Framework of Capstone Experience
(Note: This document is a result of Graduate Committee’s work during Fall 2014,
with input from all graduate faculty. Note of 12/4/14 Graduate Faculty meeting is
at the end of this document.)
Challenges:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The old CCK option (case study) has become less relevant to our programs;
Exam is not a good option for meaningful learning by graduate students;
Capstone experience is more relevant to our programs and our students;
The number of students/graduates has increased drastically for the past
years;
The current CCK format does not reflect the amount of work faculty has put
in;
There are too many committees for faculty to sit in, without any CU
recognition.
Some students have had difficulty finding committee members who are
available.
There is a need to break barriers across various areas of study.
Graduation Requirements for MS in Technology Degree:
Option
Waiver
(Exception)
Thesis
 Minimum of 30 hours;
 Thesis approved and
deposited in library (6 hours);
 Exit survey.
Non-Thesis
 Minimum of 32 hours;
 Completion of capstone
project/research (3 hours);
 Exit survey.
If a student is completing a
graduate certificate program at
the same semester as a MS in
Technology degree, capstone
experience can be waivered.
Certificate
Program
A student may elect to do the
capstone work, which can be
used as an elective (3 hours) for
a related graduate certificate
program.
Capstone Experience:
Content
Format:
Credit Hour:
Proposed
Independent Study
3 Hours
Requirement:
Project or Project-Based Activity
Or
Mini Thesis or Research
Major Change
No
Changed from 1 to 3
hours
1.
Current Case Study
(old CCK) will be
removed;
1.
Current procedure will be
2.
revised systematically,
excluding the Case Study
option. Most of the guidelines
are still applicable;
2.
An oral presentation to the
directing faculty is required.
An oral presentation to the
committee is optional at the
discretion of the directing
faculty.
Work will be
deposited in Digital
Commons or
Graduate Research
in Technology and
Sustainability
(GRITS) at Booth
Library;
3.
Work has to be publishable;
3.
No oral
presentation to the
committee is
required.
Committee
Pass/Fail
4.
Work will be deposited in
Digital Commons (The Keep) or
Graduate Research in
Technology and Sustainability
(GRITS) at Booth Library.
1.
A committee of three (3)
faculty members will be
assigned, at the beginning of
the semester;
2.
In addition to the directing
faculty (chair), one committee
member will be from student's
area of study, another from
general graduate faculty pool;
3.
Only the directing faculty will
request for change of
committee membership;
4.
Committee votes and scoring
will be conducted via a web
form, independent from each
other;
5.
Deadline for votes will be the
last day of class.
New committee
assignment, structure and
votes.
Quality Assurance and Rigor
1. Votes will be based upon the
1. No longer requires an
written report submitted by the
oral presentation;
directing faculty, on behalf of the
student;
2. Votes will be
conducted
2. Committee votes and numerical
electronically;
scoring will be submitted via a web
form, independent from each
3. Deadline for votes will
other;
be the last day of class.
3. Final results will be based upon
only the available vote(s) by the
last class day;
4. Scale:
Pass: >70
Fail: <69.9
Pass with
Distinction
1. Committee average score: >90;
Complete a presentation
at the symposium
2. Complete a presentation at the
symposium (Thursday on finals
week);
3. Final cumulative GPA: >3.92.
Symposium
1. The symposium will be held on
Thursday, in the final exam week;
This is a completely new
format.
2. Only potential candidates for Pass
with Distinction (committee score
higher than 90) will be eligible for
presenting at the symposium;
3. The symposium is open to all
faculty, students and public.
Closure by
Every
Semester:
A student will be given a result at the Procedure is subject to
end of every semester based upon
less ambiguity or less
the progress.
vague interpretation.
1. "Fail" will result in No Credit (NC);
2. "Incomplete" means No Credit
(NC);
3. Either "Fail" or "Incomplete" will
make student ineligible for
graduation;
4. Student repeats another new
independent study if failed and
had incomplete.
Graduation
Certification
Meeting Graduate School Requirements
The Graduate Coordinator will
1. Replaces the current
approve the graduation certification
CCK with capstone
if:
experience;
1. Student passes the capstone
2. Student deposit of
experience;
work in Digital
2. Deposit of work in Digital
Commons at Booth;
Commons at Booth;
3. Make the exit survey
3. Student completes online exit
mandatory.
survey/interview;
4. Student meets credit hour and
other academic requirements.
Work Flow for Quality Assurance and Rigor
Directing Faculty submits online vote,
and sends paper to committee
members and graduate office
(Before Monday of last class week).
Committee members vote via
online form electronically (votes
are due on last class day.)
Graduate Office calculates the
average of the votes on Monday of
final exam week, inform the
directing faculty.
If the average score is
<69.9: Student fails the capstone experience. Directing faculty assigns NC for the
independent study.
>70: Student passes the capstone experience. Directing faculty assigns CR for the
independent study, signs off the paper for depositing to the digital commons at
Booth.
>90, and GPA >3.92:
Directing faculty assigns CR for the independent study, signs off the paper for
depositing to the digital commons at Booth.
Student will be invited to present at the symposium on Thursday of the final exam
week. After the presentation, student will receive “Pass with Distinction.”
All above decisions will be made on Monday of the final’s week, based upon the
electronic votes available. The director will receive a decision by Monday evening
of the final exam week.
Appendix: Graduate Faculty Meeting Notes (Dec. 4, 2014)
Input from graduate faculty was sought regarding the capstone experience on a
graduate faculty meeting on Dec. 4, 2014. The following summarizes the major
points:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
If a student is completing a Graduate Certificate at the same time of
completion of MS in Technology degree, the capstone experience
may be waivered.
Committee: The committee will be composed of the faculty advisor
(directing faculty for the capstone), one faculty in the specific area of
study, another graduate faculty member. All committee members
will be assigned by the graduate programs office at the beginning of
the semester.
Oral presentation: Oral presentation of the capstone work to the
chair is required. Oral presentation to the committee is optional, at
the discretion of the capstone director.
The graduate committee was asked to consider adding capstone
experience onto each certificate program.
A faculty proposed to have a thesis requirement for all graduate
students.