*Very important note: VM 815 Applied Project is a 6 credit hour final project in the ProMS in Food Safety Program.  Students are allowed to receive an extended “ET” grade for two additional semesters (including summer semester) to complete the applied project. This format will give the student approximately nine months in which to complete the applied project. There is one problem: You must be a registered graduate student in the ProMS in Food Safety Program in the semester in which your grade is changed from “ET” to a letter grade. Please be sure to make your program plans accordingly. It is highly recommended you plan your applied project to be completed in a semester in which you know you will be a registered ProMS graduate student.

Instructors: Julie Funk, DVM, PhD funkj@cvm.msu.edu

 

 

Prerequisite: VM 810

 

Credits: 6

 

To provide an in-depth experience where science will be integrated and applied to the resolution of a relevant food safety concern in collaboration with industry, government, or a non-governmental organization sponsor. Included will be an on-site experience to address a research, theoretical or applied problem. A written report of the problem suitable for publication and /or oral presentation will be required and must be submitted prior to completion of the Master of Science in Food Safety Program.

 

A numerical grade will be offered. The grade will be based on four parts: 

1.      Originality, design and project development                        30%

(A written summation should be provided prior to implementation of the project)

2.      Implementation and conduct of the project                        35%

(a written progress report should be provided midway and at the end of this phase of the project)

3.      Summation, conclusions, and presentation                        25%

(indicate where, type, and with what media such as power-point, manuscript, or executive summary)

4.      Demonstrated project team-building                                    10%

(provide short and concise documentation of effort)

An evaluation criteria checklist will be provided for the joint use of instructors, faculty and advisors in determining a final grade.

 

The instructor(s) has the responsibility for assisting the student in identifying faculty members who might be able to assist in the proposed project. The instructor(s) will familiarize the faculty and advisors with the objectives of the course and provide suggestions as to their responsibilities and opportunities for participation. He/she will serve as a liaison for student and faculty and arrange for logistical needs to carry out the project. The instructor(s) has responsibility for ensuring that grades are recorded, the code of teaching responsibilities are fulfilled, and academic governance procedures are followed. The Instructor(s) is also responsible for assuring that faculty, student and others are recognized for their contribution.

Faculty will participate based upon their scientific expertise and experience relative to the student’s interest and the sponsor’s needs. The faculty’s participation is voluntary and constitutes graduate student advisement and could range from that of a committee member to that of the major advisor for the student’s MS program.

The advisor should represent input from the student’s place of employment. The advisor should have a good understanding of the food safety needs of their organization and that of the student’s project. The advisor should have a vision as to how the finished project might contribute to the food safety objectives of the organization. In the absence of an identifiable advisor identified from the student’s organization, the instructor will assist in securing appropriate representation for the project.

When needed the faculty, advisors, and instructors can recommend and advise the student as to the need for specific elective courses or supplement education that might aid in completing the project. 

It is the intent that this course can be completed through use of web-based technology. Although electronic communication and transfer will constitute the majority of student, faculty, instructor, and advisor intercourse in all cases, on-site and off-site laboratory work, survey work, and consultation is accepted where practical, necessary and helpful. In some cases such activity may be necessary for the completion of the project as designed by the student. In some cases a special problem course (VM 813) might be arranged prior to beginning VM 815.

Team building is a part of all projects. Students are encouraged to not only build teams within their organization and educational resources but when and if helpful, partner with classmates to address mutual interest and problems.

Although solving a real-world mission-oriented problem is the goal, the larger goal is to provide an experience at attempting to solve a real problem. Consequently, the possibility and reality of failure to complete all objectives should be realized, as is often the case in business or government initiatives.

Your instructor will approve and evaluate your project based upon its originality, design, implementation, timeliness, summation, and presentation.

·        Originality – Have you determined that the work you propose has not been previously accomplished? Is it needed for generation of new information or to confirm existing hypothesis or observations?

·        Design – Have you identified the resources needed and available to you? Can you with reasonable assurance complete the project you want to address with the resources available to you? Is the project you envision one that can be completed in the time frame you select? As with your employer, we all must meet deadlines. 

·        Timeliness – Is the project one of importance to you and your environment? Will it receive the support from your colleagues that may be needed to help ensure its success?

·        Implementation – Have you thought through how you will proceed from start to finish? Have you thought about a time frame? Have you laid out a calendar of work with step-wise completion dates?