Corporate Opportunities
There are a wide range of opportunities for corporations to become more involved with Michigan Tech. We have many programs in place with ample opportunity for you to get involved.
Curriculum Development
Senior Design Program Sponsorship
Michigan Tech's Senior Design Program involves the completion of a capstone design project by teams of graduating seniors within the College of Engineering. Teams of approximately five engineering seniors, often from multiple disciplines, are presented an industry-sponsored problem requiring a design solution. Over the course of the senior year (two semesters), teams interact with their project sponsor to apply what they have learned in previous courses and follow the design process from conception to implementation. The senior design course addresses relevant topics including:
- the design process
- project management & budgeting
- teaming & communications
- decision making
- ethics
MTU provides each team with a faculty advisor and access to dedicated facilities and resources such as:
- project work space
- modeling
- simulation & analysis software
- fabrication & prototype development
- materials testing & characterization equipment
- professional staff / technician support
Funds from the project sponsor are used to support this infrastructure, as well as provide each team with a direct project budget to complete the project.
Enterprise Program Sponsorship
Michigan Tech's Enterprise Program represents a unique and innovative approach to education, whereby teams of students work together in a multi-disciplinary environment to effectively run their own business. Currently, over 600 students participate in 24 Enterprise teams on MTU's campus, with participation from the School of Business and Economics, College of Engineering, School of Technology, and College of Sciences and Arts. Like a real business, each Enterprise has a specific technical / business thrust, and in many cases students have initiated the creation of the Enterprise from the ground-up. Rather than being assigned to a particular Enterprise, students in the program seek out an Enterprise that fits their interests. Once in the team, students are encouraged to try different roles within the organization and gain valuable experience beyond their current major. In this sense, the Enterprise Program gives MTU students much more control over their educational experience, and students coming out of the program are being recognized for their Enterprise experience upon graduation. Student participation in the program involves either a concentration (12 credits) or a minor (20 credits), with the curriculum comprised of a combination of course modules and project work. Project work can be fulfilled by undertaking industry-sponsored projects as well as R&D projects internal to the Enterprise. Sponsorship of an Enterprise team is similar to that of the Senior Design program, yet offers the potential for more flexibility in project start, duration, team size, and composition.
Corporate Benefit
Sponsorship of the Senior Design Program and Enterprise Program has many benefits for corporations including:
- a fresh look at engineering, business & communication problems
- potential solutions through the eyes of an unbiased team
- application of unique university facilities and faculty expertise to industry projects
- exposure to the latest tools, techniques and theory
- exceptional opportunities to recruit talented undergraduate students of all disciplines
- naming ability for enterprise programs
- high profile name recognition across campus (publications, newsletters, poster sessions, reports, websites)
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Thousands of corporations give to Michigan Tech each year. Here are a few who have made recent gifts: