Description
Mathematics serves as the fundamental language of engineering, providing the essential analytical tools required to model, understand, and optimize complex physical systems. Historically, the mathematical sciences community has increasingly recognized the importance of mathematics education and outreach, transitioning from isolated academic pursuits to integrated departmental missions (Lai, 2025). However, first-year engineering cohorts often exhibit highly heterogeneous mathematical backgrounds, leading to significant friction in foundational courses. To ensure that mathematics education research actually reaches and benefits the classroom, curricular designs must be explicitly useful for both educators and practitioners (Essien et al., 2025). Consequently, establishing a baseline of mathematical competence is critical for student retention and subsequent academic success in engineering programs.
