msus culminating experience guide 2019-07-09 · “project attributes” section will present...

MSUS CULMINATING EXPERIENCE GUIDE 2019-2020

Fall 2019

Master of Sustainability Solutions (MSUS)

School of Sustainability Arizona State University

Mailing Address: PO Box 875502, Tempe, AZ 85287-5502 Physical Location: 800 South Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: 480-727-6963 Fax: 480-727-9902

School Website: http://schoolofsustainability.asu.edu

Future Student Inquiries: SOSGradSunDevil@asu.edu

Current Student Inquiries: SOSGradAdvising@asu.edu

Internships: SOSChangeMaker@asu.edu

Career Services: SOSCareerServices@asu.edu

Graduation: SOSGraduation@asu.edu

Alumni Association: SOSAlumni@asu.edu

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Contributors.................................................................................................................4

Introduction.................................................................................................................5

AppliedProjects..........................................................................................................6AppliedProjectMission....................................................................................................6Connectstudentswithprojectsalignedtotheirpassion................................................6Demonstrationofsustainabilityknowledge........................................................................6Demonstrationofabilitytoimplementandextendknowledge..................................6CareerPreparation..........................................................................................................................7

AppliedProjectPurpose...................................................................................................7BuildingCompetence......................................................................................................................7Leadershipcapacitybuilding......................................................................................................8CommunityEngagement...............................................................................................................9

ProjectDevelopment..............................................................................................10ProjectTimingwithinthetraditionalMSUSDegreeProgram..........................10FourSemesterProgram.............................................................................................................11ThreeSemesterProgram...........................................................................................................13

ProjectTimingwithintheMSUS4+1DegreeProgram........................................14SummerProjects..............................................................................................................15IdentifyingaProject........................................................................................................15ProjectSources...............................................................................................................................15StudentLearningProjectsProgramManager...................................................................17StudentIdentifiedProjects........................................................................................................17

PartneringwithaProjectProvider............................................................................17Buildingarelationship................................................................................................................17Co-creatingprojectgoalsandobjectives............................................................................17Solicitingfacultysupport...........................................................................................................18

BuildingaProjectTeam.................................................................................................18SOSIndividualorSOSTeam.....................................................................................................18Multi-disciplinediversity...........................................................................................................19

ProjectAttributes.....................................................................................................19IdentifyingaQualityProject.........................................................................................19CompetenciesRequired..............................................................................................................19SustainabilityConnection..........................................................................................................20ProjectFeasibility..........................................................................................................................20StakeholderSupport....................................................................................................................20IdentifiableOutcomes.................................................................................................................20IncorporatesNewKnowledgeandSkills............................................................................21LeadershipRole.............................................................................................................................21FitswithStudentPassion/Goals.............................................................................................21

DevelopingaProposalforSubmittaltotheMSUSCommittee..........................22582ProjectManagement...........................................................................................................22DevelopingaPreliminaryProposal.......................................................................................22DevelopinganMSUSCulminatingExperienceProposal..............................................22MSUSCommitteeApprovals.....................................................................................................26

SettingTimelines..............................................................................................................28ProjectTimelines...........................................................................................................................28AcademicTimelines.....................................................................................................................28

DeliveringaQualityProject..................................................................................28AcademicExpectations...................................................................................................28WritingQuality...............................................................................................................................28ScientificEvidenceandMethodologicalLogic..................................................................30OriginalContent.............................................................................................................................30

NegotiatedDeliverablesfortheProjectClient.......................................................30ProjectReports/Outputs............................................................................................................30Tools....................................................................................................................................................31ManagementStrategies..............................................................................................................31Programs...........................................................................................................................................31

RequiredMSUSDocumentation..................................................................................32DraftFinalProjectReports.......................................................................................................32ProjectReports/Deliverables..................................................................................................33ExecutiveSummary(templateprovidedin593AppliedProjectcourse)............33FinalProjectReport(templateprovidedin593AppliedProjectcourse)...........33ReflectionPaper(templateprovidedin593AppliedProjectcourse)...................34ProjectPresentation....................................................................................................................34SustainabilityConnect&CERepositoryUpload..............................................................34

MSUSSupervisoryCommitteeReview......................................................................35ReviewTiming................................................................................................................................35

WorkingwithFaculty,Mentors,Staff,Advisors,andSubjectMatterExperts......................................................................................................................................36

Mentors................................................................................................................................36MSUSSupervisoryCommittee......................................................................................36AdvisorsandSubjectMatterExperts.........................................................................36StaffMembers....................................................................................................................37SelectingaSubjectMatterExpert...............................................................................39WhattoExpectfromaSubjectMatterExpert(SME)............................................39WhatSME’s,theMSUSCommittee,andtheLPPMExpectfromStudents......40

WorkingwiththeMSUSLearningProjectsProgramManager.................40582ProjectManagementClass....................................................................................40593AppliedProjectClass..............................................................................................41

Additionalresources...............................................................................................41

SustainabilityConnect....................................................................................................41SustainabilityResearch..................................................................................................41SOSAcademicLabs...........................................................................................................42

CONTRIBUTORSSchoolofSustainabilityFacultyandStaff:

GeorgeBasile,HannaBreetz,ScottCloutier,TylerDesRoches,CarolineHarrison,CandiceCarrKellman,KaterinaKinast,KelliLarson,LisaMurphy,DavidManuel-Navarrete,TheodorePavlic,PaulProsser,CarolineSavalle,MichaelSchoon

SchoolofSustainabilityGraduateStudents:

RobertBarton,KyrieHooton,AlexandraSlaymaker

MSUSCULMINATINGEXPERIENCEGUIDE

“MakeMSUSprojectsthemostamazingexperiencepossibleforeveryMSUSstudent!”RobMelnick,ExecutiveDirector

JulieAnnWrigleyGlobalInstituteofSustainability

INTRODUCTIONWelcometotheMasterofSustainabilitySolutions(MSUS)Culminating

Experience(CE)Guide.ThisdocumentoutlinesthepurposeoftheCEwithintheMSUSdegreeprogramandhowtoidentify,create,andexecuteasuccessfulproject.

AsMSUSstudentsyouarerequiredtoparticipateinaCEthattakessustainabilityconceptsfromtheclassroom(orothervenueslikeworkshopsandresearchprojects),andapplytheminrealworldsituations.TheCEprogramisintendedtodemonstrateyourmasteryofthoseconcepts,andbuildonthecorecompetencyareasthatsustainabilitystudentsmustacquireinordertosucceedinthefield.

Althoughmanystudentshavedevelopedandexecutedprojectsasindividuals,theASUSchoolofSustainability(SOS)faculty,administration,andMSUSSupervisoryCommitteestronglyrecommendgroupprojectsastheoptimalvehicleforbothsustainabilityandstudentlearningoutcomes.Sustainabilitypractitionerscannotexpecttoworkaloneaftergraduationbecausetheyneedtoworkwithtrans-disciplinarypartnerstosuccessfullyaddressthecomplexityofsustainabilityproblems.Therefore,agroupMSUSCEisanopportunitytoincreasecompetenceingroupsettings.

InthisdocumentthefullprocessandrequirementsfortheMSUSCEwillbelaidoutastheyrelatetothecurrentexpectationsandrequirementsforMSUSstudents.The“AppliedProjects”section,immediatelyfollowingthisintroduction,isanexplanationofthemissionandpurposeoftheCE(akaAppliedProject).The“ProjectAttributes”sectionwillpresentmetricsforsuccessfulprojects,andthe“DeliveringaQualityProject”sectionwilloutlinehowtocommunicatetheproject’soutcomestothevariousstakeholders.

The“ProjectDevelopmentSection”looksathowyourCEfitsintothecontextofyourMSUSexperienceandtheprocessofpreparing,developing,andexecutingyourCE.Thetwosections,titled“WorkingwithFacultyandSubjectMatterExperts”

and“WorkingwiththeMSUSLearningProjectsProgramManager,”focusonthesupportiveinfrastructureavailabletoyouandyourproject.

Finally,asectionon“AdditionalResources”offerssomeplacestolookforprojectideas,projectpartners,research,andsomesustainabilitytools.

APPLIEDPROJECTSWhatistheappliedprojectandwhyisitadegreerequirement?Thereisa

plethoraofresearchcomingfromallscientificdisciplinesthatcharacterizethecurrentstateoftheenvironment,people,andtheeconomy,andprovidebusinessasusualforecasts.Therearefarfewerapplicationsofthatknowledgeintheserviceofnormativeaspirationsanddesirable,sustainable,futurevisions.TheMSUSprogramisdesignedtopreparestudentstouseresearchasthebuildingblocksforcreatingamoresustainablefuture.TothatendMSUSstudentsmustdemonstrateanabilitytointerpretscientificstudiesinawaythatsupportsthecreationofmoreproductiveandsustainableoutcomes.

AppliedProjectMission

ConnectstudentswithprojectsalignedtotheirpassionTheMSUSCEprogramisastudent’sopportunitytoworkonasustainability

challenge,oranareaofinterest,aboutwhichtheyarepassionate.Theimportanceofanemotionalconnectiontoyourworkcannotbeoverstated.ThemostsuccessfulCEexperiencesaredrivenbythepassionoftheprojectparticipants.Conversely,theleastsuccessfulprojectslackemotionalinvestment.Studentswhoembarkondifficultprojectsinareaswithwhichtheyhavegreataffinity,finditeasiertodedicatetimetotheproject,consistentlyfindthemeanstosurmountbarriers,andproducehigherqualityprojectdeliverables.TosuccessfullycompletetheMSUSCErequirement,highqualitydeliverablesarenecessary(see“DeliveringaQualityProject”below).

DemonstrationofsustainabilityknowledgeSincetheCEworkcomesneartheendofthegraduatestudentexperienceat

SOS,theworkproducedshouldreferenceandreflecttheknowledgegainedasastudentintheMSUSprogram.Projectdeliverablesshoulddemonstratefamiliaritywiththegoalsandpurposesofsustainabilitypractices,complexsystemsandtheirchallenges,andeffortstoincreasethesustainabilityofourplanet.Foundational,core,andtopiccoursestakenatSOSshouldbetheacademicunderpinningforastudent’sCE.Thatisnottosaystudentswon’tneedtoexploreandunderstandrelatedtopics–inevitablytheywill.

DemonstrationofabilitytoimplementandextendknowledgeYourCEshouldcontributetotheexistingknowledgebasebyaddressinga

knowledgegap,creatingnewpathwaystounderstanding,orimplementinganew

methodtoaddressasustainabilitychallenge.Merelyqualifyingorquantifyingthecurrentstate,suchasdocumentingacompany’sgreenhousegas(GHG)footprint,isinsufficientasaCEdeliverable.Developingnewpathwaystoreducethatsamecompany’sGHGproductionisapathtoimplementation,andanextensionofsustainabilityknowledgeandmethods.Overall,aCEshouldbeademonstrationofastudent’sleadershipanddisplayanabilitytoapplyexistingknowledgetoaddressasustainabilitychallenge.

CareerPreparationWorkinginanappliedandpracticalfashionwithacorporatepartnerisan

excellentwaytodevelopskillsthatareindemandbypotentialemployers.Everystudent’sprojectshouldhelpthatstudentprepareforacareeraftercompletingtheMSUSprogram.ThiscareerpreparationcanbedonewithintheCEscopebyincreasingspecializedknowledge,addressingsustainabilityelementsspecifictoanindustry,usingspecialtechnologyandtools,andworkingwithpeopleinyourdesiredareaofexpertiseorspecialization.Forexample,ifyouwanttoworkinInternationalDevelopment,aprojectthataddressesasustainabilityprobleminthedevelopingworldmightbemoreusefulthanadevelopmentissueinadevelopedcountry.Studentstalktopeopleontheircareerpathtogetinformationonwhatskillsandtoolsarerequiredtopursuethatpath,andthenbuildopportunitiestoemploythoseskillsandtoolsintheirCE.DevelopinganetworkofcolleaguesandresourcesduringthecourseofyourCEisacommonsidebenefitofMSUSprojectsandwilleaseyourpathtoacareerinsustainability.

