An estimated 20 teams of Michigan State University undergraduate seniors are ready and waiting to help business, government and nonprofit organizations and MSU researchers solve their digital problems. As part of their final course in the Information Technology minor, students are required to work in cross-functional teams on a real-world IT project. They just need a few more “clients.”
Instructors Teagan Dixon and Leticia Cherchiglia, who are teaching the course through MSU’s Department of Accounting and Information Systems and Department of Media and Information, respectively, say the students are capable of taking on a wide range of technology-related projects. Each team will be composed of students majoring in business, media and information, computer science, engineering and other majors.
Student teams have already completed successful projects like these:
- Websites and content management systems: Students have designed websites from scratch, redesigned existing websites (updated visuals, added features such as e-commerce) and implemented new database systems, among other web-related projects. For example, one student team was responsible for the redesign of an online dashboard for Steelcase and MSU, and another student team designed a new database system for MSU’s Campus Animal Resources.
- Business strategies and IT solutions: A student team created a unified endpoint management strategy and built a proof of concept using their proposed solution for the Oakland County Department of Information Technology.
- Market research and user research: Student teams have assisted companies in diverse ways when it comes to research needs, such as developing a full market assessment of web technologies for Michigan Government Management Information Sciences or performing user research via surveys and focus groups for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division.
- Social media marketing and search engine optimization strategies: Over the years, students have created social media campaigns and SEO strategies for several companies and organizations. One recent project was for Wrapped in Love, a clothing and accessories line providing comfort, style and dignity for cancer patients.
Organizations may now submit proposals to have student teams take on projects for the Spring 2021 academic semester, which begins in January and extends through April. The ideal project is hands-on, with a well-defined outcome that can be achieved in an entirely remote environment by five students in about 10 weeks.
To submit a project for consideration, please contact instructors Dixon and Cherchiglia as soon as possible and no later than Jan. 4, 2021.
