Become an Industry Partner and Sponsor Student Capstone Projects

All Integrative Systems + Design (ISD) Master of Engineering (MEng) and Master of Science (MS) students are required to complete an industry sponsored graduate-level Capstone Project toward fulfillment of their degree. Through this process, ISD students gain valuable and relevant industry experience while applying what they learned in their academic program toward open-ended engineering challenges or industry problems. Past projects have focused on a wide range of critical topics, including Systems/Product/Process design and development, continuous improvement, warranty reduction, predictive analytics, user experience, sustainability, energy systems, smart manufacturing, battery systems, electrification, and automotive engineering.

Project Sponsors, ISD Students, and Program Benefits

ISD welcomes industry sponsors to submit project proposals or discuss ideas about potential projects. Typically, sponsors integrate these projects as part of an internship or research opportunity for ISD master’s students. These students typically have post undergraduate work experience from a variety of industries and have completed approximately 18 academic credits toward their master’s degree in one of the following premier and top-ranked graduate programs: Automotive Engineering, Design Science, Energy Systems Engineering, Global Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering + Design.

ISD views these capstone projects as a Win-Win-Win. Students are given opportunities to apply their integrative thinking and technical problem-solving skills, ISD faculty gain valuable connections with industry leaders to keep informed of needs and trends, and sponsors get several benefits, including:

Progress toward improving the design of their products and processes, continuous improvement of existing operations, and exploration/implementation of innovations.
Evaluate talent and possible future hires of ISD students.
Obtain access to expert faculty at the University of Michigan College of Engineering.
Improved organizational performance through completion of projects that lead to new revenue, cost savings, cost avoidance, or other intangible, yet important company objectives.

About the Capstone Project Process

First, students submit project proposals for approval by ISD Program Directors (these proposals often involve discussions between company sponsors and prospective students). Projects may be assigned to an individual student or as a team up to four students.
Project durations are typically three months (one semester), but may be approved for up to six months (two semesters), depending on the project scope.
Students receive mentoring from both an assigned University of Michigan faculty technical adviser and a company sponsored project lead or mentor.
Main deliverable is a final project report that demonstrates the application of academic program skills and methodologies toward an industry-specific problem. Reports typically include a summary of the improvement opportunity, review of the current state, summary of approach or methodology used, major project results/findings, recommendations, and estimated benefits.
Note: Information deemed sensitive or confidential by an external company sponsor is not required to be shared with the University of Michigan. Options exist to allow a student to complete a project without sharing confidential information.

ISD Capstone Project Timeline Summary

Fall Semester

End of August to early December
Project proposals due early August

Winter Semester

Early January to end of April
Project proposals due mid-November

Spring/Summer Semester

Early May to mid August
Project proposals due early April

We look forward to partnering with you to provide ISD students with engineering challenges through capstone projects. Please contact the ME-Online Capstone Coordinator at [email protected] with any project ideas or questions. See below for additional information on ISD programs and sample past projects.

Submitting Your Monitor Information

Students must submit the Online Monitor Form by the date specified in the Canvas course site.

Online Monitor Request Form

If the course main menu does not list the Monitor Process link, an exam monitor is not required. It’s best to complete the Monitor Request Online Form on the first day after the third week of class.

Securing an Exam Monitor

All Michigan Engineering students are placed upon their honor during all examinations, written quizzes, computer questions, homework, laboratory reports, and any other work turned in for credit, as required by the instructor. Online students often take paper-based exams with a monitor, unless the exams are take-home or online.

Students are required to secure a monitor to supervise course exams to ensure the identity of the test taker and to adhear to university guildlines.

For your convenience, we have outlined conditions of acceptable and unacceptable monitors.

Acceptable Monitors

A work supervisor, HR Representative, or training coordinator
College or university instructors
Librarians
School teachers, administrators, counselors
Educational service officers on military installations
American school officials at overseas facilities

Unacceptable Monitors

Co-workers or business associates
Fellow students
Peers
Relatives
Friends

Selecting Monitor Process
Students must select an acceptable Monitor and complete the Monitor Request Online Form after week 3 or by the deadline noted in the course Monitor information in Canvas.

Monitors receive the exam with detailed instructions typically by 3 pm the day before the scheduled exam some allowances do apply. If your monitor has not received the exam by 5 pm the day prior to the scheduled exam, please email [email protected].

Note: Monitors do not receive any notifications from ME-OPE prior to the exam. Monitor verification is done using an internal process.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

When will my Monitor receive my exam?

Exams are sent after the course instructor has released the exam for distribution. YOUR MONITOR SHOULD RECEIVE THE EXAM NO LATER THAN 5:00 PM EASTERN TIME THE DAY BEFORE THE SCHEDULED EXAM. Students will receive an email via Canvas when the exam has been sent.

Where should I submit my Monitor order?

Please complete this online form.

All monitor changes require an online form.

If you have any issues with the form, please contact [email protected]

When will I know if I need a Monitor for my course?

The Monitor Process instructions will appear in the left navigation of the course Canvas site.

Do I need to resubmit my monitor information if I've already used a monitor in a previous term?

Yes, you must re-submit your monitor information each term for each enrolled course.

Do online students take the exam on a different day than the on campus students?

Typically, distance learning students take the exam on the same day as on-campus students unless otherwise stated by the professor.

This is my first time taking an online course. What is the process for the exam?

The professor gives the exam to the Monitor Administrator typically before 3 pm the day before the scheduled exam but it varies.
The exam is sent to all monitors typically by 3pm the day before the scheduled exam.
Monitors administer the exam on the assigned exam date.
Monitors scan and e-mail the exam to [email protected] or send it express mail per the monitor instructions.
The Monitor Administrator receives, reviews and returns completed exams to the professor for grading.
Students’ should never receive an electronic version of any exam unless it’s authorized by the instructor.

I have a work/personal conflict for one of the exams. Can I take the exam on another day?

Yes, you can take the exam on a different date if allowed. The date must be approved by the course professor. Please be sure to CC: [email protected] regarding an alternative date. *Please note, exams taken within two days after the scheduled exams are allowed and do not require approval unless specified differently by the instructor. If more than two days are needed after a scheduled exam or before a scheduled exam, approval by the instructor is required. Some restrictions apply.

Disability Support Services and Extended Time for Students

Students requiring additional time for exams with disabilities can visit the University of Michigan Student Life Services for Students with Disabilites for assistance. Typically, students are allowed an additional time-and-a-half for exams.

Disability Support Services/Extended Time for a Student

Get Started

For more information about programs and admissions criteria, we invite you to contact our Recruitment & Engagement Coordinator.

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