Sustainability Capstone Project Partner Information
Sustainability Certificate Capstone Projects help clients address pressing sustainability
challenges while providing students with an opportunity to apply their academic learning
and develop valuable skills.
This partnership is meant to connect you with a talented group of passionate students
to build your capacity to address strategic, sustainability priorities and operational
challenges. In tandem, students gain valuable professional skills and competencies,
and we all benefit from a more connected, invigorated, and sustainable community.
BACKGROUND:
The capstone project is the final requirement of the
Certificate in Sustainability for which students are tasked with developing, managing,
and carrying out an applied project in sustainability with a campus or community partner.
These projects are meant to provide an opportunity for students to apply their specific
discipline/area of expertise and sustainability competencies to local sustainability
challenges.
CAPSTONE PROJECTS:
Projects can cover a wide range of activities including but not limited to: research,
data collection, data analysis, pilot program development and implementation, education/communication,
marketing, event planning, product creation/distribution, installations (such as gardens
or habitat), cost benefit analysis, life cycle assessment. Other ideas are welcome.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Our students are trained to approach this partnership similar to a consultant (the
students) and client (you) relationship. They will work with you to determine your
project needs and assess how their individual skills and expertise might best address
these needs. The Sustainability Capstone Course provides the scaffolding for effective
project management. Final deliverables should be agreed upon by all members of the
partnership, and the semester will culminate in a final presentation of the project
by the students. Students will spend about 5 hours per week on their capstone project.
Community partners should expect to devote ~10+ hours to the project and meet with
student teams at least 5 times over the course of the semester.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
1. Once you have submitted a project need and brief description, we will allow students enrolled in the Sustainability Capstone course to rank their
top projects.
2. Based on rankings and the needs of the project, we will identifying a team of students
to help address your project goals.
2. Before the start of classes, you will receive an e-mail with your student team
and contact information and a schedule for the semester.
3. The students will meet with you the first week or two of classes to learn more
about the project and identify deliverables. They will then create a project Workplan
and Timeline, which will be shared with you for review and revision.
4. Students will also identify a Subject Matter Expert, typically a faculty member
at UGA, with expertise in the project area to provide input and guidance.
5. Teams will meet regularly with you at an agreed upon schedule.
6. Students will submit their final deliverables the last week of the semester.
7. You will also receive and return a team evaluation form that helps inform student
grades for the course.
8. Students will present to you and other members of the sustainability community
during their final exam period.
Please reach out to scdirector@uga.edu if you have any questions. There is also more
information available here:
https://sustainability.uga.edu/certificate/students/capstones/