched with a project from among the GEL Project Partnerships GEL has partnered with corporations and other organizations that are interested in providing project opportunities to GELs.  GEL will maintain a project gallery listing available project options.  Students who opt for this track may be eligible for 3 units of credit for the project.

Please contact Jim Magarian, Engineering Leadership Specialist, for more clarification.