RegardlessoftheCEtopicordeliverables,theexperienceshouldhelpbuildinterpersonalskillsliketaskmanagement,conflictresolution,andnegotiation–allofwhichareascriticaltosuccessassubjectareaexpertise.

AppliedProjectPurpose

BuildingCompetenceOnepurposeoftheCEistobuildstudentcompetencyandcapacitythrough

theplanningandexecutionofappliedprojects.

Firstandforemost,itiscriticalthatstudentscanidentifyasustainabilitychallengeandcreateaprojectmanagementplanthatcreatesanappropriateresponsetothatchallenge.ProjectManagementskillsinclude:creatingaprojectscope;identifyingdesirableoutcomes;gatheringresources;assemblingstakeholders;developingresponsestrategies;planningproject-specifictasks;communicatingwithteammembersandstakeholders,and;coordinatingtimelines.

TheSOSfacultyandadministrationexpecteachstudenttodevelop5corecompetenciesduringtheirtimeintheprogram.StudentsshouldbeabletodemonstratethosecompetenciesastheyexecutetheirCE.

Systemsthinking

Everystudentshouldbewellversedinsystemsthinkinganddemonstratetheirknowledgeofinterconnectedvariablesandtheireffectsoneachotherovertime.Knowingthatsystemscanoperateatmultiplescales,crossvariousboundaries,andhaveeffectsthatemergeonvaryingtimelinesiscriticaltodevelopinginterventionandtransitionstrategies.

AnticipatoryThinkingAsstudentsdevelopinterventionstrategies,theyneedtothinkcriticallyand

forecastprobableoutcomes.Anticipatorythinkingiscriticalfordevelopingfuturescenariosabsentinterventions,andsustainablevisionsresultingfrominterventions.

StrategicThinkingTodeveloptransitionstrategies,leadingtoamoresustainablefuture,

strategiccompetenceisrequired.Studentsmustbeabletodesignandimplementinterventionsthatleadtopositiveoutcomes.

NormativeThinkingWithoutamapofsustainabilityvalues,principles,goals,andtargets,future

visionshavenopurpose,andstrategiesarewithoutdirection.Normativecompetencemightbebetterunderstoodasourcollectivethoughtsaboutwhatisimportanttosocietyaswemoveforward.Protectingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstoenjoythebenefitsofourplanetsresources,isanexampleofnormativethinking.

Collaborative/InterpersonalAlloftheabovecompetenciesrelyoncollaborativeorinterpersonal

competence,especiallynormativecompetence.Withouttheabilitytoelicitcommonvalues,co-createknowledgeandstrategies,interventionstrategiesareneithertargetednorvisionary.Interpersonalskillsarecriticalforbothcollaborationandconsensus.

LeadershipcapacitybuildingOutsideofthecorecompetenciesareanothersetofcompetenciesprizedby

academics,practitioners,andenterpriseleaders.TheMSUSCEisdesignedtohelpyougrowintheseareas,andbecomeresilient,resourcefulleaders.

GritWorkinginthesustainabilityfieldbringsmanychallengesandseemingly

insurmountableodds.ThesameistrueintherelativelyprotectedSOSenvironment,particularlyintheCEprogram.Studentsareexpectedtodemonstrateresilienceinthefaceofdisappointmentandbarriers.Inshort,youmustshowgrittydeterminationtogetthejobdoneagainstlongodds.Perseveranceinthefaceofdifficultyisacriticalleadershipquality.

CreativityGettingthejobdoneagainstlongoddsmightmeanyouareadaptingasyou

go–asonefacultymemberoncedescribedit,“Buildingyourairplaneasyouplummettowardtheground.”Successfulstudentshaveshowntheabilitytocreatealternatesolutionsandscenariosastheyproceedtotheendgoal.

InnovationSometimesstudentsdiscoverinnovativesolutions,methods,ortools.Those

whocandothishaveapowerfulstorytotellpotentialemployers,andmakethemselvesmoremarketableuponcompletionoftheirprojectanddegree.

CreativeProblemSolvingAsyouworkthroughyourCE,thingswillnotgoasexpected-it’salmost

guaranteed.AskmostMSUSalumniiftheirprojectwentasexpected,andalargemajoritywillrespondnegatively.Priorpreparationmaynotbeenough,andthinkingonyourfeettocreativelyturnnegativeinputsintopositiveattributesisausefulcompetence,forbothyourprojectandyourcareer.

IndependenceEventhoughmostsustainabilitychallengesrequireacollaborativeapproach

andengagemultiplestakeholders,asingularityofvisionandindependenceisrequiredtodrivetheprojecttosuccess.Independencecanbewitnessedinobjectivethinking,criticalevaluationsofevidence,andequitablemanagementofprojectresources.Thosequalitiesmustbeembodiedintheprojectleaderinorderforprojectstomakeittocompletionregardlessoftheshortcomingsofprojectparticipants.Self-relianceisanecessityforMSUSAppliedprojectsandlife.

Ifyoudevelopthesecompetenciesyouaremorelikelytocreateoutcomesofvalueforyourself,yourprojectstakeholders,andtheSOScommunity.

CommunityEngagementCommunitiesaremuchmoreawareoftheintricaciesofsustainability

challengesintheirarea,thereforetheyareimportantrepositoriesofknowledgethatcanholdthekeytopositiveoutcomes.

StakeholderEngagementAtSOSweknowthatlegitimate,coherent,nuanced,motivational,andshared

outcomesareunlikelytobeachievedwithoutstakeholderparticipation.Plausible,tangible,andrelevantoutcomesareconceivablewithoutstakeholderengagement,buttheyaremuchlessdesirable.Withouttheseandotherqualities,MSUSprojectsthatdonotengagestakeholdersarenotconsideredsustainabilitysolutions,oracceptableforfulfillingthedegreerequirements.

ServiceLearningPartofthemissionatSOSistomakeapositiveimpactwithinthe

communitieswhereweworkand/ordevelopprojects.MostoftenMSUSStudents

arenotpaidfortheworktheydo,butprovidingpro-bonoservicestothecommunitybenefitsyou(thestudent)asavaluablelearningexperience.Servicelearningallowsformorecreativity,experimentation,andfreedomforstudentstogainleadershipexperiencetheymightnototherwisegain.Ifstudentsarepaid,theyassumearolesimilartoaconsultantandmustbalancewhat’sbestforthemajorityofstakeholderswiththeclient’sneeds.

RepresentingASUBeingoutinthecommunitymeansyounotonlyrepresentyourselvesand

yourfamilies,butyouarethefaceofASUingeneralandSOSinparticular.Yourprofessionalismshouldreflectyourrespectfortheoutsidecommunity,thereputationoffellowASUstudents,andSOSfaculty,staffandpeers.Makethemostofyouropportunitytotrainyourselfforaprofessionalcareerbydevelopingskillsandrelationshipsthathonoryourorigins.Comradery,futuresupport,andcollaborationopportunitiesareoftenbuiltontheprofessionalcomportmentyoudevelopandexercisewhileworkingonyourCE.

PROJECTDEVELOPMENTAsyourtimeatASU’sSchoolofSustainabilityprogresses,youwillbe

exposedtomanyareasofstudy,andyourinterestsbecomemorefocused.Studentsareencouragedtocontemplatetheircareerdirectionandinterestsastheyrelatetopossibleculminatingexperiences,aftercompletingthefirstsemesterofcourse-work.Varyingstudentcircumstancesrelatedtowork,family,andfundingaresupportedbycreatingflexibilityinthelengthoftimeyoumightspendintheMSUSprogram.ThoseoptionsdictatetherelativetimingoftheCEinyourdegreeprogramtimeline.Outlinedbelowarethecurrentavailabledegreeanddegreetimelineconfigurations.

ProjectTimingwithinthetraditionalMSUSDegreeProgram

AllMSUSstudentsshoulddevelopadegreecompletiontimelinethatfitstheirownneeds.RecentgraduateshaveoptedforathreeorfoursemestercompletionscheduleforthetraditionalMSUStrack.Youshouldnotethatascompletionschedulesarecompressed,flexibilitywithintheprogramandcohesionwithpeersmaydiminish.Somecoursesarenotofferedinbothfallandspringsemesterssoitmaybedifficulttoalignyourdesiredcourseselectionswithyourofficialinteractiveplanofstudy(iPOS);theuniversityagreementthatlistsspecificcoursesusedtofulfillyourdegreerequirements.Summercourseofferingsarelimitedatthiswriting–usuallyonlystudyabroadclassesareofferedinSOS–butcouldchangeasdemandincreases.

Withinthedegreetimelineoptions,theCEisdesignedtofitintothefinaltwosemestersofstudy.InthefirstandsecondMSUSsemesters,studentsenrollincoreandfoundationalcoursescriticaltotheirunderstandingofsustainability

concepts,methods,andtools.(FormoreinformationoncourserequirementsseethelatestversionoftheMSUSGraduateHandbook).Followingthosecourses,theCEexperiencehastwocoursecomponents:SOS582SustainabilityProjectManagementandSOS593AppliedProject.InSOS582studentslearnprojectmanagementconcepts,methods,andtoolsintheclassroom,definethescopeandmissionoftheirindividualorgroupCEproject,anddevelopaCEprojectmanagementplanasapartofthecourse.ThenextsemesterinSOS593,student(s)will(independentlyoringroups)executetheirprojectaccordingtotheprojectmanagementplandevelopedinSOS582.

FourSemesterProgramThetraditional,foursemester,two-year,programisthemostpopularoption

becauseitallowsforalowerintensitypaceandmoreopportunityforparticipationinextra-curricularactivities.Studentswhoareemployedhalforfull-timealsofindthisanattractiveoptionbecausetheacademicloadislowerineachofthefoursemesters.Studentsinthistrackgraduateinspringoftheirsecondyear.

Studentsonthistrack,andintheMSUS4+1program,typicallytakeSOS582ProjectManagementintheir3rdsemesterintheMSUSprogram.TheSOS593AppliedProjectfollowsintheir4thSemester.

Thefour-semestertrackalsoallowsforStudyAbroadwindowsinsummersfollowingeitherthe2ndor4thsemesterofstudy.StudyAbroadishighlyrecommendedforourstudentsasanopportunitytoexploresustainabilitychallengesacrosstheglobe.AnotheradvantageoftheprogramisthatitcanlessentheacademicloadinoneofthefoursemesterswhenitisusedinlieuofaFocusAreaElective.

Figure1showsanexampleofhowtoorganizeyourcourseworktofitwithinthefour-semester

timeframeandoptionsforincludingaStudyAbroadexperience.(Ifyouarea4+1

Figure1.

studentseeFigure3andthediscussionbelow.)Thewhitecirclewithanumberinsideindicatesthenumberofcoursecredithoursyou’llneedtotakeineachsemester.Thestudyabroadcoursestypicallyhave3credithoursandcanreplaceanelectiveinanyofthesemesters,thusreducingthatsemesterloadby3credits.

ThreeSemesterProgramThethree-

semester,1½year,programisapopularalternativeforstudentswhowanttoreducetheirdegreecompletiontimeand/orthetotalcostoftheirdegree.Athree-semestertimelinebringsahigherintensitypace,andtheremaybelesstimeforparticipationinextra-curricularactivities.

