Four-year Project Design Spine (FPDS) would be the first design spine ever implemented at a major large university-The design spine would include at least one signature team-based design project each of the four years, including industry sponsored third-year (one semester) and fourth-year (full-year) best practice senior design (capstone) projects. Design thinking and entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial mindset would be integrated throughout the undergraduate experience. During AY 2026-27, the best practice SCP sponsored senior design (capstone) projects would be implemented featuring real problems that would be solved by small customer-focused student teams of 4-5 students for about 15, sponsor/customer SCPs (estimated $30k fee), to be determined in collaboration with SCPs during the AY 2025-2026 Development Phase of this initiative, would be assessed per capstone project. The project sponsor would receive full IP rights to the results produced by their student team. Best practice SCP sponsored one-semester third-year design projects would be introduced in spring semester 2026 during the Development Phase of this initiative. SCP sponsored second-year design projects would be introduced spring semester 2027 and at three partner community colleges. Various presentations and reports would be embedded with each project to help assure that each student acquires the oral and written communication, and teaming skills required in the professional workplace upon graduation.
Four-year Project Design Spine (FPDS)
