Consulting Clinic

Course Description:

The consulting clinic is in collaboration with the SURE™ Program at the C.T. Bauer College of Business and is funded by Cougar Initiative to Engage (CITE). The chief objective of this course is to make sure each student appreciates the value of experiential education where the students learn by applying theory and concepts to “real-world” situations.

Theoretical Learning Course Objectives:

• Equip the student with the tools necessary to succeed in a high-paced work environment and instilling a broad sense of the societal impact of IT.
• Address human, community, and environmental needs. Students are expected to work with people of many different backgrounds to identify and achieve goals. They need educational experiences that can help them broaden their skills.

Practical Learning Course Objectives:

• Gain practical experience implementing the needed system.
• Gain experience in system analysis and design.
• Gain real world experience that embeds service learning.

Consulting Clinic course Objectives:

• Collaboration between Computer Science and the SURE Program
• Create systems in a nontraditional, public service-oriented social context. It challenges them to evaluate and analyze the complex contributors associated with understanding the problem domain.
• Learn to leverage skills, education, and relationships to find solutions for the entrepreneurs by implementing the right software.
• Serve the community while also learning computer science concepts and skills.

Text Book:

Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products By James A. Highsmith Addison-Wesley Professional; 2nd edition, ISBN-10: 0321658396ISBN-13: 978-0321658395.

Overview

The University of Houston Computer Science CS Consulting Clinic (CSCC) is a practicum program in which second and third year STEM students, under the direct supervision of Dr. Rizk, assist Houston-area entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations by providing assistance in implementing the technological solution as an end-product.

Forms of Structured Work Experience

Course Information

Project Teams: Project teams are self-selected and consist of three members. An ideal project team includes a varied mix of individuals. At the second class meeting the Team Lead presents the team members and their contact information. This presentation is the also the first activity report.

Client Meetings: Under no circumstances will students meet individually with a client! At least two members of a team will meet with a client. You are encouraged to use electronic media such as Skype or hangouts for your meetings. In the event a physical meeting is required the client is encouraged to visit the UH campus. To reserve Meeting rooms, contact your TA. Meeting minutes and Statement of Work (SOW) should be stored.

Bi-weekly Activity Report: The team project lead provides a biweekly activity report via e-mail, to the client stakeholder (if approved by SURE and Instructor), the SURE project consultant, the TA for the project, and class Lecturer on Tuesday prior to making the presentation. The activity report will summarize the team’s last two week’s achievements and the team’s goals for the coming two weeks. The goal of the report is to keep the stakeholders up to date on activities of the team. The team will use email to turn in its Activity Report. See Appendix A for formatting of the activity report. The activity report will be the main body of the email, not an attachment.

Class Presentations: During the term, each team will present various aspects of their project. Generally, this briefing is on the topic discussed in class. The more entertaining the presentation, the better and demos are encouraged! A different individual will make the presentation each time. One day prior to making the presentation the team will use email to submit its presentation by 23:59, to the SURE project consultant, the client, the TA for the project and The Lecturer. All assignments are Microsoft Word, Project, PowerPoint, or Excel files. All electronically submitted documents must contain the name of your team and Team Lead name, then a description of the document in the subject field. As an example of the subject field for the Business Case, “Team Amazing Team Lead Jane Smith Business Case.” Team member absence will result in points deducted.

Peer Evaluation

Peer Evaluation: At every presentation, each student will provide a peer evaluation of the studnet presenter by filling a form in Microsoft Teams.

Self Evaluation: Go through these questions at the end of week 8 to make sure you get better results at the end.

• Why did you create this project/program?
• What processes were planned and how were they implemented in the project?
• Did you have the right mix of activities?
• Were there any variations in the process and why?
• How could the project be improved?
• What were the short-term outcomes?
• To what extend have the intended outcomes been achieved?
• Were there any unintended outcomes?
• What factors helped and hindered the results?
• What lessons have been learned from this project?
• What are the expected long-term outcomes? What can be done to further enhance sustainability of the project?

Final Peer Evaluation:

• What progress has been made?
• Were the desired project objectives achieved?
• Do the project results justify the project inputs?
• Is every team member satisfied with the result?
• What could have been done better?

Our Partners

The CSCC works collaboratively with the SURE™ Program at the C.T. Bauer College of Business. The SURE™ Program’s mission is to provide an educational platform that facilitates a value-added partnership between UH students, industry experts, and entrepreneurs from under-resourced communities. Specifically, the SURE™ Program provides FREE financial and business education, business consulting, and prepares entrepreneurs to access capital.

• As part of CSCC’s collaboration with the SURE™ Program, CSCC student gives presentations on Computer topics at SURE™ Program events. The CSCC also receives referrals of potential clients through the SURE™ Program, many of whom attended past student presentations.