Studentswhoareemployedhalforfull-timemightfindthisoptionmorestressfulbecausetheacademicloadishigherineachofthethreesemesters.Studentsonthethree-semestertrackgraduateinDecemberoftheirsecondyear.Dueto4+1programrestrictionsoncoursesavailabletostudentsintheirfirsttwosemesters,4+1studentsinthearetypicallynotablecompletetheMSUSdegreerequirementsinthreesemesters.

StudentsonthistrackmaytakeSOS582ProjectManagementintheir2ndsemesterintheMSUSprogramifitisoffered.TheSOS593AppliedProjectfollowsintheir3rdSemester;alsoifoffered.

Thethree-semestertrackalsoallowsforaStudyAbroadwindowinthesummerfollowingthe2ndsemesterofstudy.StudyAbroadishighlyrecommendedforthesamereasonasitisforfoursemesterstudents,andasawaytolowertheloadinoneofyoursemesters.StudyAbroadcanbeusedinlieuofaFocusAreaElective.

Figure2showsanexampleofhowtoorganizeyourcourseworktofitwithinthethree-semestertimeframe,andanoptionforincludingStudyAbroad.Thewhite

Figure2.

circlewithanumberinsideindicatesthenumberofcoursecredithoursyou’llneedtotakeineachsemester.StudyAbroadcoursestypicallyhave3credithoursandtheycanreplaceanelectiveinanyofthesemesters,thusreducingthatsemesterloadby3credits.

Oneitherthethreeorfoursemestertracks,studentsmayuseaninternshipasanelectivecoursecredit,andasalaunchpointfortheirAppliedProject.

ProjectTimingwithintheMSUS4+1DegreeProgram

AllMSUS4+1studentsshoulddevelopadegreecompletiontimelinethatfitstheirownneeds.Duetotheprogramdesign,yourcompletionscheduleiscompressedandhasdiminishedflexibility.Figure3showsanexampleofhowtoorganizeyourcourseworktofitwithinthefour-semestertimeframe.Youshouldbe

designingyourcourseofstudyduringyour“overlap”(seniorundergraduate)year.UnliketraditionalMSUSstudents,SOSundergradshavetimetoidentifygraduatecoursesofinterestandtheirtiminginfallandspringsemesters.TaketimeearlyintheprogramtoalignyourdesiredcourseselectionswithyourproposediPOS.Oneimportantnote:4+1studentsarenotallowedtotakegraduatecoursesinthesummerbetweenundergraduatecommencementandtheirfallenrollmentforgraduateschool.Furthermore,summer

graduatecourseofferingsarelimited.

Inthelasttwosemestersofyourundergraduateprogram,4+1studentsmustenrollincoreandfoundationalcoursescriticaltotheirunderstandingofsustainabilityconcepts,methods,andtools.(FormoreinformationoncourserequirementsseethelatestversionoftheMSUSGraduateHandbook).WithintheMSUS4+1degreetimeline,theCEisdesignedtofitintothetwograduatesemesters

Figure3.

ofstudy.TheCEexperiencehastwocoursecomponents:SOS582SustainabilityProjectManagementandSOS593AppliedProject.InSOS582studentslearnprojectmanagementconcepts,methods,andtoolsintheclassroom,definethescopeandmissionoftheirindividualorgroupCEproject,anddevelopaCEprojectmanagementplanasapartoftheirclasswork.ThenextsemesterinSOS593,thestudent(s)will(independentlyoringroups)executetheirprojectaccordingtotheprojectmanagementplandevelopedinSOS582.

SummerProjects

Studentsoftenaskifitispermissibletocompletetheirprojectworkoverthesummersession.Weknowthatsomestudentshavetimeconstraintsandfinancialpressuresthatpromptthequestion.Foranumberofreasons,wesayitisnotimpossibletocompleteaprojectoverthesummersemesterbutthedegreeofdifficultytocompletetheworkrisessignificantly.First,summersessionsaremuchshorterthanfallandspringforcingyourprojectintoacompressedtimeframe.AnybarriersordifficultiesyouencounterduringtheexecutionofyourCEprojectwillhavemoreseriousrepercussionsinthesummersession.Second,facultyavailabilityisextremelylimited,thusgettingfeedbackonyourdeliverablesisdifficultwithoutpriorarrangements.Ifyouhavecompellingreasonstostartandfinishaprojectoversummersession,itisimperativethatyoulineupsummerfacultysupport,preferablyinwriting,onefullsemesterpriortosummersession.Finally,peersupportwillbeextremelylimitedasmoststudentsleavecampusforthesummer.

IdentifyingaProject

ProjectSourcesSustainabilityConnectTheSustainabilityConnect(SC)website

(https://sustainabilityconnect.asu.edu/)isaplatformdesignedtoconnectstudents,faculty,andcommunitymembersforappliedlearningexperiencesrelatedtosustainability.SCisalsoaresourceforstudentstoexplorecompletedprojectsassourcesofinspiration,partnershipswithotherstudents,andtoconnectwithawidevarietyofASUfaculty.

Onceyouaccessthewebsite,createanaccounttogetfullaccesstopeopleandprojectsonthesite.Youcanalsoseenewprojects,workshops,volunteeropportunities,andinternshipopportunities.

ASU&AffiliatesWithintheJulieAnnWrigleyGlobalInstituteofSustainability(GIOS)and

SOStherearemanyaffiliatedprogramsandorganizations.QuiteoftentheseentitiesarelookingforstudentassistanceandmayallowaMSUSprojecttobebuiltwithintheorganization’sinitiativesorajumpingoffpointforanMSUSproject.SOSfacultyandscholarsaregoodsourcesforunderstandingwhatgoesonunderthevariousorganizationalumbrellas,andwhatprojectandlearningopportunitiesarepossible

within.Afewoftheorganizationsare:CentralArizonaPhoenixLong-termEcologicalResearch(CAPLTER),TheSustainableCitiesNetwork(SCN),ProjectCities(PC),DecisionCenterforDesertCities(DCDC),UrbanResiliencetoExtremes-SustainabilityResearchNetwork(URExSRN),TheSustainabilityConsortium(TSC),WaltonSustainabilitySolutionsInitiatives(WSSI)andCenterforBiodiversityOutcomes(CBO).

FacultyFacultydrivealotofwhathappensatSOS,andmanyofthemengagestudent

participationintheirresearch.Somehavesetup“labs”inwhichstudentscanparticipate.ExampleswithinSOSareTheHappinessLabandtheSustainabilityTransitionandInterventionLab.Studentscanlearnmoreaboutthesefromconversationswithpeers,faculty,andadministration.InthesesettingsfacultymayhelpstudentssetupMSUSprojectsthatsimultaneouslyfurtherstudentandfacultygoals.

InternshipsInternshipscanqualifyaselectivecredits,andtheycanbeopportunitiesto

developanappliedprojectinparallelwiththatexperience.Interningforanorganizationcanrevealusefulinsightstosustainabilityproblemswithin,andexternalitiesgeneratedbytheorganization.Asaresult,anappliedprojectcanbemoretargetedandbeneficialtoboththestudentandtheorganization.OurSOSInternshipCoordinatorandtheSustainabilityConnectwebsitecanhelpyoufindinternshipopportunities.

NetworkingSustainabilityprojectsoftenarisethroughconversationswithpeopleyou

meetbothinsideandoutsideofSOS.Itneverhurtstofollowuponaconversationtoseeifaprojectopportunityexists.Manystudentshavecreatedprojectsthisway,butitdoesnothavetobetheonlyavenue.BeadvisedthatprojectscomingtoyouinthiswayaresubjecttothereviewandapprovaloftheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee.Asaprecautionarymeasure,discussopportunitiesfoundthroughnetworkingwithafacultymemberpriortopitchingittothecommittee.

OthergraduatestudentsOtherSOSgraduatestudentsintheMA/MSandPhDprograms,andalumni,

canbesourcesforprojectseitherthroughthesocialnetworkorbyfollowingupontheirresearchprojects.MSUSstudentsmayalsofindpathstoprojectsbycomparingskillsandinterestsinthenew,one-creditcolloquiumcourse,SOS598AppliedLeadershipLab.

OtherProjectSourcesOtheropportunitiesandpartnershipscanbefoundoutsideoftheSOS

family.Forexample,theIraA.FultonSchoolofEngineering’sEPICSprogram,theThunderbirdSchoolofGlobalManagement,andtheWPCareySchoolofBusiness.

TheSolutionsSummitandChangemakerChallengehostedeveryyearbyASU’sChangemakerCentral,orentrepreneurialopportunitiesliketheASUInnovationOpenandtheEdsonStudentEntrepreneurInitiativeareon-campusinitiativesthatcanprovideprojectinspiration.

OtherunitswithintheASUcommunity,liketheUniversitySustainabilityPractices(USP)officeandtheOfficeoftheUniversityArchitect(OUA)areconstantsourcesofprojectideas.

StudentLearningProjectsProgramManagerTheMSUSStudentLearningProjectsProgramManagerwasaddedtostaffin

Spring2016asaresourceforMSUSprojects.NumerousprojectopportunitiesareforwardedtotheProgramManagerbyfaculty,staff,andotherpartnerorganizations.ProjectsreviewedanddevelopedbytheProgramManagerappearontheSustainabilityConnectwebsite.Newopportunitiestaketimetogetthroughthereviewprocess,butgetpostedassoonastheyarereadyforstudentparticipation.ConsultwiththeProgramManagerearlyoninyourMSUSjourneytoalerthim/hertoyourinterests.Aprojectmaynotbeavailableimmediately,buttheProgramManagercanalertyouwhensuitableoptionsarise.

StudentIdentifiedProjectsStudentsmaybringtheirownprojectpartnerstothetablefortheirMSUSCE

butthepartnerneedstobeapprovedbytheSOSfacultyandstaff,andtheprojectwillneedtobereviewedforitsabilitytofulfillMSUSCEprojectcriteria.ContacttheMSUSLearningProjectsProgramManagertoreviewprojectsuitabilitybeforebringingittoapotentialSubjectMatterExpert.

PartneringwithaProjectProvider

Projectpartnerscomefromallsectorsoflifeandbusiness.Oncampus,multipleorganizationslikeUniversitySustainabilityPractices(USP),OfficeoftheUniversityArchitect(OUA),FacilitiesandGrounds,andFoodServices(throughAramark)havesustainabilityprojectsstudentscanworkon.Outsideorganizationsinclude,butarenotlimitedtobusinesses,non-profits,governingbodies,orcitizengroups.

BuildingarelationshipPartnershipsprovidevaluetostudentsandtheirpartnerorganizations,so

workingwithpartnersrequiresallpartiestounderstandwhatisrequiredofthem.SOSfacultyandstaffhaveongoingrelationshipswiththeseorganizationssoitisimportantforstudentstonurturethoseclientrelationships.Thebestandsimplestwaystodosoaretospendtimewithclientpersonnel,listentowhattheyneed,discusswhattheirvisionisfortheirproject,andco-developpathwaystoimprovementwiththem.

Co-creatingprojectgoalsandobjectives

Astudent’sinterestisthestartingpointfortheprojectfocus,buttheprocessofdevelopingprojectgoalsandobjectivesneedstobeacollaborativeprocesswiththeprojectpartner.Negotiatingthispartoftheprojectisagoodwaytodeterminewhetherornotyourinterestsmatchupwiththeclient,andprovidesaglimpseintoyourfutureworkingrelationship.Ifinterestsaretoodivergentorcollaborationisdifficult,youmaywanttoreconsiderenteringintoapartnership.

SolicitingfacultysupportChoosingaprojectadvisingteamiscriticaltothesuccessofstudentprojects.

StudentsareencouragedtoconsulttheMSUSLearningProjectsProgramManagerand/ortheGraduateAcademicSuccessCoordinatorfirstforinformationonsuitableSubjectMatterExperts.Theirknowledgeoffacultyexpertisecansaveyoutimeandenergy.FacultyprofilescanbefoundandsearchedontheGIOSwebsite(https://sustainability.asu.edu/people/expert-search/).

