Captstone FAQs
What are the primary responsiblities of the sponsor of a capstone project?
Projects that are successful from both the viewpoint of the T&M Program and the sponsor are those
in which a representative of the corporation, acting as the primary liason between the company and the project team,
is actively engaged in the project and for whom the successful completion
of the project is an objective recognized by senior management of the organization. Effective engagement
requires periodic meetings with the project team. Some sponsors visit campus once or twice during the semester
to meet with the team. Other sponsors communicate with the team through conference calls and the internet, using
collaboration software such as as NetMeeting.
Effective sponors provide timely feedback to the team regarding the direction the project is evolving, assist
in obtaining company data in a form that is appropriate to the project, and generally provide guidance with respect
to company specific issues and policies.
How much time does the corporate liason spend on the project?
While the amount of time spent varies depending on the nature of the project, most corporate liasons spend
between 1 and 3 hours per week during the Spring semester (late January to early May).
Project teams make final presentations to their class during final exam week (mid-May). Corporate liasons are
invited to attend this final presentation and the brief awards ceremony that follows.
How often does the team travel to the company facilities?
Each team makes a site visit in the early stages of the project in order to meet the people they will be
working with on the project. These visits help personalize the relationship between the members of the project
team and the sponsoring organization. Some teams make a final presentation of their project to senior managers at
the company site. Interim visits by an entire team are more difficult arrange due to inherent conflicts
with class schedules.
Who pays for the travel expenses of the team?
The T&M Program pays for all expenses associated with the capstone project, including the travel expenses
of team members. Expenses incurred by a corporate liason are typically covered by that persons company.
How are issues associated with confidentiality handled?
The T&M Program has its own Confidentiality Agreement Form
that each student and faculty member involved with the
capstone project class must sign. Issues of confidentiality are stressed throughout the course. Students
are told not to talk about any of the capstone projects to anyone outside of the course under any circumstances.
In the event that a project deals with a confidential topic, the corporate liason works with the project team
to develop a response to a question such as "What are you working on?" asked by people not in the project course.
