NR775 Senior Projects
The course, NR775 Senior Projects, is required of all Natural Resource seniors. It is offered in both the fall and spring semesters. Teams of from 4-6 students form consulting teams to address environmental problems presented to them by client communities.
Follow this link for the request for proposals for upcomming fall and spring semesters.
Course Syllabus
Natural Resources 775 provides senior natural resource majors with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained in an applied consulting experience. It is designed to give the student experience in working as a part of a diverse team of individuals to identify, evaluate and solve a "real world" problem. It will be a demanding, exciting and satisfying experience.
Consulting Groups
Students are assigned to groups of four to six students by the instructor based on their declared majors and minors, a skills profile, and the nature of their project. Each group acts as a consulting firm to provide the information and recommendations needed by the client to resolve their specific problem. The consulting group will identify and collect resources and information pertaining to the solution, prepare a written report for the client (with a copy for Natural Resources), and present an oral report to the client. Selected groups may also be asked to present their oral report to the freshman enrolled in Natural Resources Perspectives, NR 401.
Each team will choose an advisory group to assist with the project. One member of the group will be a contact person designated by the client; others would normally be faculty members of the Department of Natural Resources with areas of expertise that support the resolution of the problem. Advisors should be prepared to attend the planning meetings to ensure a reasonable MOU, review drafts of the MOU and report, provide a technical evaluation of the final report, and attend and evaluate the group presentation.
Group Dynamics
Each group will meet a minimum of once a week. All members are expected to complete their assignments on schedule. While the assigned class time is sometimes available for group meetings, meeting times may be arranged to meet the groups needs. All members of the group must be in attendance at these meetings.
A project manager will be chosen by each group. The manager will coordinate the efforts of the group, ensure that the project is completed on time, and keep the instructor informed of group progress.
Budget
Each consulting group will prepare an appropriate budget that reflects the needs of their project. The budget is part of the MOU and, once signed, is a committment by the client to pay for costs of the project such as mileage reimbursements for site visits, out-of-pocket expenses for supplies, costs for copying, phone calls, mailings, etc. The budget is negotiated with the client in advance, and documented expenses are payable upon completion of the project. Students will be reimbursed for their expenses by the Department of Natural Resources periodically during the project. A treasurer will be chosen by the group. It will be the treasurer's responsibility to ensure that the group remains within budget and to submit all payment requests to the instructor for submission to Natural Resources accounting personnel. Receipts are necessary for all reimbursemens except travel vouchers.
Work Plan/ MOU
By the third week of class, each group will present the instructor with a proposal of work to be accomplished and a basic outline of the final report. The work plan should also include the proposed budget and an estimated schedule of completion for each aspect of the project. A draft of the proposal will be reviewed by members of your advisory team and the instructor prior to submission to the client for approval. Upon approval by the client and the instructor, this proposal will become an Memorandum of Understanding between the consulting group and the client and will be considered binding, although it may be modified as the project develops, subject to approval of the group, the client and the instructor.
Time Commitment
A total effort of at least 90 to 100 hours is expected from each member of the consulting group (including time in and out of class). Time should be budgeted to ensure completion of the project by the end of the semester. Occasionally a project will require a time frame that extends beyond the end of the semester. In these cases, the project need not be completed by the end of the semester, provided that no member of the group intends to graduate, but incomplete projects will be assigned "IA" (continuing) grades. Progress toward completion must have been made before "IA's" will be assigned. Final grades will not be assigned until completion of the written and oral reports.
All deviations from the one semester time frame are subject to approval by the client and the instructor.
Activity Logs
Each student will keep an activity log that documents their effort associated with the project. It should include: a) the date and nature of activities associated with the project, b) pertinent information obtained through the activity, c) time spent on the activity, and d) other observations (including personal opinions and reactions) that might be useful. The activity log documents your involvement in the project and in a private consulting situation would be the basis for payment of hourly consulting fees. Never rely on your memory; always record project related activities in a timely fashion.
The log should be kept in a hard-bound book (a composition book is ideal) and written in ink. Erroneous information should not be erased. Draw a line through these observations so that they remain legible (they may prove useful, or even correct, in retrospect). You should keep type-written or hand-written notes in addition to the log, but only the log is to be submitted to document your activities. The time spent on each activity should be clearly identified.
Activity logs will be submitted for review by the instructor at least three times during the semester. Logs will be dropped off at the instructor's office on the designated day and may be picked up there the next morning. In no case will the logs be kept by the instructor for more that 24 hours.
Evaluation Procedures
Group and individual performance will be evaluated through activity logs, the written report, the oral report, and student evaluations. The grading criteria and weight for each item is outlined below.
Activity Log (15%)
Evaluation will be based on the timely documentation of effort, the appropriateness of observations, and the documented contribution to the project. A maximum of 5 points will be awarded to the individual for each of three grading periods. Although the distribution of effort throuhout the semester will vary with the nature of the project, it is anticipated that a minimum of 20 hours will be documented per submission period to receive maximum credit.
Written Report (50%)
Evaluation will be on the basis of the quality and degree to which the report satisfies the proposal. A maximum of 50 points will be awarded to each member of the team based on the written report.
Oral Report (15%)
Evaluation will be based on the effectiveness of the oral report. A maximum of 15 points will be awarded to each member of the team based on the oral report.
Student Evaluations (20%)
Following the completion of the project, each group member will submit an evaluation of their contribution to the project as well as an evaluation of each group member's contribution. A maximum of 10 points will be awarded based on your self-evaluation, and a maximum of 10 points based on group members' evaluations of your contribution.
Personal Effort
The nature of group projects requires self-motivation. It is easy to let this type of class slide and devote your effort to more traditional classes. NOTE: Failure to contribute appropriately to your project as documented in your activity log and assessed by your project manager may be grounds for being "fired" (i.e. receiving an "F" in the course). The instructor will be in regular contact with the project manager and will be aware of any failure to contribute. Students will be warned once. Subsequent failure to contribute to the team effort will be grounds for failure in the course.
We anticipate personality conflicts within the groups and personal problems unrelated to the group. You are expected to deal with these conflicts as adults. They are not valid reasons for non-participation.
Comment
In NR775 the student/instructor relationship is considerable different than it is in a more traditional courses. The instructor acts as an administrator and evaluator, not a teacher. Your performance is based on your cumulative knowledge and professional application of that knowledge, not memorization of materials delivered in a lecture format. Isn't that what students claim they want -- no exams, no quizzes, no rote memorization. Just imagine! A grade based on your application of knowledge and experience to a "real world" problem. It doesn't get any better than this!
This course may well answer your student prayers, but remember the ancient warning, "Be careful what you pray for. Your prayers may be answered." This course is a new and different experience, and it can be a bit unsettling. Especially since your grade depends in part on your ability to work professionally with the members of a team, on their performance, and on their assessment of your contribution. [Maybe satisfying a single professor wasn't all that bad after all!]
It is normal to be a little apprehensive at the start of such a new experience. But approach the task with enthusiasm, professionalism, and a desire to produce a product that the client finds useful, and you will find that NR775 can be one of the most useful, exciting and satisfying courses offered at UNH.
For information
Paul C. Johnson
Department of Natural Resources
258 Spaulding Life Sciences Building
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-1717
FAX: (603) 862-1713
e-Mail: pcj@christa.unh.edu
Last modified on November 26, 2003.