Yes – all these things are posted on the FEAST program landing page on the website HERE as they are put on the schedule, so check back periodically for new additions!

You may apply for as many projects as you would like based on your skill sets and interests, though we encourage you to only apply to teams from which you are happy to accept an offer.  Our matching algorithm will place you on the project team with the highest mutual match – so you don’t want to take a spot into which another student could have matched.

You will only receive one offer to join a project team – the one that results in the highest mutual ranking and match.

FEAST 260, 360, 460, and 560 is a single 4-credit course spread over two semesters. Students accepted to participate on a FEAST team must sign a contract agreeing to join the project team for 2 semesters (Winter 2024/Fall 2024).   Students may also continue on the teams with professor approval after their initial two semester commitment.

Students typically register for 2 credits each semester (4 FEAST credits total), however you may choose more or less with permission from the instructor.

FEAST projects are incredibly varied and diverse, and the program is still fairly new, so there are no specific course substitutions offered yet.  However, FEAST courses have been used to fulfill FlexTech requirements, major/minor requirements, CoE capstone project requirements, research requirements and, of course, typical elective requirements.  The specific opportunities for you to use your FEAST course credits may be discussed with your academic advisor, your department, your professor, or with ArtsEngine.  Often the process to have a FEAST credit count is as easy as filling out a form or asking your department to review your work in the program – but whatever the case, we will be able to help you through the process.

Student teams range in size based on the needs of the project. Typically teams range between 5-7 students, though successful teams have been as small as 3 and as large as 17 (the latter broke into sub-teams, so again 5-7 each).

The same credit/effort ratio applies to FEAST teams, as they are also credit-bearing courses.  Every credit hour requires a 3-4 hour total commitment per week, so 6-8 hours/week.  This commitment includes team meetings, research, and group and individual work.

Not in the traditional sense.  You are working on faculty-led research, so good progress toward the goals, good team collaboration, and weekly group reports documenting your progress are the main requirements for this kind of project-based course.  Your homework is your weekly goals on the project and your team might do a project presentation at the FEAST Showcase at the end of the Fall semester.  Put in the effort, be a good teammate, keep track of your progress – and you will receive a good grade!

Yes. Teams that have not completed their work, or are moving onto new explorations will continue to recruit members – and allow members to continue with professor permission. This allows students to deepen their engagement with the project and take on additional responsibilities as leaders, contributors and team mentors.

Since FEAST teams run 2 semesters (Winter-Fall) , students will receive a letter grade of Y (indicating work in progress) at the end of the Winter term. The instructor will issue a standard letter grade for both semester’s work at the end of the Fall term

Perhaps. We can sometimes adjust the credits across the two semesters (1 credit then 3 credits, say, for the full 4), or we can adjust the credits after the initial 2-semester commitment (students may continue with professor approval, and credits can match the students availability). 

Some professors also will take on volunteers for the projects – that is arranged directly with the professor.

Yes, that may be possible for some projects.  Apply now, and indicate you would like to be considered for a Fall/Winter commitment, but only if it is impossible for you to start in the Winter semester when you are more likely to match to a team.

Yes. Some (but not all) teams are willing to take on a student for only one semester, if they have a skill set in which they can be a contributing member in the shorter timeframe.  Indicate your graduation status in your personal statement and we will see if there is an opportunity for a 1-semester commitment on the teams in which you are interested.

The project faculty or a team representative may be available at our Project Fair on Monday, Oct. 9 from 12:00-2:00pm or 6:30-8:30pm in the Duderstadt Atrium and Connector. You will have the opportunity to ask specific questions at this event.  Some teams may hold Open Labs when prospective students can come to a team meeting or work session.  Students may also contact the professor or ArtsEngine directly if you have specific questions.

We know life happens.  We will work with you to ensure the best possible outcome for whatever might arise.  We want you to honor the 2- semester commitment to the team and the program so you and the project get the best outcomes possible –  so just changing your mind or wanting to do something else or poor curricular planning could result in receiving a poor or even failing grade.  But if a real need arises that requires an adjustment, we will work with you and your professor to find a good solution.

