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: [email protected]
Current Student Inquiries: [email protected]
Internships: [email protected]
Career Services: [email protected]
Graduation: [email protected]
Alumni Association: [email protected]
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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
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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
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SustainabilityConnect....................................................................................................41SustainabilityResearch..................................................................................................41SOSAcademicLabs...........................................................................................................42
CONTRIBUTORSSchoolofSustainabilityFacultyandStaff:
GeorgeBasile,HannaBreetz,ScottCloutier,TylerDesRoches,CarolineHarrison,CandiceCarrKellman,KaterinaKinast,KelliLarson,LisaMurphy,DavidManuel-Navarrete,TheodorePavlic,PaulProsser,CarolineSavalle,MichaelSchoon
SchoolofSustainabilityGraduateStudents:
RobertBarton,KyrieHooton,AlexandraSlaymaker
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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”
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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Thefour-semestertrackalsoallowsforStudyAbroadwindowsinsummersfollowingeitherthe2ndor4thsemesterofstudy.StudyAbroadishighlyrecommendedforourstudentsasanopportunitytoexploresustainabilitychallengesacrosstheglobe.AnotheradvantageoftheprogramisthatitcanlessentheacademicloadinoneofthefoursemesterswhenitisusedinlieuofaFocusAreaElective.
Figure1showsanexampleofhowtoorganizeyourcourseworktofitwithinthefour-semester
timeframeandoptionsforincludingaStudyAbroadexperience.(Ifyouarea4+1
Figure1.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
√ 8
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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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RequiredMSUSDocumentation
TherearemultipledeliverablesrequiredforeveryMSUSCEproject.Themajoritemsaretheproductsdeliveredtotheclient/partner,anexecutivesummary,afinalprojectreport,apersonalreflection,andapublicpresentationoftheproject.MSUSCEprojectdeliverabletemplatesforitemsdeliverabletotheMSUSAdvisoryCommitteemayberequestedfromtheLPPMpriortocourseenrollmentoronthecoursesiteafterthestartofthesemester.Deliverablesfortheprojectmustbesubmittedasnotedinthetablebelow.
Review by:
MSUS Project Submittal SOS 593
MSUS Supervisory Committee
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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
MSUS Supervisory Committee
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
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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
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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.
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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
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SOSAcademicLabs
TheHappinessLab
SustainabilityTransitionandInterventionLab.