Student Tech Lab: Leadership and Design

INFORMATION FOR PARTNERS

Thank you for being one of our partners. The projects you submit for the Student Tech Lab class help us prepare students early in their studies and give them the experience they need to begin internships and jobs with confidence. The Student Tech Lab class, part of the Learn and Earn initiative, is designed to provide students with hands-on experience working alongside our partner companies. In this class, students select a project from a menu of options, apply agile methodology, and develop key career readiness competencies in communication, critical thinking, leadership, professionalism, and teamwork.

The course spans 15 weeks. Students learn key Agile terminology during the first three weeks, explore teamwork dynamics, form teams, and receive project assignments. In the fourth week, students are introduced to their project partners, with meetings taking place every other week, ideally in person.

BENEFITS FOR OUR PARTNERS

There are several benefits you can gain from engaging with our students:

1. Fresh perspectives on real tech challenges: Gain innovative solutions and creative input from emerging technology professionals trained in agile methodologies and team-based problem-solving.

2. Early access to emerging talent: Interact with high-potential students throughout the semester and identify future interns or employees who already understand your organizational needs.

3. Low-risk, high-value engagement: Support a pre-scoped project with clearly defined outcomes, requiring minimal time commitment from your team while still delivering valuable results.

4. Amplify your brand among future tech talent: Boost your visibility and reputation as a tech-forward, community-engaged company among students preparing to enter the workforce.

5. Support workforce development: Invest in the next generation of IT leaders by contributing to hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that build critical soft and technical skills.

6. No need to design a project – just choose one: Select from a curated menu of student-ready projects — all pre-vetted and aligned with learning outcomes — saving your team time and effort.

7. Diverse and multidisciplinary student teams: Benefit from diverse student perspectives with skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and the responsible use of technology.

8. Final presentations with tangible outcomes: Receive a professional presentation of the project solution, along with deliverables you can take back to your organization for potential implementation or inspiration.

This initiative creates mutually beneficial collaboration, fostering innovation and strengthening the relationship between academia and our local partners.

PROJECT MENU

From past experience, we found that partners often struggled to identify projects that matched the skills of students who are still early in their studies. To address this, we created a menu of projects aligned with the abilities students typically gain after their first year.

We want these projects to provide real value to your organization. Our goal at UNO is to make a difference in our communities, so we hope the projects go beyond busy work and contribute meaningfully, even in small ways, to your operations. Please let us know if you are interested in being one of our partners.

EXPECTATIONS FOR COMPANIES

• Provide a problem that can be completed by a team of (typically) 5 or 6 students with approximately 100-120 hours of development time.
• Engage with the students in every process stage, from design to implementation.
• Meet the students every other week during class time
• Mentor the students.
• Students are encouraged to learn new languages/technologies as part of this course, so your assistance can be invaluable.
• Provide tools if the project requires technologies not readily available on campus.
• Help us evaluate the students.
• Attend the final presentation.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

If you have a project that you think is suitable, please fill out this form which will ask you the following questions:

• Name of your organization/company
• Name of the person (s) who will be engaging with the students
• Short company background
• Which project from the menu would you like the team to work on?

Use this form to submit your project.

WHO ARE THE STUDENTS WORKING ON MY PROJECT?

The students assigned to your project will be selected based on the skills required to complete the work. Once we receive your project proposal, we identify students with the appropriate skills and, if there are multiple projects requiring similar expertise, we take their preferences into account.

In most cases, students will not form their own groups. We want them to experience working in teams they did not choose, as this reflects real-world professional environments.

At the start of the class, students complete a survey that helps us assess both their technical skills and personal attributes. Using this information, we form teams of five or six students. Larger groups allow them to develop teamwork skills and ensure continuity if individual members are unavailable due to other commitments. With the support of their team, the project can continue moving forward.

FACTORS THAT LEAD TO SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS

Several factors contribute to the successful completion of the projects. One of IS&T's most important objectives is to ensure that our student are exceptionally prepared after the completion of their studies. To accomplish that, we are giving them these project experiences early in the program.

Be present. Your interactions with students are key to developing the professionalism and accountability we expect from them. Being accessible is essential not only to ensure the success of the project but also to help students build the confidence and skills valued by local employers. The class has scheduled six partner meetings every other week. Ideally, these meetings will take place in person, but we understand that logistical reasons may require Zoom.

Be flexible. We recognize that it is not always easy to design a project that perfectly matches the technological capabilities of the student team. Projects may need to be adjusted based on the skills and progress students demonstrate.

Be willing to mentor. Since this course occurs early in the students’ degree program, they may not have completed many advanced technical courses and may lack some of the skills your project requires. Your guidance, whether through demonstrating an approach, pointing them to resources, or helping them learn independently, will be invaluable in moving the project forward and supporting their growth.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND NON-DISCLOSURE

Since the students are working on company projects, we request that both the companies and the students complete this MOU.

GUIDING AND MENTORING

This short video highlights the importance of mentoring and explains the benefits it offers to both the mentor and the mentee.

Thank you for your partnership!