Collectively, the faculty assign a grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory based upon both the written document and the oral defense. In the capstone seminar, as in the thesis or research project, students are required to prepare a paper and present it in a public forum. However, in the capstone seminar students work in a team, the paper is shorter, students will both receive and provide feedback to other students, and the time frame is fixed within one semester. Succesful teams work with their mentors asking for and responding to feedback several times through the semester and not just the few mandated milestones in the capstone. Successful teams say a lot about a narrow topic rather then saying nothing about a broad topic.
Successful teams find specific data to support their paper rather than repeat broad generalities.
Choosing a team is up to the students. Teams will consist of three capstone seminar students. It may be a mix of full and part time students. To facilitate team forming, students can advertise their interests. Teams should be formed, at the latest, by the start of the semester.