A potential record of companies attending and a new orientation program has improved the Engineering Spring Career Expo.

Organizers said company attendance has increased because of an improved economy.

“The economy is definitely picking up,” said Loni Pringnitz, engineering career services program coordinator.

She said attendance in the fall and spring career fairs dropped after 2001, but has since been increasing.

The record of company booths at the spring career expo was set in 2002, said Kevin Meyer, career fair communications manager, and the record would be tied this year, with 156 participants.

A new feature of the career expo is Expo 101, a program designed to help first- and second-year students feel comfortable in approaching booths, said Chris Johnson, expo operations manager.

“We thought students are attending the career fair and not knowing what they’re doing,” Pringnitz said.

Meyer said the class will teach students how to research companies, approach potential employers and know what employers look for in job candidates.

Pringnitz said three sessions of the program will be offered at 1:30 p.m, 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in section 27 of Hilton Coliseum.

The spring career expo is the second career fair of the 2004-05 school year. A larger engineering career fair was held in the fall.

Johnson, senior in mechanical engineering, said some employers this year include John Deere, Caterpillar Inc., Pella Corporation, Cargill, The Boeing Company and Sauer-Danfoss Inc.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students,” she said.

The Expo is planned for 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.