UseyourASU,SOSandGraduatenetworkstogatherinformationonadvisingcandidates.Doyourhomeworkbeforeyoucontactormeetwiththemsoyoudon’twastemeetingtimeaskingthemwhattheirareasofresearchandexpertiseare.Bereadytopitchyourprojectideatothemasanextensionoftheirareaofinterest.PresentingavaluepropositionthatservesbothyouandyourSubjectMatterExpert’sinterestsisaneffectivewaytogarnerassistance.

BuildingaProjectTeam

SOSIndividualorSOSTeamTogetthemostrelevantexperiencefromyouCEexperience,theMSUS

SupervisoryCommitteestronglyadvisesthatyouworkwithasmallgroupoffellowstudents,MSUSorotherwise.Multi-disciplinaryteamsaretheclosestapproximationofhowyouwillbeworkinginthe“wild”,post-graduation.Individualprojectsarestillacceptable,ifyouhavenootheroption,butworkingaloneinthefieldofsustainabilityisrare.Therefore,asoloprojectexperiencewillnotprepareyouaswellasagroupproject.IdentifyingMSUSstudentswithsimilarinterestscanbedifficultgiventhedivergentacademicschedules.Hence,itisrecommendedthatgettingtoknowclassmatesthroughtherecentlyaddedSOS598AppliedLeadershipLabwhereinstudentsconnectwithotherstudentstolearnaboutpowerdynamicsinrelationships,theroleofgender,beingauthenticandvulnerableinrelationships,communityengagement,professionalspeakingskills,knowinganaudiencebeforepresenting,readingbodylanguage,practicingmindfulness,andmore.

Whenchoosingprojectpartnersorconstructingteams,sharedinterestsarenotthesolecriteriaforsuccess.Complimentaryskillsetsandpersonalitiesshouldbeofequalinterest.Therearemanypersonalityassessmenttoolsavailableonlineforunderstandingateammate’smotivationsandworkingstyle.UsetestslikeMyers-Briggsandotherstobetterunderstandyourteammatespersonalities,andwhyonemaybeaprocrastinatorandothersquickstarters.Knowingthesethingsinadvance

canhelpyouanticipatehoweachofyouwillperformoverthelifeoftheproject.Thesameistrueforskillsets.Eachteammembershouldshareskills,strengths,andtoolstheypossesswiththeteam.Indoingso,skillorknowledgegapscanbeunderstoodinthecontextoftheproject,andrectifiedbeforeaprojectstarts.

Multi-disciplinediversityAmulti-disciplinaryteambringsdiverseperspectivesandexpertisetoa

project.However,addingotherdisciplinesforthesakeofdiversityshouldnotbedoneifthesubjectandobjectoftheprojectarenotservedbytheiraddition.Chooseprojectcontributorsstrategicallyandwithspecificworkproductsinmind,otherwisetheireffortswilldistractyoufromthemainobjective.

PROJECTATTRIBUTESToqualifyasanMSUSAppliedProject,multiplecriteriamustbemetandthe

projectmustbemeasuredagainstthosecriteria.

IdentifyingaQualityProject

AllCEprojectsshouldallowstudentstoengagecoresustainabilitycompetenciesintheexecutionoftheirCEandhaveanidentifiableconnectiontosustainability.Fromthepracticalsidetheprojectmust:addressasustainabilitychallenge;beafeasiblescopeforastudentorgroupofstudentstoexecute;havestakeholdersupportandengagement;haveclearlyidentifiedoutcomes;broadenparticipatingstudents’skillsandknowledge;puttheMSUSstudentinaleadershiprole,and;fitthestudents’passionandgoals.

CompetenciesRequiredSystemsthinkingProjectsshouldaddresscomplexproblemsandprovideopportunitiesfor

studentstoexaminetheproblemconstellation,thecurrentsituation,anditshistory,beforeinterventionpointsareidentified,ortransitionstrategiesaredeveloped.Understandingthesocietal,economicandenvironmentaldomains,thedifferentscalesaffectedandsystemiceffects(includingcascadingeffects),inertia,andfeedbackloopswithinasystem,isnecessarybeforeanyproblemsolvingcanproceed.

AnticipatoryThinkingAnalysis,evaluationandproblemframinghelpstudentsanticipatepossible

businessasusualscenarios,aswellaspredictions,scenarios,andvisionsforamoresustainablefuture.Further,understandingandaccountingforrisk,pathdependence,inertia,intergenerationalequity,andpreventioniscriticaltocreatingsustainabilitysolutions.DemonstratinganticipatorycompetenceshouldnotonlybepartoftheCEprojectmanagementplanbutevidentintheresultsofthework.

NormativeThinkingBeforecreatingvisionsforasustainablefuture,theabilitytomap,specify,

andnegotiatesharedvaluesiskey.Studentsshouldbefamiliarwithsocialjustice,equity,socio-ecologicalintegrity,andethicalissueswhennormativeframeworksarebeingdeveloped.

StrategicThinkingToreachavisionforafuturebasedonsharedvalues,studentsshouldbe

abletocreateinterventionstrategiesthatsupportthevisionandthevaluesystem.Theymustbeabletocollaborativelydesignandimplementpathwaystoeliminatenegatives:inertia,pathdependence,anduncertainty.Future-orientedstrategiesmustalsotakeadvantageofsystemefficiencies,viability,andpositiveaction,whiledefiningthemetricsofsuccess.

Collaborative/InterpersonalInterpersonalcompetenceiswhattiestheotherfourcompetenciestogether.

Withouttheabilitytocommunicatewith,facilitate,motivate,andenableteammembersandstakeholders,thefourothercompetenciesaremoot.

SustainabilityConnectionAllCEprojectsmusthaveasustainabilityconnectionasthebasisfor

exploration.Complexproblemsthatmanifestonmultiplegeographic,temporal,andecologicalscalesshouldbethefocus.Everyprojectshouldidentifythefivecharacteristicsofasustainabilityproblem.Theproblemshouldbehighlycomplexwithdispersedeffectsandnosimplesolutions.Further,itmustbeurgentandlifethreatening.

ProjectFeasibilityThescaleandcomplexityoftheprojectshouldnotbebeyondtheresources

oftheMSUSstudentorgroup.Projectsmustfitwithinthegoals,academictimeline,financialbudgets,andcapacitiesofthestudents.Thatisnottosaythatstudentscannotincreasetheirowncapacitybytappingintootherpartnershipsorseekingassistancefromotherscholars.Infact,studentsareencouragedtoincludeoutsideexpertisetoincreasethecredibilityoftheirwork.

StakeholderSupportEngagingrelevantstakeholdersisnecessaryforprojectcredibility,

legitimacy,andacceptance.Stakeholdersmayincludepartiesdirectlyaffectedbythework(residents,neighbors,owners,governanceorganizations,etc.)andneedtobeincludedintheprocessofdeveloping,deploying,andusingtheworkproduct.Stakeholdersshouldbestrategicallyselectedformaximumimpactontheoutcomes.

IdentifiableOutcomesClearoutcomesshouldbecollaborativelyidentifiedbytheMSUSstudent(s),

theirprojectpartners,andtheprojectstakeholders.Qualitativeandquantitative

metricsareneededtoensurethatoutcomesmeetorexceedexpectations,orrequirere-formulationofstrategiesforsuccess.

IncorporatesNewKnowledgeandSkillsCEprojectsshouldnotonlydemonstrateastudent’sfacilitywiththeirnewly

acquiredknowledgeandskills,butitshouldprovideaplatformfromwhichastudentcancontributenewknowledge,strategies,andtoolstothesustainabilitycommunity’sresourcepool.Pushingagainstknownboundariesistheonlywaytounderstandlimitationstoadvancement.FurtheradvancementanddefinitionofboundariesthroughtheCEprocessisaminimumexpectation.

Beadvised,theprimarypurposeoftheCE/AppliedProjectistostretchyourskills,knowledgeandcapacities.Thisisnoteasyworkanditcanbephysicallyandemotionallydraining.Ifitwerenotso,thentheMSUSprogramwouldnotachieveitseducationalobjectives.

LeadershipRoleStudentsshouldnotexpectSOSfacultytolayouttheirpathforproject

success.FutureemployerslookforleadersinthefieldwhenhiringMSUSgraduates.Therefore,youshouldexpecttoshowleadershipinchoosing,developing,andexecutingyourproject–eitherasanindividualorasacontributortoagroupproject.Leadershiprequiresplanning,anticipating,andrespondingtoprojectneedsonaday-to-daybasis.Takingownershipoftheproject,orpartsofalargerproject,isanindicationofleadershipandwillprepareyoutobeaprojectself-starterinthefuture.

Withinthecontextofagroup,theleadershipquestionmustbeaddressedinanuancedmanner.Topdownapproachesrequireasingularvisionfromaleaderthatisfollowedbythegroupmembers.Theco-creativeapproach,orcollaborativeapproachinvolvesasharedvision,withareasofresponsibilitytobeledbygroupmembers.Ahybridapproachmightberotatingfinaldecision-makingauthorityamongstgroupmembers,whoeachhaveareasofresponsibility.Inanycase,developatransparentleadershipstructureforyourgroup,beforetheprojectstarts,withaneyetowardhoweachmemberwouldpresenttheirleadershiproletopotentialemployers.Afterchoosingaleadershipstructure,memorializethedecisioninawrittendocument.

FitswithStudentPassion/GoalsWhateverprojectyoutakeon,makesureitfeedsthefireburningwithin

you.Projectsofconvenience,orease,areneithereducational,norenginesofpersonalgrowth.Furthermore,sustainabilityworkwhendonerightishard,soapassionatefocusisneededtocarryprojectstofruition.SOSstudentsareexpectedtotapintotheirpassionsinordertomaketheworkmeaningfulandtousetheiremotionalreservoirsasaresourceforperseveranceinthefaceofdifficulty.Notonly

doesworkinginanareaofpassionateinteresthelpyoualongtheway,butwhenyoufinishthework,feelingsofimmensesatisfactionandaccomplishmentresult.

DevelopingaProposalforSubmittaltotheMSUSCommittee

582ProjectManagementAllstudentsmustenrollintheSOS582ProjectManagementcoursepriorto

executingtheirCEinafollowingsemester.Thecoursebuildsprojectmanagementcapacityofstudentsthroughexperientialprojectworkandin-classpresentations.Studentswilllearnhowtocreateaprojectmanagementplan,andprojectmanagementtoolsandtechniques.DuringthesemesteryouwillidentifyyourCEproject,pitchittofaculty,developaScopeandCharter,PreliminaryProjectProposal,andFinalProjectProposal.OnlythePreliminaryandFinalProjectProposalwillbesubmittedtotheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee.

DevelopingaPreliminaryProposalTheFinalPreliminaryProposalisahigh-levelintroductiontotheproject,

dueinthe8thweekofthestudent’spenultimatesemester.Thisdocumentisthestudents’firstopportunitytoarticulatetheirprojecttotheMSUScommittee.Itidentifiesthetypeofproject(individualorteam),themainfeaturesincludingstakeholders,andaconnectiontosustainabilityandyourcareergoals.StudentsarealsoexpectedtopresentaStrengths,Weaknesses,OpportunitiesandThreats(SWOT)analysisinthedocument.AninitialdraftofthispreliminaryproposalwillbereviewedinSOS582.ThestudentwillreceivefeedbackonthedocumentpriortosubmittingtheFinalPreliminaryProposaltotheMSUSSupervisoryCommitteeforcommentandrecommendations.

