After they have successfully completed the initial portion of the course, student teams will be formed, and projects will be assigned. Eastern Iowa companies may contact the JPEC to request assistance through the consulting course. The firms are required to identify specific projects for a student team to complete in a 12-week period. Students review the requests for assistance and meet with the entrepreneurs to identify projects that best match their skills and interests. The faculty makes final team and project selections.
Teams usually consist of three or four students with backgrounds that compliment one another.
Upon finalizing the projects, the student teams begin the project. Each team is required to quickly develop and finalize a scope of work. This document serves as a contract between the student team and the company. Throughout the semester, student teams provide weekly written reports to the class and make oral presentations as they reach project milestones. This provides additional learning opportunities for all of the students in the class and allows faculty and students to offer feedback on each project.