What are Student Capstone Projects?

Many university departments offer capstone courses. These are courses that allow their students to demonstrate the knowledge they have accumulated while earning their degrees. Student Capstone Projects arise out of these courses. These projects:

  • Are led by student teams, with sponsor and faculty mentorship.
  • Are funded by an external sponsor.
  • Can be a project suggested by a sponsor.
  • Offer undergraduate and graduate students with real-world industry experience.
  • Often lead to job opportunities for graduating students.

What options are there to sponsor Student Capstone Projects?

There are two options for sponsoring a Student Capstone Project:

  1. Sponsors can fund a project as a gift. This is the easiest route and is appropriate for projects where there is no deliverable.
  2. Sponsors can fund a project through a sponsored research contract if there is a deliverable. A funded project contract is needed and will include standard university requirements as well as terms and conditions relevant to the work.

What are the steps for sponsoring a Student Capstone Project?

Reach out to one of the contacts listed below to discuss the nature of the collaboration, the scope of work, the educational requirements, the price, and programmatic details.

听

Mechanical Engineering听(Lauren McComb听email)

Computer Science听(Amy Richards听email)

Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering听(Eric Bogatin听email)

Aerospace Engineering听(Tom Morgan听email)

Biomedical Engineering听(Novella Keeling听email)

Applied Mathematics听(William Kleiber听email)

(Mike Bennett听email)

Data Science听(Ami Gates听email)

Gather relevant sponsorship information, such as:
  1. Is this collaboration going to require a deliverable?
  2. Does your project require intellectual property assignment from University?
  3. Does your organization require a purchase order (PO)?
  4. Who are the relevant points of contact in your organization for the technical and administrative aspects of this project?
  5. Is this a project that you are continuing from a previous year?

We use an to collect the relevant information and route it to the individuals who need it. This form is solely for information gathering and does not create any binding commitment.

If a contract is required based on the information gathered, a contract will be drafted and sent to your technical and administrative contacts for review and signature. A Contract Officer with the Office of Contracts and Grants will work with your organization to resolve any questions or concerns from your organization.

If a project will be funded by a gift based on the information gathered, Industry & Foundation Relations will coordinate with your organization to receive the gift funding.

Once a contract has been signed or gift has been given. The University will invoice your organization based on the terms of the contract or gift.

Student Capstone Project Pathways for Funding

When a project is funded by an external sponsor, whether industry or Federal, student projects may need an executed agreement to be generated by OCG or it may be received as a gift donation. The diagram below explains the difference between the two pathways.

flow chart

For Sponsors

Sponsor Frequently Asked Questions

The is a non-binding intake form completed by sponsors that is used to gather relevant information and acknowledges intent to sponsor a Student Capstone Project. It includes the sponsor contact information, project information, and any other information required for the project.

Computer Science: Computer Science capstone projects require students to complete a substantial real-world software project that reinforces what they鈥檝e learned through their classwork and prepares them to thrive in the next stage of their careers. With the guidance of faculty, teams of 5-7 students complete 9-month industry projects, enabling the sponsor to develop a proof-of-concept of a computing product, familiarize students with your company and culture, and contribute to the professional readiness of our students.

Aerospace: The University of 蜜糖直播 Boulder鈥檚 Aerospace Engineering Sciences Senior and Graduate Design Programs provide an innovative educational opportunity for students to undertake a real-world project that has high industry impact. During their senior year, all undergraduate aerospace engineering students enroll in the department鈥檚 two semester senior projects course. Working in teams to complete a project, students synthesize and apply fundamentals of science, mathematics, and engineering as they emulate the activities of a small, entrepreneurial company. At the graduate level, Master鈥檚 and PhD students have the option to enroll in an advanced projects course that builds upon senior design and offers sponsors additional flexibility in project structure, duration, and complexity.

Biomedical Engineering: The Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design project introduces senior undergraduate students to the development of products that have a real-life impact on human health. Students learn how to identify customer needs and assess potential challenges, then implement tools for project management, design ideation, and prototype development to achieve the goal. Project descriptions should be written for a group of undergraduate seniors with limited experience in any specializations.

Electrical & Computer Engineering:听This program forms teams that follow an industrial-type process to propose, design, build and document your projects. Teams make formal presentations at a Preliminary Design Review in the first semester and a Critical Design Review in the second semester, before showing off their finished project at the college's Engineering Projects Expo.

Mechanical Engineering: The Mechanical Engineering capstone design experience is organized by Design Center 蜜糖直播 (DCC). The purpose of this course is to simulate an entry-level engineering project in industry, allowing students to apply the knowledge they have acquired in fundamental mechanical engineering courses to a real-world, open-ended design challenge. At the end of the academic year, actual hardware and/or software will be produced and presented to sponsors.

Applied Math:听Master鈥檚 level Culminating Experience (CE) projects and Bachelor鈥檚 level capstone projects in Applied Mathematics provide students with the opportunity to apply their cutting edge knowledge and skills in statistics, data science, and mathematical modeling. Teams of 2-4 students are paired with an industry sponsor to explore answers to a set of real-world, data-driven scientific or business questions. One-semester (15-week) and two-semester (30-week) project opportunities are available.

Physics: The Physics capstone design purpose course is to simulate an entry-level physics project in industry, allowing students to apply the knowledge they have acquired in fundamental physics courses to a real-world, open-ended design challenge.

It depends! When completing the , sponsors are asked to make choices that will determine what route sponsorship of a Student Capstone Project takes.

If the sponsor chooses to retain intellectual property created during the project or has a requirement of a deliverable from the student team, then the sponsor will be directed to complete 听a sponsored research contract for the project. These agreements are generated from a simplified template that is tailored specifically for Student Capstone Projects.

If a sponsor funds a project as a gift, the sponsor will be directed to Industry & Foundation Relations and the 蜜糖直播 Foundation, who will work with the sponsor to invoice for the gift funding to be given to 蜜糖直播 Boulder.

If you would like to review the standard Student Capstone Project terms, contact ocgstudentprojects@colorado.edu.

Yes. At time of award, contract language can be negotiated with the University Contract Officer. Please note that terms are meant to be as simple as possible, as student projects are done to create a relationship between sponsor and students rather than low-cost work-for-hire. The University requests that any concerns be addressed to听ocgstudentprojects@colorado.edu听as soon as possible.

For Departments & Affiliates

蜜糖直播 Boulder Department Frequently Asked Questions

The Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG) is your first stop for Student Capstone Projects. Student Capstone Projects that are not gift funded follow the same process as sponsored research requiring:

  • Scope of work
  • Budget
  • Contract negotiation and signature with the sponsor
  • Sponsored Project Accounting
  • Closeout

There is a simplified proposal process for Student Capstone Projects. To begin the process, fill out a Request for Externally Sponsored Student Design Project or contact ocgstudentprojects@colorado.edu.

The Office of Contracts and Grants requests that this process begin by May 31st of the calendar year for each year.