Sponsor a Senior Design Project
Become a sponsor – How it works
Are you interested in submitting a project, but not sure where to start? Contact Matthew Franchetti to learn more.
What Makes a good project?
- Suitable for entry-level engineers
- Realistic outcomes
- Allows for creativity and problem solving
- Does not require excessive proprietary or trade secret material
Timeline
- October to December: Interested companies (sponsors) may submit a project proposal using the intake form in the email below. Sponsors who submit proposals will be contacted by UToledo to finalize the project scope and deliverables.
- January: Projects will be presented to the students in the Senior Design I class, project teams will be formed, and faculty advisors will be assigned to each team.
- February to March: Student teams will work with the company contacts and their faculty advisors to clearly define the scope, goal, budget, deliverables, and timeline for each project. This will involve regular interaction with the sponsor and faculty advisor.
- April: A formal proposal presentation will be provided to the sponsor that provides the final scope, budget, deliverables, and timeline for the project. The sponsor will provide feedback and required changes to the project scope before providing final approval for the student team to proceed with purchasing, design, and build phases.
- May to August: Student teams will procure materials for their senior design projects.
- September to November: Student teams will finalize designs, build prototypes, and conducting testing working closely with the sponsor and faculty advisor.
- December: Student teams will finalize their designs and deliverables. A formal presentation and final report will be provided to the sponsor and showcased at the annual Senior Design Expo held in the final week of classes, typically the first Friday in December.
FAQ’s
Do you work with non-profit organizations?
The UToledo MIME department has a long history of completing senior design projects working with nonprofit organizations through the help of grants and other external funding. Contact Steve Huebner to discuss possibilities.
What if I have a larger project
Projects that cannot reasonably be completed within one 15-week semester may be broken up into multiple stages with deliverables that separate teams may work on.