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Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Clients
How does my organization apply for a Capstone workshop?
What is the timeline for workshop development?
What is a Client Project Director? How much time does a Director need to devote to the workshop?
What is the selection process for prospective workshops?
If my organization applies, are we guaranteed a workshop?
Is there a fee for the services provided by the Capstone Team?
What can my organization expect from a Capstone team?
What can a team expect from my organization?
What are expectations regarding distribution and confidentiality of the final report?
Whom do I contact if I have any other questions?
How does my organization apply for a Capstone workshop?
In order to be considered for a Capstone workshop, interested organizations should complete the Application Form for Client Organizations.
What is the timeline for workshop development?
For full consideration for the spring 2013 Capstone program, please submit before July 1, 2012.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss project ideas with Suzanne Hollmann, the Capstone Program Director, before submission of a proposal. Applicants will be notified by the end of August about whether their proposal has been selected for further development. Applications received after July 1, 2012 will be considered on a rolling admissions basis. Priority will be given to applicants who have submitted before the July deadline. During the summer, we will match clients with advisors and help clients to further refine their project goals. Once matched, clients and advisors will refine the details of the project.
Students apply in October for admittance to the spring Capstone workshop. Capstone teams are announced in late November. Faculty advisors meet in early December with the Capstone team to brief the team on the project prior to the winter break. The actual workshop is conducted in late January to early May.
What is a Client Project Director? How much time does a Director need to devote to the workshop?
A Client Project Director is a senior-level person who interacts directly with the team on a regular basis (at least twice a month) throughout the course of the project. Interaction can be via conference call and can be through a designated team spokesperson, rather than the entire team. The amount of time that the Client Project Director devotes to the project will depend on the scope of the project as agreed by the client and the team.
What is the selection process for prospective workshops?
Projects are selected by the SIPA Office of Academic Affairs and selected faculty advisors. Criteria for selection include the significance and feasibility of the project, match between the project and the skills and interests of SIPA students, and other factors.
If my organization applies, are we guaranteed a workshop?
We expect to have more workshop proposals than workshop teams and therefore cannot guarantee every applicant a workshop. Applicants who are not selected for a workshop this year may be considered for the following year.
Is there a fee for the services provided by the Capstone team?
While SIPA does not charge a fee for client participation in the Capstone workshop, if there is a cost involved, it is asked that clients share the cost of the project expenses. Common expenses include the cost of transportation, per diem allowance during off-campus visits, printing expenses and other miscellaneous costs. Any travel expenses must be approved prior to the undertaking of the project. Because each project will accrue different costs, at this time SIPA does not have a fixed cost-sharing arrangement, but rather establishes the project budget with individual clients at the beginning of the workshop.
What can my organization expect from a Capstone team?
Client organizations benefit from the expertise of SIPA students who have a wide variety of professional and educational backgrounds and who are in the final semester of a demanding, two-year professional degree program at one of the leading schools of international and public affairs in the world. All student teams are advised by a SIPA faculty member with relevant expertise. The specific scope and deliverables of the project will be determined by the Faculty Advisor and Client Project Director. All teams will produce a report and deliver an oral briefing of the findings and recommendations to the client.
What can a team expect from my organization?
Each organization that agrees to work with a student team is expected to assign one, senior-level person to interact directly with the team on a regular basis throughout the course of the project. This person is expected to provide access to information necessary for the completion of the project and to serve as a resource for the students. The client liaison is also expected to organize an appropriate group of senior decision-makers to receive the team’s final oral presentation.
What are expectations regarding distribution and confidentiality of the final report?
Copies of the reports created by the workshop teams are retained by SIPA to share with the community and, with client permission, to publish on the SIPA website. If a project requires special confidentiality arrangements, please note this in the workshop proposal. Students also retain the right to reference the name of the client and project and accurately describe in general terms their contribution to the project.
Whom do I contact if I have any other questions?
Suzanne Hollmann
Capstone Program Director
Room 1403B IAB
Phone: 212-854-6279
Suzanne.Hollmann@sipa.columbia.edu
Josephine Vu
Capstone Program Coordinator
Room 1418 IAB
Phone: 212-854-1674