Summer Planning & Readiness Checklist

✓ Project Description

Project Descriptions for Academic Year 2024-25 are required by April 15, 2024.

Project descriptions are made available to students considering participation in The Data Mine. Submitting your project description early allows students first-to-register (typically upper-classmen) a chance to choose your project.

Have we received your project description? If not, check out the Project Description Guidelines.


✓ Summer Meetings

Summer Meetings are required to begin by May 31, 2024

Set up dedicated time to tackle the Summer Checklist with one of our Corporate Partner Team Members. Schedule a 25-minute biweekly meeting so we can check in throughout the summer and plan the specifics of your project(s). During the meetings, we’ll work through the checklist below.


✓ Project Charter

Project Charters for Academic Year 2024-25 are required by June 30, 2024.

The project charter should serve as the go-to reference for the project; this will help the students understand the company, the purpose of the project, the timeline, and other expectations.

Visit the Project Charter page for an outline, details on the course schedule, grading, and Agile.


Sponsorship Acknowledgments, Addendums, NDAs, and IP Agreements for Academic Year 2024-25 are required by June 30, 2024.

  • Have you finalized the Sponsorship Acknowledgment or Addendum?

  • If students and staff need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, have you shared it with us?

  • If applicable, have you shared the IP document?

Details are on the Legal and Funding page.


✓ Technical and Data Sharing Plan

Data Sharing for Academic Year 2024-25 is required by July 31, 2024.

Setting up systems and testing this environment before your project begins is key to getting your student project team off to a quick start when the semester begins. Visit the Technical Resources page for details on topics such as:

  • data sharing

  • computing environment

  • technical resources


✓ Team Environment & Mentoring

Creating a welcoming and productive online environment takes a little extra preparation and is well worth the effort. A few questions you can reflect on…​

  • Have you identified a committed mentor within your company to serve as the product owner and oversee the project?

  • Have you considered the welcoming team environment you hope to create and team building with the students?

  • Do you feel prepared to work with your (Teaching Assistant) TA?

  • Have you thought about the different roles students may have on the project team?

We have compiled several resources related to these topics. Check out the Mentor Best Practices page for tips.


✓ Fall 2024 Logistics

Navigate to the Fall 2024 Logistics to get some of your logistical questions answered.

Find more about:

  • Team Platforms

  • Email Lists

  • Roster

  • NDA Signing Process

  • Data Sharing

  • Meeting Time Blocking

  • Anvil Access