Please write and upload a short personal statement, addressing the questions below: 

“Describe your qualifications: What strengths and experiences will you bring to this project team? What knowledge do you already have that will help the team? What are you hoping to learn? What are you most excited about?” Check the ‘More Information’ section of the projects web link for any specific information requested by the faculty lead.

There are a set of 3 questions all projects require, and some only require these more general questions.  Some projects have one or two additional questions that are often a bit more fun or very specific to the work of the team.

The 3 standard questions are:

• What is your name, major, and planned graduation date?
• Why are you interested in joining this project team?
• What specific course experience, strengths and/or skills do you bring to the team?

There are also walk-through tutorials on the SparkHire site, but in general you will click on a question, record an answer (questions have a time limit of 1-3 minutes, but it is generous), review that answer, re-record if you want (as many times as you want), and then submit them when you are happy with them.  They are pretty easy and fun to do – so don’t stress or re-record endlessly! Just give yourself some dedicated time to get them comfortably done.

Applicants will be notified between November 2nd and December 1st.

The deadline for applications is Friday, October 20, 2023.

Yes, there are instructions on what to do at the beginning of the application to allow you to start then return to it later (Hint: Enable Cookies!).

Yes, you will fill out the application information and upload your resume only once.  You will do a personal statement for each of the projects in which you are interested, and a separate SparkHire video for each as well (as some projects have customized questions).

There could be a final short in-person/zoom interview for some projects, though most do not require them.  If needed, we will contact you to schedule those at a mutually convenient time shortly after the October 20 deadline.

Yes.  You may apply after the deadline and be placed on a waitlist.  You will be contacted with offers on a rolling basis starting November 2nd as team slots become available.

In the application you will rank all the teams from whom you would like to receive an offer, in your order of preference (and remember, only choose teams for which you are happy and willing to accept an offer).  The faculty will not know where you ranked their project, only that you applied.

The faculty then rank you against other students that also applied for each of the roles on the team (you can also apply for all the roles, as this maximizes your chances to be selected).  You do not know where they ranked you against other applicants, but if you receive an offer it is because they positively ranked you somewhere!

We then run an algorithm that looks for highest matches between the two sets of rankings – like the process that matches doctors to their residency programs.  The process is set up to ensure “highest possible happiness” for everyone involved!

Yes, and no.  Some teams get a lot of applications, and some teams are only filling a limited number of slots – but in general, if you select at least a few teams on which you are would be willing to participate (and as many roles as you might be able to fill on those teams) it is likely you will be matched to a team of your choosing.  There are, however, students that do not get matched to a team the first time they apply – but we can often find a spot for them.

No!  We advise students to rank as many teams from whom they would be happy to accept an offer – because they will only receive one offer, so we want it to be a good one for them.  What we do suggest is to apply for as many “roles” on the teams for which you would like to be considered (that you have some skill for or interest in).  That will maximize your opportunity to match in at least one of the roles, and once you are on the team, you are on the team!  You will do what you said you were skilled in – and other things as well!

If a student declines an offer, they will not get another for this round of FEAST.  This ensures that you will get the highest match that you make, and you aren’t taking a good match away from someone else.  You also need to do a personal statement for each project and a SparkHire video, so there is a point when your interest in a team will likely lag behind the application requirements.  But if you want to apply for a role or roles on all of the current FEAST projects – and would accept a spot on any of them – by all means do so!  But please, be confident you will be happy to accept that offer when you get it – because someone else also might have been!

No, you will be matched to the highest ranked team on which you are also given a highest ranking – regardless of how many or few teams you have ranked.  The matching starts from the top!

Not entirely – we will give you an opportunity to move onto the top of our waitlist (over those that applied late), and give you an opportunity to reselect/rank teams that still have slots to fill.  We will then contact you on a rolling basis as open positions are identified, and students do get matched off the waitlist.

You have 7 days to accept or decline the offer.

If a student declines an offer, they will not get another for this round of FEAST, and their slot will be offered to a student on the waitlist. Though they can, of course, apply to the program again in the future!