TheFinalPreliminaryProposalshouldbeapolishedversionoftheDraftPreliminaryProposalandincludemoredetail.Uponcompletion,FinalPreliminaryProposalsareforwardedtotheMSUSSupervisoryCommitteeforreviewandcommentinthe8thweekofthesemester.Studentswillalsodoapresentationtotheclasstoelicitadditionalfeedbackfrompeers.Thecommitteewillprovidefeedbackandrecommendationsontheproject.

DevelopinganMSUSCulminatingExperienceProposalThemajordeliverableforSOS582istheMSUSCulminatingExperience

Proposal.StudentsprepareadetailedprojectdescriptionforreviewandapprovalbytheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee.StudentsarenotallowedtoexecuteaCEprojectwithoutpreparingtheproposalandreceivingapprovalfromtheCommittee.Proposalsmustbedetailed,plausible,coherent,andwellwrittenexplanationsoftheproject.ShowcaseyourunderstandingofsustainabilityanddemonstrateprofessionalisminboththewrittendocumentandyourprojectpresentationtotheCommittee.Inadditiontomappingoutyourprojectplan,theintentofthisexerciseistogainexperienceinwritingproposaldocuments,andtoacquireprofessional

projectmanagementskills.Awellwrittenproposalrequirestheauthortoanticipateandassessriskinordertotesttheproject’sviability.

Eventhebestprojectmanagementplansrunafouloffateandprojectsmustbeabandoned.Thebestprojectmanagersareawareofthispossibilityandalwayshaveabackupplan.Everystudentshouldhavea“PlanB”projectinmindincaseunanticipatedroadblocksoccur.

ScopeandCharterCo-developingrequirementswithprojectpartnersisintegraltothecreation

ofascopeandcharter.Projectpartnersprovidebackgroundfortheprojectfromtheirperspective,andcandescribetherelevantissues.Astheprojectmanageryoumustrecordthisinformation,frameitsconnectiontosustainability,andsetoutaprojectplantoaddressthesustainabilitychallenge.Intheplanningprocessyouwillidentifytheprojectpurpose,howtheprojectworkissupportedbythecoursesyou’vetaken,andhowitfurthersyourprofessionalgoals.Outcomes,stakeholders,engagementandimplementationmethods,clientdeliverables,andprojecttimelinesaredefinedindetail.Ofallofthesethings,themostimportanttotheclientorpartner,isthecontentandtimingofdeliverablesandotherprojectoutputs.Settingreasonableandachievableexpectationsonbothsideswillsettheprojectoffontherightpath.

Forgroupprojects,eachstudentparticipantshouldbreakdowntheirowninterestsanddutiesintheproject,howthesetietoprofessionalgoalsandpreviouscoursework,andtheprojectissuestheirworkwilladdress.Furthermore,agroupaccountabilitycontractshouldbenegotiatedpriortotheproposalandattachedtotheProjectProposalsubmittal.Inthecontractstudentsshouldincludeateammemberbillofrights,acodeofcooperation,team-member’sskillself-assessments,aleadershipdistributionplan,anend-of-projectpeerreviewprocess,andaconflictresolutionplan.

IntheScopeandChartersectioneachstudentmustframetheprojectusingthefivecharacteristicsofasustainabilityproblem.Theoverallproblemmustbeurgent,highlycomplex,lifealtering,havedispersedeffectswithcontestedsolutions.Studentsarenotbeingaskedtosolveglobalproblems,buttocontributetosolvingglobalproblemswithlocalsolutions.However,thelocalpieceoftheproblemanditssolutionmustbeplacedintoperspectivewiththeglobalproblem.

ProjectResourcesAllprojectsrequirefinancialandhumanresourcesandthoseresourcesmust

beallocatedasrequiredbytheproject.Therefore,teammembersandrolesmustbedefined,costsestimated,workstructured,tasksassigned,andtimelinesdefined.Aswithotherprojectelements,resourceallocationisacollaborativeprocessrequiringinputfromallparticipatingteammembers.Sincetimeisavitalresource,detailed

timelines,intheformofmilestonesorcharts,arecriticalcomponentsoftheprojectproposal.

WithinMSUSgroupprojects,theteammustdistributeandassigntheworkloadofeachgroupmember.Theprojectproposalshouldidentifythetasksassignedtoeachgroupmember,andidentifythesameontheGanntchartandworkbreakdownstructure.Workingtogetherontheprojectproposalshouldgiveyouapreviewofhowthegroupwillinteractduringprojectexecution.Makenoteofthingsthatdon’tgosmoothlyintheproposalprocesssoconflictcanberesolvedbeforetheprojectworkbegins.

CommunicationandEngagementPlanInprojectwork,clearcommunicationmakesaprojectrunsmoothly.Lackof

communicationcansabotagemeaningfulprogress.Communicationplansareneededtoensurethatteammembersandstakeholdersareinformedinatimelyandefficientmanner.Yourprojectproposalshouldarticulatetargetaudiences,methods,means,motivations,andtimingforkeycommunications.

Communicationandengagementbetweenstudentpractitionersareespeciallyimportantingroupprojects.Studentprojectproposalsshouldidentifythemeansandmethodsforcollaboration,includingmultiplecontactmethodsforeachgroupmember,accessiblerepositoriesforresourcesanddocumentsinprogress,regularmeetingtimes,andotherplanstomaintaintheflowofworkandinformation.

RiskManagementPlanAkeycomponentinprojectsuccessisanticipatingpotentialrisksand

preparingplanstoavoid,mitigate,oradapttotheconsequencesofthoserisks.Riskscanhaveeitherapositiveornegativeimpactonaproject.Identifyingandplanningforriskstothefurthestextentpossible,atthebeginningofaproject,cansavetimeandresourceslateron.Thissectionshoulddemonstratethatstudentshaveanticipatedrisksanddevelopedcontingencyplans.

Groupworkrequiresmanagingriskswithinyourgroup’shumanresources.Thinkabouthowyouwouldcopewiththelossofagroupmember’sservicesduetoillness,familyemergency,orothercircumstances,anddevelopcontingencyplans.Somecontingencymeasuresmightbeprojectscopereductions,extendedtimelines,distributingunmetworkloads,orfindingtemporaryhelp.Clientsmightwanttoknowaboutyourcontingencyplansaswell,sokeeptheminformed,especiallyifyourlossofcapacitycouldaffecttheirabilitytofunction.

Conflictwithinthegroupisanothersourceofprojectriskandcanfreezeprogressifunresolved.Awrittenagreementbetweengroupmembersaboutconflictresolution,developedbeforeaconflicthappens,isanessentialtool.Theagreementshouldincluderulesofengagement,resolutionprocesses,andalistofarbitersormediatorsthatcanfacilitateresolution.

ProjectCloseoutIfexpectationsfordeliverablesandoutputswereagreedtobytheclientand

projectteam,closingouttheprojectshouldmostlyconsistofhandingdeliverablesovertotheclient,andifnecessarycommunicatinglogicalnextstepsformovingforward.Insomecases,itmaybewisetohandovercontactinformation,documents,andimportantknowledgesources.

AspartofthecloseoutprocessyouwillneedtoprovideinstructionswithSOSstaffaboutaccesstodocumentsandotherrecordsproducedonyourproject.Studentsandsomeprojectpartnersmaynotwantprojectrelatedinformation,proprietarytotheirprojectororganization,disseminatedbeyondthestakeholders.ProjectpartnerswhohaverequestedNon-DisclosureAgreements(NDA)fromanMSUSstudentmustprovidepermissionbeforeaccesstodeliverablescanbegranted.ThestudentmustworkwiththeprojectpartnerattheendoftheprojecttoprovideadocumenttoSOSstaffoutlininginformationdisclosurerestrictions.

Whendisclosurerequirementsarecompleted,studentsmustthenredacttheirprojectsasneededforinclusionintheASUDigitalRepositoryfortheSOSAppliedProjectCollectionordeclaretheirprojectineligibleforinclusion.Ineithercase,studentsarerequiredtoprepareaprojectExecutiveSummary(templateprovidedin593AppliedProjectcourse)andaProjectAbstractforpostingintheSustainabilityConnectdatabasetoprovideinformationaboutwhatwasdonewithoutrevealingsensitivecontent.ProjectExecutiveSummarieswillthenbepostedonthesitewithlinkstotheSOSGraduateCulminatingExperienceRepository.ExecutivesummariesforprojectsexcludedfromtheRepositorycollectionwillstillbevisibletothepublicwithoutalinktotheGraduateCulminatingExperienceRepository.LinksonSustainabilityConnectwilltakeuserstotheRepositorywhereprojectabstractsandfilesareviewable.

ReportingtotheMSUSCommitteeInadditiontoclientdeliverablestherearedeliverablesrequiredbythe

MSUSSupervisoryCommittee.Thecommitteedeliverablesshouldcommunicatewhatwaslearnedfromthestudent’sprojectexperience.Midwaythroughthestudent’sfinalsemesterandCEprojectexecution,anInterimFinalReportmustbepreparedforreviewofprojectprogressbytheCommittee.AftercommitteemembershavereadtheInterimFinalReportthestudentwillprepareashortprojectprogresspresentationfortheirCommitteereviewers.Ashortdiscussionwillfollowthepresentationinwhichthecommitteeandstudentwilldeterminechangesorenhancementstotheprojecttrajectoryandoutputs.

AftercompletionoftheCEproject,studentsarerequiredtoprepareanexecutivesummaryoftheproject,aFinalProjectReport,aReflectionpaper,andalivepresentationinfrontoftheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee,theirSubjectMatterExperts,studentpeers,andothermembersofthecommunity.

InrareinstancesstudentsmaynotbeabletoappearinpersontotheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee.Ifthatisthecase,thenthestudentmustpetitionthecommitteetousearemotepresentationdeliverymethod.Togaincommitteeapprovalforremotepresentations,thestudentmusttakeontheadditionalresponsibilityofcreatingastoryboardand/oroutlineofthepresentationthatmustshowthestructure,mediaandmethodologyfora8to10-minutedigitalpresentation.Examplescouldbeanonlinewebinar,TEDstyletalk,oravideopresentation.Thepresentedinformationshouldbeaccompaniedbyanarrativevoiceover,graphics,exhibits,photographs,and/oron-the-scenevideo.Thepresentationmustclearlycommunicate,theprocessemployedfortheCEwork,theinterventionsthatwereundertaken,whatthestudentlearnedfromtheCEandtheintervention,andtheoutcomesoftheintervention.

MSUSCommitteeApprovalsTheCommitteehasoversightauthorityontheworthinessofCEproject

proposals,aswellasworkproductgeneratedduringprojectexecution,andafterprojectcompletion.Astudent’sworkisreviewedbytheCommitteewhosefeedbackisthensharedwiththeSOS593AppliedProjectInstructorandthenthestudent.ThestudenthastheopportunitytoincorporatetheCommittee’scommentspriortotheassignmentofafinalgradebytheSOS593courseinstructor.

TimingStudentscanexpecttohearfromtheCommitteeafewtimesduringtheSOS

582ProjectManagementcourse(projectplanningphase)andtheSOS593AppliedProjectcourse(projectexecutionphase).

DuringSOS582ProjectManagementcourse,theCommitteewillreviewandcommentonthePreliminaryProposalssubmittedinWeek7andaFinalProposalsubmittedinWeek13.Thelasttwoweeksofthesemester,theCommitteewillbepresentfororalin-classpresentationsforyourproposedprojectandgivetheirfinalfeedbackaswellasapproval.Membersofthecommitteewillalsoattend2or3classsessionstoanswerstudentquestions,guidestudentstosubjectmatterexperts,anddiscussprojectexpectationswithstudent

DuringSOS593AppliedProjectcourse,theCommitteewillreviewandcommentonstudent’sInterimFinalReportstypicallysubmittedinWeek8andpresentedinWeek9.FinalMSUSdeliverables(i.e.includingclientdeliverables)shouldbesenttotheCommitteebythestartofweek13toallowforacommentperiodbytheCommitteeandaweekforsubsequentrevisionsbythestudent.Thelastdaysofthesemester,theCommitteewillbepresentfororalprojectpresentations,givetheirfinalfeedback,andhelpstudentscelebratesuccessfulcompletionoftheirprojectanddegreerequirements.

