Capstone (senior design)

College of Engineering

Current ProjectsPast ProjectsRequirements and TemplatesStudent FAQ

Sponsors: Get started here

The process:

1.  Submit ideas for Projects

Projects may be submitted using the Capstone Sponsor Interest form. The proposal describes the problem and/or unmet need, highlights expected deliverables, and lists resources and team member skills required.

2.  Meet with a Capstone Steering Committee Member

A faculty member from the Capstone Steering Committee will meet with you to refine the scope and objectives for your project.  If your project meets the criteria, you’ll be assigned a team of undergraduate students (typically 4 students per team) and partnered with a faculty advisor to assist the students throughout the project cycle during the academic year. 

3.  Review and sign the Guidelines for Sponsors of Capstone Senior Design Projects

This document provides a summary of the Capstone Program and sponsor responsibilities.

4.  Project support and additional considerations

  • An invoice will be sent to you for Capstone Project support. A donation of $5,000 per accepted industry project is requested. Non-profit sponsored projects do not require a donation. 
  • Each capstone project team receives seed funding of $750.00 from the university. Any additional project-specific costs (such as specialized equipment, analytical costs, software, and other hardware not available in the College) must be purchased and/or supplied by the sponsor promptly. Industry sponsors retain ownership of all materials purchased for the project, which preferably should be acquired by the sponsor, not the university.
  • Expenses for the university, VCU Health, and non-profit sponsors come from seed funds and endowments, such as Sternheimer awards. Most projects sponsored by non-profits are exempt from the donation requirement.
  • All sponsors must sign the MOU and determine if a non-disclosure agreement or intellectual property agreement is required.

Overview

Are you looking for a way to evaluate and attract new talent while supporting innovative solutions to real-world problems? Consider becoming a sponsor for the VCU Engineering Capstone Design program. All undergraduate students from across the VCU College of Engineering work in teams over the fall and spring semesters of their senior year to design, build, and test prototypes.

This experience is strengthened by the students' exposure to topics related to:  theoretical background, design and development, regulatory, manufacturing, finance, product development, and marketing presented by experts from industry and academia.

Benefits of Capstone Program Sponsorship

  • Interact directly with the new generation of graduating engineers
  • Evaluate and attract new talent with minimal risk
  • Access fresh, creative perspectives to engineering opportunities or problems.
  • A cost-effective approach for “backburner” projects.
  • Strengthen relationships with university faculty and expertise.
  • Professional development opportunities for employees to serve as project mentors.
  • Expand brand recognition for your organization with prominent logo displays at the Senior Capstone Expo and special recognition at the VCU Engineering Career Fairs

This Capstone Design Program culminates in the Capstone Design Expo, open to sponsors, faculty, students, and friends of the College of Engineering and the general public. All capstone projects are displayed, with awards for worthy projects.

Sponsor expectations

  • Each industry-sponsored project is led by a mentor, the key corporate contact leading the project. Mentors schedule check-in meetings as needed to provide guidance and feedback to their student team(s).
  • The mentor also provides feedback to the faculty adviser on individual and team performance.
  • Mentors ensure that student teams have all required materials promptly, within one week of request. This includes all background documents, drawings, schematics, potential software access, etc.
  • The faculty project adviser is responsible for managing all student tasks and assignments.
  • Project sponsors and their invitees are invited to attend the VCU Engineering Senior Capstone Expo at the VCU Siegel Center in late April. Approximately 100 projects and teams will be on display.