GC Scholars are free to pursue a wide variety of educational activities and experiential engagement to develop their core competencies as outlined by the program. To assess and substantiate those activities and engagement, every GC Scholar is required to curate a portfolio by the time of graduation.
Going through GCSP: Engaging as a Scholar
Upon admission, GC Scholars have already demonstrated a commitment aligned with the program’s objectives and must continue to strive to do so with the guidance and approval of their GC Mentor.
Satisfactory Academic Progress and Good Standing
Scholars must maintain Good Standing and satisfactory academic progress toward an engineering degree according to University policy in order to remain active in the program.
Scholars also must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher to continue participation in the program. Inability to maintain the minimum GPA may result in probation or permanent dismissal from the program.
Student Conduct
North Carolina State University requires that all students abide by the Code of Student Conduct. Participants in the Grand Challenge Scholars Program, who are extensions of the College of Engineering as well as the National Academy of Engineering, are held to a high personal and professional standard of conduct. It is the program’s understanding and expectation that GC Scholars have and will continue to abstain from any behavior considered by the Code of Student Conduct as either academic or non-academic misconduct. Therefore, Scholars are expected:
- To uphold academic honesty and integrity for the entire duration of their involvement within the Grand Challenges Scholars Program.
- To allow the Grand Challenges Scholars Program to verify with the Office of Student Conduct that Scholars do not have any active disciplinary sanctions.
Event Attendance and Participation
From time to time, the Grand Challenges Scholars Program will call meetings and schedule events for Scholars, Mentors, and/or program administrators. The expectation is that Scholars will make every effort to attend all such events and fully participate.
Teaching Assistant in E 102 Engineering in the 21st Century
Engineering in the 21st Century (E 102) is taught every spring semester as a 2 credit hour course which is both a required course for all first-year engineering students as well as an approved Interdisciplinary Perspectives course for the General Education Program (GEP) open to all NC State students. All GC Scholars are strongly encouraged and highly incentivized to spend at least one spring semester as teaching assistant (TA) for E 102 before graduation.
This interdisciplinary course that will provide an overview of the fourteen engineering grand challenges of the 21st century and their relationships to all of the separate engineering disciplines in the College of Engineering. The lectures will incorporate examples, guests, and specific readings on the challenges in sustainability, health, vulnerability, and the joy of living to advance civilization into the next century. Students will gain an appreciation for the methods in which engineers, in each discipline, acquire knowledge and design tools or interdisciplinary solutions essential to meet society’s future needs. Course is available to 25% non-engineering students.
Growing Competencies: Building Your Portfolio
The curricular and co-curricular engagement of GC Scholars must be intentionally connected and coordinated with the Grand Challenges and its core competencies from the start. The Grand Challenges Scholar’s Portfolio is aligned with the program’s learning outcomes and represents the culmination of curricular and co-curricular experiences that address all five of its core competencies. Therefore, in effect, the application packet is the student’s first attempt to indicate how Scholars plan to complete the GC Portfolio before graduation. Scholars will use the portfolio to provide evidence of their growth and maturation of core competencies that the Grand Challenges Scholars Program promotes. Regular updates and ongoing mentorship are critical to the evolution of the GC Portfolio.
Developing Core Competencies Around Your Chosen Grand Challenge
Semesterly Progress Updates
Scholars are required to meet with their GC Mentors at least once every semester to provide updates on their progress toward completing the program, to assess their development of core competencies, and to plan for next semester’s goals for continued growth. These meetings should occur before the end of any given fall or spring semester and are arranged between the Scholar and their GC Mentor. More frequent meetings are optional and highly encouraged.
Annual Progress Reports
To remain in the program, each GC Scholar must submit a progress report to their GC Mentor outlining their accomplishments for the past academic year along with a detailed plan for the upcoming academic year. Upon review by the GC Mentor, the annual progress report must be submitted to the GC Oversight Committee before the end of the academic year.
Moodle Project Site
Scholars and mentors will have access in the Moodle to Grand Challenges Scholars Program at NC State for the submission, assessment, and feedback on their GC Portfolio.
Approaching the End: Completing the Portfolio
Near the completion of the GC Portfolio, each GC Scholar must:
- Submit a final portfolio to the GC Oversight Committee;
- Forward a letter of completion from their GC Mentor to the Oversight Committee; and
- Present their portfolio before final exams period in their final semester.
Our rubrics for core competencies are based upon the VALUE Rubrics published by the Association of American Colleges & Universities.
For more information look at Considering Relevance and Depth for the Portfolio under the Mentorship tab