Review by:

MSUS Project Submittal SOS 582

MSUS Supervisory Committee

Subject Matter Expert

Project Partner

Course Instructors

Graduate Academic Success

Coordinator

Week to be Submitted

in the Semester*

MSUS CE Draft Pre-proposal √ √ 6

Revised MSUS CE Final Pre-Proposal √ √ √ √ 8

MSUS Culminating Experience Class Presentation

MSUS Culminating Experience - Full Proposal

√ √ √ √ 13

MSUS Culminating Experience Presentation to MSUS Supervisory Committee

√ √ √ 15

TABLE1:SOS582ProjectManagementCourseSubmittalSchedule*Timingmayvary-Consultthecoursesyllabusforactualdates.

InterimFeedbackStudentsmayreceiveunscheduledfeedback,assistance,andadvisement

frommembersoftheCommitteedependinguponthemember’savailability.However,itisstronglyrecommendedthatstudentscommunicatetheirneedswiththeMSUSLearningProjectsProgramManagerbeforeapproachingCommitteefaculty,unlessthatfacultymemberhasalreadyestablishedaworkingrelationshipwiththestudent.TheProgramManagercanprovide,orhelpstudentsfind,proceduralandlogisticalsupport,andconnectthemwithfaculty(insideandoutsidetheCommittee)shouldtheyneedsubjectmatterorresearchsupport.

GradingGradingforCEworkproductssubmittedinSOS582ProjectManagement

courseisdonebythefacultyandstaffassignedtoleadthecourse.Thecourseinstructorsassignthefinalgradebasedonstudentperformanceongradedassignmentssubmittedthroughoutthesemester.StudentswillhavetheopportunitytosubmitungradeddraftsofCErelatedassignmentspriortothefinal,gradedsubmission.Gradeswillbeassignedbasedonthequality,completeness,andprofessionalismofthedocumentsaswellastheincorporationoffeedbackfromthedrafts,asappropriate.GradesaregivenontheA-Elettergradesystem.Ifastudent’sgradeislowerthanaB-forthecoursetheywillneedtore-takethecoursebeforemovingontotheirprojectandSOS593.Courseinstructorshavetheoptionofassigninga“I”(courseinprogress)gradeiftheyfeelcorrectionstoyourworkcanbemadeinasimpleandstraightforwardfashion.Studentsarenotallowedtoenroll

inthe593AppliedProjectcourseuntilthe“I”gradeisclearedandaB-orbetterhasbeenrecordedbythe582courseinstructor.

ForstudentsworkingontheirprojectsandenrolledinSOS593AppliedProject,theMSUSSupervisoryCommitteeprovidesreviewcommentstothestudentsbuttheSOS593AppliedProjectcourseinstructorassignsthefinalgradewithCommitteeinput.GradesaregivenontheA-Elettergradesystem.Courseinstructorshavetheoptionofassigninga“Z”(courseinprogress)gradeiftheyfeelcorrectionstoastudent’sworkcanbemadeinasimpleandstraightforwardfashion,andarewillingtoallowthatstudenttimetofinish.PleasebeawarestudentsmayhavetoenrollinSOS595ContinuingRegistrationtocompletetheworkinafollowingsemester.StudentsmustearnatleastaBgradeinthecoursetofulfilldegreerequirements.GradesofB-orlowerwillresultinthestudentneedingtoretaketheclass,peruniversityrules.

SettingTimelines

ProjectTimelinesMappingmilestones,taskdurations,andcriticalpathrelationshipsonto

timelines,helpsstudentsmanagetheprogressoftheproject.Settinggoalsforcompletingtasks,andrecognizingtheorderinwhichtasksmustbecompleted,bringsprofessionalismtotheprojectandbuildscredibilitywithastudent’sprojectpartners.

AcademicTimelinesCEprojecttimelinesareinextricablylinkedtotheASUacademiccalendarin

generalandtothetimingofCommitteefacultyinterfacewithMSUSstudentsenrolledinSOS582andSOS593.Therefore,projecttimelinesmustsynchronizeclientdeliverabledeadlineswiththeASUacademicschedule.Iftimelinecoordinationisoverlooked,thenfacultyreviewofyourprojectworkcouldbedelayed,postponingprojectcompletion,andultimately,completionofyourMSUSdegree.Besuretobuildinacademicandclientreviewtimewhereverneededtoavoidpreventabledelays.

DELIVERINGAQUALITYPROJECTAcademicExpectations

WritingQuality

Asgraduatestudents,itisassumedthatyouhavestrongcommandofvocabulary,syntaxandgrammar.Consequently,inworkdeliveredtoclients,SOS582andSOS593courseinstructors,andtheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee;expectationsforconcise,direct,andlogicaldiscourse,arehigh.Toensurethatyoudeliveronthesehighexpectations,leavetimeformultipleroundsofself-editing,andinvitestudentpeerstoreviewprojectworkbeforesubmission.Or,scheduleaone-on-oneappointmentatASU’sGraduateWritingCenter(goin-persontoNoble

Library,orseekonlinesupport)wherestudentsinlanguageartstutorstudentsneedinghelp.Useallthewritingtoolsavailable,especiallyspellchecksoftware.

PlagiarismisnottoleratedatASUandcarriesseriousacademicconsequences.Beawareofwhatconstitutesplagiarismandavoiditatallcosts.Instructorsusesoftwaretoolstodetectplagiarismonallsubmittedassignments.Thisincludesalldrafts,preliminaryreports,andthelike.Evidenceofplagiarismcan

Source:Mullin,B.,2014-09-16,“Isitoriginal?Aneditor’sguidetoidentifyingplagiarism.”Retrievedfromhttp://www.poynter.org/2014/is-it-original-an-editors-guide-to-identifying-plagiarism/269273/7-21-16

resultinafailinggradefortheassignmentand/orthecourse,academicprobation,andpossibledismissalfromthedegreeprogram.

ScientificEvidenceandMethodologicalLogicCEprojectsmustbesupportedbyscientificevidenceandanappropriate

methodologicalframework.Astudent’sacademicadvisor(s)and/orsubjectmatterexpert(s)aretheultimateauthoritiesonwhatisappropriate,butitisthestudent’sresponsibilitytofindtheevidenceandmethodsthatfitbestwiththeproject.

Whetherastudentplanstouseliteraturereviews,casestudiesorotherevidence,makesurethattheuseofevidenceinclientdeliverables,aswellasreportstotheSupervisoryCommittee,areclearintheirintent.Scientificevidencemustbelogicallyconnectedtothework,andsourcesproperlyattributed.Allresourcesusedinplanningandexecutingtheprojectshouldbeappropriatelycited.Unlessotherwiserequested,allcitationsshouldfollowAPAformat.

OriginalContentEveryprojectshouldadvancethebodyofsustainabilityknowledgeinsome

way.Methods,frameworks,toolsandprogramsareafewcategoriesofknowledgeadvancement.Inanycaseitisnotenoughtodescribeandassessthecurrentstate,providingapathwaytoalterthecurrentstateormakingactualimprovementisrequired.Forappliedprojects,thetranslationanduseofbasicresearchiswhereMSUSstudentsmustcreatenewknowledgecontent.

NegotiatedDeliverablesfortheProjectClient

Workingwithaprojectpartnerorclientmeansthattheprojectscope,goalsobjectives,outcomes,anddeliverablesneedtobeagreeduponbythestakeholders.Therearemanytypesandformatsfordeliverables.Someprojectsmayrequireseveraldifferenttypesorformatsdependingonaudienceneeds.Studentswillneedtobemindfuloftheirownlimitsbeforenegotiatingasetofdeliverables,otherwiseprojectsmayendupunfinished,withanunhappyclient,orboth.Whateverhappens,makesurewhatwasagreedtoisdocumented,andsharedwithstakeholders.Ifanyinformationordeliverableisprivateorproprietarytoanyprojectstakeholders,makesuretheinformationissecuredfrompublicaccesstothesatisfactionofthestakeholders.Foracademicevaluation,alldeliverableswillneedtobereviewedbythemembersoftheMSUScommitteebutnon-disclosureagreementscanberequestedifnecessary.Forpublicpresentationsordocuments,confidentialmaterialmaybeexcludedifthecommitteeisnotifiedbeforehand.

ProjectReports/OutputsAcommondeliverableisawrittenreportthatdescribesthecurrentstate,a

visionforthefuture,andpathwaysandstrategiestoattainthatvision.Asustainabilityplanforanorganizationisagoodexampleofaprojectdeliverable.Sustainabilityplanswillbenchmarkthecurrentstate,createafuturevisionforthe

organization,identifyinterventionpoints,andprovidegoalsandstrategiesthatovercomesustainabilitychallengesandbarriers.

Solutionoutputscanbephysical,likeplantingtreesforshadeandUrbanHeatIsland(UHI)mitigation.Otheroutputscanbesustainabilitypathwaysorplansassolutions,likeaTreeandShadeMasterPlanforacity,oratreeplantingprogramthatprovidesshadeandmitigatesagainstUHIeffects.

Evenwhenyoursolutionsorplansforsustainableoutcomesseemfeasible,challengesandbarrierstoimplementationcanarise.Reports,solutionsets,orpathwaysshouldacknowledgeandanticipatetheirexistenceanddispenseguidancetoovercomechallengesduringinterventionimplementation.

ToolsComplicated,multi-dimensionalsustainabilitychallengesfrequentlyrequire

newwaysofunderstandingandmodeling.Frameworksandassessmenttoolsmayneedtobebuiltbeforesustainabilitydeficienciescanbeidentified,andproductivestrategiestoovercomethemcanbeimplemented.Arecentexampleisasoftwaretool,builtonaquestionnaire,thatassessesneighborhoodsustainability.Atoollikethiscanhelpcityplannersidentifyneighborhoodsinneed,orcommonsustainabilitychallengesacrosscityneighborhoodsthatneedtobeprioritizedforchange.

ManagementStrategiesSometimesprojectpartnersneedhelpinbecomingmoresustainableintheir

day-to-dayoperations.Productionby-productsorexternalitiesfallinthiscategory,sopartnersmightbelookingforstrategiesthatreduceoreliminatetheharmexternalitiesgenerate.Greenhousegasmitigation,energymanagement,andwastediversionplanscodifysustainabilitystrategiesfororganizationsthatwanttoreduceexternalities.

ProgramsQuiteoftenthebiggestbarrierstopositivesustainabilityoutcomesare

basedinhumanbehavior,whichisdifficulttochangeduetostructuralinertia,socialpressures,orthewaythehumanbrainsprocesschange.Inthesesituations,outreachandengagementprogramscanbedesignedtoeffectchange.Aprogramexamplemightbeconsumereducationworkshops,orevents,pairedwithnewinfrastructurethatsupportsthedesiredbehaviorchange.

Inallofthesecasesthestudentmustcollaboratewiththeprojectstakeholderstodeterminenotonlywhatisdesirableasadeliverable,butwhatisdoablewithallottedresourcesandtime.Furthermore,thetimeallottedmustallowforhighqualitymeasurableoutputs,nomatterwhatpathistaken.

