DURHAM, N.H. - The Information Systems Management Program at the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business and Economics invites businesses and not-for-profit organizations to work with students on technology-focused projects during the 2013 spring semester.

"Our students have helped New Hampshire businesses address some very challenging situations and have worked with them in developing many technology solutions that are in use today. Everyone gains, both businesses and students. And for our student, nothing beats real-world experience," said Barry Shore, professor of decisions sciences who manages the program.  

Interested businesses may submit a one-page proposal (in Word or PDF format) containing the name of business, address, contact information, and brief (not more than 200 words) description of their problem/needs. All submissions, including questions and clarifications, should be sent electronically to Barry Shore at bshore@unh.edu. Deadline for submission is November 30, 2012.

The corporate project course is the capstone course in the undergraduate Information Systems Management option. It is taken in the spring semester each year by those business administration seniors who specialize in Information Systems Management.

Students work in groups on projects submitted by sponsoring organizations. "Last year more than 40 projects were submitted, and we were able to select 12 projects that met the interests of students as well as the needs of sponsoring organizations," said Shore.

Examples included a web strategy development project for a consumer products start-up, a business-to-business database application for a large telephone company, systems analysis and design for a large financial company, mobile applications for a consumer products manufacturer, and marketing information systems for several small to medium sized firms.

Using a collaborative process, student teams participate in meetings and discussions with stakeholders from the sponsoring organization and clearly define project objectives and deliverables before starting their project work.  Students usually commit at least eight hours each week, which includes periodic on-site team meetings, interviews with end users and off-site research.  Each project will have an instructor and a sponsor organization representative to help students define project scope and deliverables, monitor project progress, and advise on reports and presentations.

"Our students do a great job," Shore said. "Almost without exception, sponsors come up to me after the final student presentation luncheon and tell me how pleased they are with the work that has been done."

The UNH Whittemore School of Business and Economics offers a full complement of high-quality programs in business, economics, accounting, finance, information systems management, entrepreneurship, marketing, and hospitality management. Programs are offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive development levels. The school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting agency for business schools worldwide. In January 2013, the business school will move into its new state-of-the-art facility and become the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students.

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