Experiential Programs
Stage Details
Competition Format
The competition is structured into three stages, culminating in the Dean’s Challenge Showcase on April 17, 2025. The Dean’s Challenge Showcase consists of a poster session, the Elite 8 presentations, awards, and networking.
While most of your time will be spent working together as a team, several in-person events will also provide opportunities for learning, networking, and presenting your progress, allowing you to receive feedback that will help enhance your final project. Teams are strongly encouraged to:
- Attend scheduled events (bonus points will be added to the written report score for participation in all events!).
- Complete deliverables on time to stay on track.
On April 3, teams will submit their final project reports, which will be reviewed by a panel of experts. The scores from the written report review will solely determine the Elite 8 finalists—your ability to communicate your project in a clear, concise, and thorough manner will be critical to your success. The judges will use a rubric that will be provided to teams in advance; four graduate teams and four undergraduate teams will be selected. Teams that are not selected for the Elite 8 are expected to participate in the poster session to remain eligible for several additional prizes. All prizes will be announced at the Dean's Challenge Showcase on April 17 and teams must be present to accept their award.
Stage 1: Shaping Your Solution: Inspiration & Ideation
In this stage, students will begin identifying a problem within the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework that they want to work on. Through initial research and brainstorming, they’ll start working on a solution and developing a basic project concept. To support their progress, they can attend a design thinking workshop and a panel discussion with sustainability experts. At the end of this stage, students will submit a 250-word project proposal outlining their approach, goals, and early ideas.
Events
Design Thinking Workshops
Join this engaging, hands-on workshop to explore design thinking practices and create innovative solutions for the problem you have identified. Come with an open mind, not with a solution in mind! With guidance from experienced facilitators, you’ll identify a specific opportunity, define your target user, and engage in ideation sessions designed to spark creativity and empathy. These workshops work best when your whole team attends together! No team? No problem! This workshop is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded participants and form or find a team on the spot.
Deliverable
Project Proposal Descriptions
Teams will provide a concise project description in 250 words or less, clearly addressing the problem statement, the Sustainable Development Goal(s) you are addressing, and a high-level discussion of your solution in its current form. All project proposals will undergo a preliminary review by the competition organizers to ensure they align with the competition’s guidelines and eligibility requirements.
Stage 2: Creating Your Prototype: Research and Refine
During this stage, teams will conduct in-depth research on their problem, target users, and the benefits of their solution, while creating a tangible prototype to showcase their concept. Teams can access campus resources like the Makerspace to bring their ideas to life and present their progress during a faculty feedback session for valuable input. Faculty will evaluate teams using a rubric, with the top team earning bonus points toward their written project report, which determines the Elite 8.
Events
Faculty Feedback Session
Teams are expected to present rough models and prototypes of their solutions to members of the Whitman faculty. You’ll receive constructive feedback and insights to help you refine your prototype and overall project.
Deliverable
Prototype
As part of the Dean's Challenge, students are required to develop a prototype to demonstrate their ideas. What is a Prototype? A prototype is a model or representation of your solution. It helps them visualize their idea in a tangible way, test and refine their solution before final implementation, communicate their idea effectively to others, including customers/users and other stakeholders – in this situation, judges! Attending the faculty session ‘counts’ as submitting your prototype. Students can continue to work on their prototype right up until the Dean’s Challenge Showcase.
Stage 3: Finalizing Your Vision: Refine and Submit
In this stage, students transition to completing the key components of their project: writing their final report, refining their prototype, and creating a poster for the Dean’s Challenge Showcase. This is the time to bring all the pieces together and prepare to showcase your work. To support you during this stage, we’ll offer daily (weekdays only) virtual and in-person office hours.
Events
Virtual Office Hours with Organizers
Open office hours with competition organizers for students to get feedback on their projects.
Mentor Sessions for Finalists
Finalist teams are required to meet with organizers to review their final projects and presentations. All team members must be present.
Deliverable
Project Report
Teams will submit their final project reports via email to Christina Lake, calake@syr.edu. These reports will be reviewed by a panel of experts and the scores from the written report review will solely determine the Elite 8 finalists—your ability to communicate your project in a clear, concise, and thorough manner will be critical to your success. The judges will use a rubric that will be provided on Blackboard; four graduate teams and four undergraduate teams will be selected.
Poster
During the Dean’s Challenge Showcase, each team will be provided with a 3’ x 3’ space, which includes a poster board and a table for displaying prototypes, handouts, or other materials. Your poster is a key element of your presentation, so ensure it clearly and effectively conveys your team’s vision, innovation, and problem-solving approach. Be creative and make your poster stand out and capture the attention of the audience and the judges. The scoring rubric will be available on Blackboard.
Final Event: Dean’s Challenge Showcase
The Dean’s Challenge Showcase Day is the highlight of the competition—your chance to share all your hard work with the Whitman community. The event features both the poster presentations and the Elite 8 presentations, culminating in the announcement of the winners of $25,000 in prizes. All teams are required to participate in the poster presentations and additional winners will be chosen based on this portion of the competition. Dress for the day is business casual.
Events
Dean’s Challenge Showcase
Showcase your work at the Dean’s Showcase, win prizes, and connect with alumni mentors and industry leaders. Finalists will pitch their ideas live to a panel of judges.
Agenda
Setup in Flaum Grand Hall
Teams can begin setting up their posters and prototypes at any time during this timeslot. Please be ready by 1:00 as that is when we will be allowing guests to enter. As a reminder, you have a 3’ x 3’ space for a poster and a 4’ table, but no electricity.
Poster Presentations in Flaum Grand Hall
Guests will come through to learn about your project, ask questions, etc. This is your chance to shine and earn votes for the audience choice award. Be sure to invite friends/family/faculty/staff to come and view your hard work!
Elite 8 Presentations in Flaum Grand Hall
Four undergraduate and four graduate teams will each have 6 minutes to present and 3 minutes for Q&A from our judges. These presentations will determine 1st and 2nd place in each division as well as the Judge’s Distinction.
Networking in Flaum Grand Hall / Judges Deliberate
Enjoy snack and beverages in Flaum Grand Hall while the judges make their final decisions.
Awards Presentation in Flaum Grand Hall
All prizes for the competition will be announced during a brief ceremony. Following the ceremony, teams are asked to take down their poster displays.