RequiredMSUSDocumentation

TherearemultipledeliverablesrequiredforeveryMSUSCEproject.Themajoritemsaretheproductsdeliveredtotheclient/partner,anexecutivesummary,afinalprojectreport,apersonalreflection,andapublicpresentationoftheproject.MSUSCEprojectdeliverabletemplatesforitemsdeliverabletotheMSUSAdvisoryCommitteemayberequestedfromtheLPPMpriortocourseenrollmentoronthecoursesiteafterthestartofthesemester.Deliverablesfortheprojectmustbesubmittedasnotedinthetablebelow.

Review by:

MSUS Project Submittal SOS 593

Subject Matter Expert

Project

Partner

Course Instructor

Graduate Academic Success

Coordinator

Week to be

Submitted in the

Semester*

Project Status Updates √ √ Bi-monthly

Draft Interim Project Report √ √ 8 Final Interim Project Report & Presentation to reviewers √ √ √ 9

Draft Final Project Report with Executive Summary and Reflection

√ √ 12

Deliverables to Project Partners √ √ 12 Final Project Report with Executive Summary and Reflection √ √ √ √ 14

Project Reflection Paper √ v √ √ 15

Executive Summary (for posting) √ √ √ √ 15

Repository Collection Form √ √ √ 15

Public MSUS CE Presentation to MSUS Committee √ √ √ √ √ 15

Final Deliverables for uploading to MSUS Culminating Experience Repository

√ √ 15

TABLE2:SOS593AppliedProjectCourseSubmittalSchedule*Timingmayvary–consultthecoursesyllabusformoreexactdates.

DraftFinalProjectReportsAroundthemid-waypointofaCEprojecttimeline,studentsarerequiredto

provideaDraftFinalProjectReportforreviewbytheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee.Inthedocumentyouwillprovidedraftsectionsincluding:anabstract;introductionandcontext;literaturereview;approachandmethodology;expectedoutcomes;significantchangestotheprojectscopeandtiming;and,requestsforadviceorassistance.Ifrevisionstoprojectscopeandgoals,timelines,oroutputsarenecessaryduetonewunderstandingofthechallengesorothercircumstances,thentheDraftProjectReportshouldidentifychangestoscope,timeline,outcomes,andclientdeliverables.Studentsshouldworkwiththeirfacultyadvisor,and/orthe

MSUSLearningProjectsProgramManager(LPPM),todeterminewhatchangestotheprojectwarrantinclusioninthedraftreport.

ProjectReports/DeliverablesThemostimportantruletorememberaboutdeliverablesis:Ifitwas

identifiedintheapprovedprojectproposal,thenthestudentmustproducethatdeliverable,unlessthereisareasonorcircumstancethatisacceptabletotheirprojectstakeholders,facultyadvisorand/ortheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee.Circumstancesdochangeprojects,butaprojectmanagermustadapttothosequickly.Whenunanticipatedissuesarise,communicatethosetostakeholdersfirsttoco-createresponses,thencommunicatethemtothefacultyadvisorortheLearningProjectsProgramManagertodetermineif,when,andhowtheprojectdeliverablesmustbealtered.Projectsdofail,butthatdoesn’tmeanthatstudentscan’tlearnfromthatexperience.Ifaprojecthasasignificantfailure,documentit,analyzeit,andpresentittotheCommitteeinthefinalprojectreportdeliverable–afterreviewbythefacultyadvisor.

ExecutiveSummary(templateprovidedin593AppliedProjectcourse)TheexecutivesummaryshouldtellthecompellingstoryofyourCEfromthe

problemstatementtotheoutcomes,andbebuiltasabriefrecapoftheproject.ItisprimarilyintendedtotelltheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee,whatyoudid,whyyoudidit,howyoudidit,andtheoutcomesofwhatyoudidinasinglepage.Additionally,thesummaryshouldidentifynextstepsforfellowscholarsorstakeholdersinterestedincontinuingyourwork.Finally,itshouldidentifysignificantchallengesandopportunitiesthataroseduringtheexecutionoftheproject.ThesummaryshouldbesubmittedatthefrontofthefinalprojectreportdocumentandasaseparatedocumentforpostingontheSustainabilityConnectwebsitedatabase.Besuretounderstandwhatyourprojectpartnersandstakeholderswillallowtobedisclosedontheexecutivesummary,andwhatshouldbekeptprivatebeforereleasingitforposting.

FinalProjectReport(templateprovidedin593AppliedProjectcourse)TheintentoftheFinalProjectReportistocommunicateprojectspecific

informationtotheMSUSSupervisoryCommitteeandfellowscholars.Afterabriefabstractandanexecutivesummary,thedocumentshouldintroducetheprojectincludinginformationabouttheprojectcontext,itsscopeandgoals,majorstakeholders,anddesiredoutcomes.Followingthat,ashortliteraturereviewsetsthefoundationformethodsandinterventionpoints.Thefindingssectionthencomparesactualoutcomeswithdesiredoutcomes,andcomparableworkinthefield.Afterthefindings,adiscussionsectionaboutprocessandmethods,andsuccessesandfailures,needstobewritten.Thentheconclusionsectionsummarizingthefindings,includinglogicalnextstepsandresearchgaps,canterminatethedocument.Remembertoincluderelevantcitationsandreferencestosupportyourwork.FormorecompleteinformationseetheFinalProjectReport

outlinetemplateonmy.asu.eduinthefolder(Blackboard/Organizations/SOSGraduateStudentCommunity/Policies,ProceduresandForms/MSUSCulminatingExperienceMaterials/MSUSCulminatingExperienceProjectDeliverableTemplates).

YourFinalReportmaybemadeaccessibletothepublicthroughSustainabilityConnect,theSOSGraduateCulminatingExperienceProjectsrepository,orothermeans,aftertherepositoryreleaseformiscompletedbytheprojectpartnerandreturnedtoSOSstaff.

ReflectionPaper(templateprovidedin593AppliedProjectcourse)The1-3pagereflectionisintendedtodelveintoastudent’slearning

experiencesduringtheexecutionoftheproject.Thestudentshouldintroducetheirsustainabilityperspectivepriortoprojectstart,andthereasonsforchoosingtheproject.Discussthehowtheprojectchangedyoursustainabilityperspectiveafteryoucompletedtheproject.Studentsshouldtalkabouttheimpactandusefulness(positiveornegative)oftheworkontheircareerandprofessionalgoals.Don’tforgettoenlightenuswithprojectmanagementlessonslearned,implementationofprojectmanagementtools,andwhatcouldhavebeendonedifferently.Alertustothebiggestbarriersandaidstothecompletionofthework.Bragaboutwhatyourprojectaccomplishedforyourclient.Finally,speaktotheapplicabilityoftheMSUScourseworktotheproject.Telluswhatwasmosthelpfulandwhatpiecesweremissing.Thisisanopportunitytoidentifywhatwasvaluablefromtheexperience,shareitwiththosewhofollowinyourfootsteps,andpassonconstructivecriticismtoSOSfaculty,staff,andadministration.

ProjectPresentationThepurposeofthisdeliverableistoprovideasuccincthighlightreelofyour

projectandlearningexperiencestostudentpeersandtheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee.Itisalsoanopportunitytopracticestorytellingskills.Thinkofitlikea10-minutedocumentaryfilmoftheworkthatdescribesboththeeventsandexperiencesoftheparticipants.Thepointistocelebrategrowthandachievementbeforemovingintoacareerinsustainability.

AsnotedearlierinthisdocumentstudentsunabletoappearinpersontotheMSUSSupervisoryCommitteemaypetitionthecommitteetouseanalternative(remote)presentationdeliverymethod.

SustainabilityConnect&CERepositoryUploadAfterallofprojectdeliverablesarecompletedandapproved,studentsare

askedtoprovideanexecutivesummaryforuploadtotheSustainabilityConnectprojectdatabase,bythedatabasecoordinator.Deliverables,likethefinalprojectreport,clientdeliverables,publishedmanuscripts,orothermediarelatedtotheproject,maybearchivedintheASULibrary’s,GraduateCulminatingExperienceCollectionRepositoryandlinkedfromtheSustainabilityConnectdatabase.The

repositoryreleaseformmustbefilledoutbytheprojectstakeholdersandsubmittedwithallprojectdocumentstotheSOS593courseinstructor.Thetworeasonsformakingyourdocumentsavailablearetocreateasustainabilitysolutionsdatabaseandasourceofprojectideasforfuturestudentsandprojectpartners.Additionally,studentscanpointprospectivecollaboratorsoremployerstoatrustedsource,verifyingastudent’scredibility.

MSUSSupervisoryCommitteeReview

TheMSUSSupervisoryCommitteeistheteamofSOSfacultywhooverseeandmonitorstudentCEprogress.Thisteamisdesignedtoprovideconstructivecriticismasyouidentify,define,andexecuteyourCEproject.

ReviewTimingMostoftheMSUSSupervisoryCommitteereviewispre-arrangedin

accordancewiththeSOS582ProjectManagementandSOS593AppliedProjectcoursesyllabi.(seethechecksheetsinFigures1,2&3)

SchedulingwiththeReviewTeamStudentsorprojectgroupsshouldschedulemeetingswiththeLearning

ProjectsProgramManager(LPPM)asprojectneedsdictate.ContactwiththeMSUSSupervisoryCommitteemaybeforwardedthroughtheLearningProjectsProgramManagerortheAcademicSuccessCoordinator,butstudentsarestronglyencouragedtobuildrelationshipsdirectlywiththemaseitheradvisorsorsubjectmatterexperts.

AnticipatingReviewtimeAnticipatorythinkingstartswiththeCEprojectandreviewprocess,

especiallywhenitcomestoprojectreviewsbytheCommittee.StudentsneedtogetdocumentstotheCommitteeand/orsubjectmatterexpertswithsufficientleadtimetoallowthemtocomment,andthenforthestudenttorespondtothereview.ThetimingofsubmittalsandreviewsarebuiltintotheSOS593AppliedProjectcoursesyllabus.ConsulttheLearningProjectsProgramManager,ortheAcademicSuccessCoordinatorifyouhavequestionsabouttheprojecttimeline.

InterimReviewsKeepingyouradvisingteamawareofprojectprogressisagoodwaytostay

ontrackwithaCEproject.Theirfeedbackcanpreemptunnecessaryeffortandhelpyoutroubleshootbarrierstoprogress.Discussandsetameetingschedulewiththeadvisingteampriortostartingprojectwork.

TheSOS593Appliedprojectcoursemeetingsaredesignedtohelpstudent“projectmanagers”stayontrack.Weeklyroundtablemeetingsallowforstatusupdates,troubleshootingsessions,andrequestsforassistance.

WORKINGWITHFACULTY,MENTORS,STAFF,ADVISORS,ANDSUBJECTMATTEREXPERTSMentors

AtthebeginningoftheirtimeatSOS,everystudentisassignedafacultymentorfromthelistoffacultyattheSchoolofSustainability.TheMentor’sroleistoserveasa“safetynet”whohelpskeepstudentsontrackfortheirdegree.TheGraduateAcademicSuccessCoordinatordoes98%ofthestudentadvisingwork,butMentorsmayprovidecourseinput,sign-offonsomedepartmentrequiredpaperwork,andapprovecoursepetitions.ThementordoesnothavetobeamemberoftheMSUSSupervisoryCommitteeorastudent’sadvisor.StudentsshouldmeetwiththeirFacultyMentoratleastonceasemestertoprovideadegreeprogressupdate.

AMentormayalsoserveastheSubjectMatterExpert(oranadvisor)ifthestudentchoosesthatpersontoparticipateintheirCEproject.

