Collaborative Experiences Capstone Projects
Build together. Solve together.
The Collaborative Experiences Capstone Course simulates an engineering consulting firm with an academic environment. Following industry models, students will have opportunities to participate in single or interdisciplinary projects provided by industry partners.
Project teams will consist of both on- and off-campus students to mirror today's job market where video conferencing and distance collaboration are part of day-to-day life.
How the Partnership Works
Before the start of the Fall Semester
- Partner Commits: The industry partner elects to support a CEM Collaborative Experience Capstone Project.
- Partner Applies: The industry partner submits the UND Collaborative Experiences Sponsorship Application to CEM. Applications can be requested from Dominik Steinauer.
- Collaborative Design: The capstone instructor and industry partner co-author the project description, defining specifications, success criteria, and any necessary NDAs or IP documents.
- Target Deadline: The team aims to finalize all documentation by the first week of August.
The Fall Semester
Semester Kickoff
- Students Apply: During the first week of class (typically late August), students submit a resume, cover letter and application for their top five project preferences.
- Partners Review: During the second week, industry partners receive student applications and rank their preferred candidates.
- Teams Form: By mid-third week, the program establishes project teams and introduces students to their industry and faculty advisors.
- Schedules Set: Teams coordinate and fix their weekly meeting times.
- Charter Defined: The team drafts a formal project charter detailing specifications, success criteria, deliverables, timelines and the stakeholder registry.
- Project Launch: Teams begin active project work by the fourth week of class.
Mid Fall Semester
- Conduct preliminary design review (PDR)
- Mid-Semester presentation
- Mid-Semester evaluation by industry and faculty advisor
Late Fall Semester
- Conduct critical design review (CDR)
- Establish bill of materials, funding requests and material procurement
- Aim to finalize these steps by early November
End of Fall Semester
- Semester final presentation
- Semester final report
- Industry and faculty advisor evaluations
- Semester project wrap-up
Spring Semester
Beginning of Spring Semester
- Continue work on project
- Complete any required fabrication and or testing
Mid Spring Semester
- Continue work on project
- Mid-semester presentation
- Mid-semester Industry and Faculty Advisors evaluations
Late Spring Semester
- Complete project
- Prepare all documents and files for knowledge transfer
End of Spring Semester
- Semester final presentation
- Semester final report
- Conduct and document knowledge transfer
- Conduct and document any transfer of project materials including fabricated items when applicable
- Final industry and faculty advisor evaluations