MSUSSupervisoryCommittee

TheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee’sroleisadvisoryandisdesignedtomakesurethesustainabilitytopicandprojectchosenbyastudentmeetstheacademicrequirementsoftheMSUSprogram,andthatthestudent(s)appliestheappropriatescientificmeansandmethodsofinvestigation.UnlikeMAorMSstudents,MSUSstudentsarenotrequiredtohavespecificadvisorycommitteememberstocreateandexecutetheirproject.TheMSUScommitteeismoreofanoversightbodythanareMS/MAadvisoryteams.Studentsmayselectan“advisor”iftheydesire,andthefacultymemberisagreeable,butadedicatedadvisorisnotrequiredfortheprojecttodevelop.

CommitteemembershipconsistsofrotatingSOSfacultymembers,theLearningProjectsProgramManager,theSOS582leadinstructor,andtheGraduateAcademicSuccessCoordinator.Theoverarchinggoalofthecommitteeistoensurethatstudentprojectsareasuccessandmeetstudent’spersonalgoalsandobjectives,aswellasthoseofSOS.

AdvisorsandSubjectMatterExperts

SubjectMatterExperts(oradvisors)assiststudentswithcontentinproposalsandCEdeliverables.TheSubjectMatterExpert’sroleistolendprojectspecificexpertisetoastudent’sCEproject.Theyprovidestudentswithadviceabouthowtoinitiate,plan,execute,andcloseouttheirCEproject.DependingonCEprojectcomplexity,studentsmayhavemultipleSubjectMatterExperts,butSubjectMatterExpertsarenotrequired.

SubjectMatterExpertsdonothavetobefacultymembers.Forexample,astudentwhodevelopsaprojectfromaninternshipexperiencemaybeworking

closelywiththesupervisoratthejobsite.ThatpersoncanserveastheSubjectMatterExpert,providingguidanceontheprojectandreviewingcontentintheproposalsandCEdeliverables.

Inadditiontoservingasaprojectresource,aSubjectMatterExpertmaybeanAdvisorandassuchmayhavemoredirectcontactwiththestudentthroughoutthelifeoftheproject.IfaSubjectMatterExpertisalsoafacultymember,astudentmaylistthemasamentorfortheiriPOSbyworkingwiththeSOSAcademicSuccessCoordinatortocompleteuniversitypaperwork.TheGraduateCollegemustapprovechangestofacultyservingasagraduatestudent’siPOSmentor.

SubjectMatterExpertswhodonotholdafacultyposition(suchasaninternshipprovider)cannotbelistedontheiPOSasamentor,peruniversityrules.AnySubjectMatterExpert(facultymemberornot,listedontheiPOSornot)shouldbeconsideredastakeholder,andassuchbeincludedintheappropriateprojectproposalandplanningdocuments(resources,timelines,communication,etc.).

YoumayalsochooseadditionalSubjectMatterExpertsforsubjectareascriticaltoexecutingyourproject,buthavingateamofSubjectMatterExpertsisnotarequirement.Outsideadvisorscanprovideadviceontopics,beyondaSubjectMatterExpert’sareaofexpertise,thatmayneedtobeincorporatedinyourproject.Youmayuseasmanyasyouneedtogetthejobdone,butthereisnoneedtoassembleanddeclareanofficialcommitteeasMSorMAtheses,orPhDdissertationsrequire.Again,SubjectMatterExpertsarenotrequiredtobefaculty.

StaffMembers

TheLearningProjectsProgramManager(LPPM),alongwiththeAcademicSuccessCoordinatormanagetheday-to-dayadministrativeandlogisticalaspectsofyourCEproject,suchasassessingyourreadinesstosubmitproposalsordeliverables,schedulingyourprogressupdatestotheCommittee,andforwardingprojectsubmittalsforCommitteereview.TheSOS582andSOS593instructorsdeterminethefinalgradeforCEproposals,deliverables,andreports.

WithinputfromtheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee,MSUSstudentCEgradeswillberecordedbycourseinstructorsattheendofthesemester.ThefinalCEgrademustbe“B”orhighertograduate,peruniversityrules.Agradeof“B-“orlowerisnotpassing.

MSUS STUDENT AND PROJECT SUPPORT ROLES Role Eligible Members Function

Mentors

MSUS Committee members, SOS Faculty,

Graduate College approved faculty

• Listed on a student’s IPOS; • “Safety net” to keep students on track for their degree • Provide course selection input • Sign-off on some department required paperwork • Approve course petitions. • Meet with your Faculty Mentor at least once a semester to provide a degree progress update.

Dean appointed SOS Faculty

• Provide academic oversight to the CE process; Advisory body that replaces the traditional thesis committee model with multiple advisors with whom students may consult

• Advisory body that replaces the traditional thesis committee model with multiple advisors with whom students may consult

• Review and provide feedback on student CE Pre-Proposals, Final Proposals, Interim CE Reports, and Final CE Reports

Advisors Faculty chosen by MSUS student to collaborate on CE

• Provide direct academic and application advice on a student's CE

• Suggest subject matter resources • Coach students on deliverables and reports • Publication support

Subject Matter Experts

Faculty, Researchers, MSUS Committee Members, Organization Leaders, Stakeholders or others with expertise germane to the CE

• A Faculty Mentor may also serve as the Subject Matter Expert (or an advisor) if the student chooses that person to participate in their CE project

MSUS STUDENT AND PROJECT SUPPORT ROLES Role Eligible Members Function

Graduate Student Success

Coordinator

Staff Member

The Graduate Academic Success Coordinator does 98% of the student advising work including: • Incoming student orientation • IPOS facilitation • Resource advising • Course petition and override processing • Graduation preparation

Learning Projects Program Manager

Staff Member

• Resource and guide for students to find and develop CE projects

• Course instructor for SOS 582 and SOS 593

SelectingaSubjectMatterExpert

ViewSubjectMatterExperts(SME)asacademiccollaborators,withmoreexperience,fromwhomyoucanlearn.Makesuretheyhavesubjectmatterexpertisesotheycanproviderelevantguidanceandhelptheprojectremainfocused.Askquestionsabouttheirexperienceinworksimilartotheprojecttopic,theirinterestintheproject,andtheirinterestinprovidingprojectassistance.Discussthepotentialexpert’savailabilityandworkloadforthesemesterinwhichtheprojectwillbeexecuted.Heavilyloadedfacultyandfacultyonsabbaticalmighthavelimitedaccessformeetingsandadvice.TalkwithotherstudentsabouttheirexperiencewithSubjectMatterExpertsanduseyourstudentnetworkstoidentifypotentialexperts.

StudentsmustnegotiateanagreementwithSMEsdetailinghowtheywillworktogetherontheprojectincludingmeetingtimes,projectreviewschedules,andresourcesupport.AnagreementtemplateisavailablefromtheLPPM.

Keepinmind,likeyou,facultySME’smaywantrecognitionfortheworktheydotofurthercareergoals.Tomostfacultythismeansadheringtothe“publishorperish”adage.Aco-authored,peer-reviewed,journalarticleaboutyourprojectisastrongincentiveforgarneringfacultysupport.Proposingajournalarticle,orsimilarpublication,asadeliverablemaystrengthenprojectoutcomesandsustainabilityimpactsthroughtheSME’sdeepercommitmenttotheproject.

WhattoExpectfromaSubjectMatterExpert(SME)

ExpectyourprimarySubjectMatterExperttoactasacollaborativeguideonyourproject.StudentssetthedirectionbutSubjectMatterExperthelpframethe

project,sharpenitsscope,andidentifyappropriatemeansandmethodsforprojectexecution.TheMSUSSupervisoryCommitteewillweighinonprojectcompleteness,andscholasticrigorbasedontheirreviewofCEworkproductsanddeliverables.

WhatSME’s,theMSUSCommittee,andtheLPPMExpectfromStudents

Graduatestudentsareexpectedtobeself-directed,self-motivated,andself-policing.Studentsareexpectedtomanagetheirprojectsandtimeprofessionally,andaccepttheconsequenceswhentheydon’tmeetacademicexpectations,ordeliverytimelines.Ifcommitmentsaremadefordeliverablesandtimelinesintheprojectmanagementplan,students’mustpresenttheworkaspromisedandinatimelyfashion.Whenthereareextenuatingcircumstancesbeyondastudent’scontrol,student’smustworkwithallpartiesinvolved,assoonascircumstanceschange,sotheycanassistintroubleshootingordamagecontrol.Membersofthisteamareverybusypeople,andmayhavemultipleadviseesorprojects.So,don’tprocrastinatewhenaproblempresentsitself;theymaynotbeabletohelpatthelastminute.

WORKINGWITHTHEMSUSLEARNINGPROJECTSPROGRAMMANAGER582ProjectManagementClass

TheMSUSLearningProjectsProgramManager(LPPM)workslikeanexecutiveinaconsultingfirmoverseeingprojectmanagers(MSUSstudents)withinthefirm.Thatoversightincludesunderstandingprojectmanager’scapabilitiesandweaknesses,andhelpingthemtocapitalizeonstrengthsandfillgapsincapacity.Withinthecoursestructure,theLPPMwillmentorstudentsastheyacquireprojectmanagementskillsandpreparetousethemontheproject.

OneoftheLPPM’sdutiesistoworkwithcommunitypartnerstodevelopprojectopportunitiesforMSUSstudents.ExpecttheLPPMtopresentprojectofferingsthataresuitableCEappliedprojectsforparticularstudents,basedonwhattheLPPMknowsofastudent’sinterests.Asthesemesterprogresses,theLPPMwillcollaboratewithastudenttofindaprojectopportunity,developasuitableprojectscope,timeline,anddeliverablesforaprojectthatkicksoffthestudent’ssustainabilitycareer.

Withinthecoursestructure,theLPPMmentorsstudentsastheypreparetheirCEPreliminaryProjectProposal,FinalProjectProposal,andOralPresentationforreviewbytheMSUSSupervisoryCommittee.OtheradvicefromtheLPPMmayincludehowtoanticipateandovercomebarriers,managetasks,developcriticalpathlinkages,acquireresources,andusecommunicationtoolsstrategically.TheLPPMistaskedwithhelpingstudentssucceed.Studentsshouldusethatrelationshiptohelpmaptheroadtosuccess.

593AppliedProjectClass

Oncestudentsdefinethe“roadtosuccess”inSOS582,theymusttraveltheroadintheSOS593AppliedProjectcourse.LedbytheLPPM,theAppliedProjectcoursemeetsweeklythroughthesemestertomonitorprojectprogress,andtohelpstudentsexecuteanexcellentprojectwithaminimumofdisruption.Meetingssimulateaconsultingfirmenvironment,withtheLPPMservingasProjectDirectorandthe(student)projectmanagersreportingprojectprogress.Inthemeetings,student’sinterimdeliverables,clientdeliverables,andMSUSSupervisoryCommitteedeliverableswillbetracked,discussed,andcritiqued.TheLPPMwillprovidetimelyreviewsofdeliverablestoensurestudentsaremeetingcommitmentsandprojectqualitystandards.

ADDITIONALRESOURCESSustainabilityConnect

AnASUSOSwebsitedesignedtoconnectstudents,facultyandcommunitypartnersonsustainabilityprojects.

SustainabilityResearch

TheJulieAnnWrigleyGlobalInstituteofSustainabilityhasmultipleresearchinitiativesandaffiliatedresearchprograms.

FoodSystemsTransformationInitiative

ComplexAdaptiveSystemsInitiative

StardustCenterforAffordableHomesandtheFamily

ConsortiumforSciencePolicy&Outcomes

CenterforUrbanInnovation

UrbanizationandGlobalEnvironmentalChange

DecisionCenterforDesertCities

CentralArizona-PhoenixLong-TermEcologicalResearch

GlobalConsortiumforSustainabilityOutcomes

GlobalDrylandsCenter

GlobalDevelopmentResearch

ResourceInnovationandSolutionsNetwork

URExSustaainabilityReseachNetwork

SOSAcademicLabs

TheHappinessLab

SustainabilityTransitionandInterventionLab.

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