The CSCC works collaboratively with the Executive Services Corps – Houston(ESCH). ESCH mission is to help nonprofits build capacity – increase effectiveness as well as efficiency – and through them, improve the quality of life in greater Houston area. The program from the UofH’s perspective consists of offerings from the “Computer Sciences” class whereby students form teams to execute a project to effect a solution that may take on various facets of IT solutions for the Houston area’s NonProfit community. The Clients utilizing these offerings are NonProfits (NP) who have problems that they deem can be solved by the student teams.These NonProfits are solicited by the NonProfit Executive Services Core – Houston (ESCH) and vetted for suitability.

The CSCC works collaboratively with the Cougar Initiative to Engage. The CITE mission is to provide opportunities for student learning, discovery, and engagement in a real-world setting.

• As part of CSCC’s collaboration with the CITE Program, CSCC students will demonstarte two learning outcomes: problem solving, and teamwork.
  • The assessment rubrics for problem solving are independent. Every level reflects the mastering of knowledge. The first level will be limited knowledge in applying skills by identifying the problem. The second level will be basic demonstration in applying knowledge and skills in addressing more than one perspective to distinguish between fact, opinion and to acknowledge value judgments including perspectives drawn from outside information. The third level will be comprehensive skills in applying essential knowledge and skill by examining the evidence and analyzing the scope and context. The fourth level will be through demonstration in applying effective and sophisticated knowledge and skill by Identifying and discussing conclusions.
  • Teamwork will be integrated by sharing ideas, by engaging all team members in discussion and contribution, by encouraging team members to ask questions, to put forward ideas to enhance their effectiveness and completing tasks, by providing learning opportunities on an ongoing basis, to strengthen the skills and capabilities of growth and development and by cooperating at all levels. The assessment rubrics for teamwork can be measured by Teamwork skills, project planning skills, and fostering a team climate.

Potential Client FAQ

What is the CS Consulting Clinic?

Universities have been transformed in many ways, major and minor. It is truly time to create a new kind of a real-world setting that provides access to experience to a much more diverse student population, as easily as it reaches out to “engage” the larger community. The CS Consulting Clinic is a framework for integrating experiential learning and service-learning effectively into computer science curriculum. In the Consulting Clinic course students will act as consultant to Houston entrepreneurs within the SURE™ Program. It is a practicum course for computer science students using SURE Entrepreneurs as clients. The CS Consulting Clinic will be expanded as a partnership with the Executive Service Corps of Houston (ESCH). The large number of nonprofit clients of ESCH’s need computing services. It is a great opportunity to enhance the learning experience of UH students by utilizing their technical skills to solve the problem of selected nonprofits clients. Consulting Clinic will embrace an important aspect of learning and discovery “engagement,” will enhance society through community engagement, expertise and learning opportunity in experiential learning settings, and will prepare students for productive citizenship.

Who can become a client of the CS Consulting Clinic?

Houston-area entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations who require technological services that fall within the scope of services offered by the CSCC may apply. The CS Consulting Clinic is an in-house internship opportunity. The types of services the CSCC offers include the ability to implement a solution such as developing an information system for an organization’s administrators, developing a web site for an organization or school, developing classroom software for a school, implementing a network for an organization, implementing urban technology project, and analyzing data at all levels.

What do I need to do to apply for services?

We work with clients that are a good match for our student-led program and fit our other selection criteria. Because the CSCC’s capacity is limited, we are unable to provide assistance to all potential clients that submit an application. Even if you apply, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accept you as a client or provide assistance with any of the matters you describe in the application. We attempt to provide an initial response to applicants within 10 business days.

What will I have to pay if I am accepted as a client?

Clients accepted by the CSCC does not have to pay, but highly encouraged to donate for the development and enhancement of the clinic.

Still have questions?

If you still have questions, please contact Nouhad Rizk, Instructional Professor and CSCC Director, at njrizk@uh.edu.

Student FAQ

What is the UH student's role in the CS Consulting Clinic?

Students take the lead representing the CSCC’s clients under the supervision of the program director. Students are given a combination of clients with which to work during the semester including small businesses, aspiring entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations. Students will have the opportunity to implement a solution such as developing an information system for an organization’s administrators, developing a web site for an organization or school, developing classroom software for a school, implementing a network for an organization, implementing urban technology project, and analyzing data at all levels. Students will also have an opportunity to improve their public speaking skills through the clinic’s partnership with the SURE Program at the C.T. Bauer College of Business for which CSCC students will prepare and perform presentations on a range of computer science topics during the course of the semester.

What does the UH student get out of the Consulting Clinic?

The CSCC provides students with a qualified opportunity to enhance their problem solving skills by integrating the following steps: Identifying the problem, analyzing data relevant to issues from different perspectives, selecting appropriate method to solve problems effectively and creatively, identifying the appropriate technology to use with a solution, understanding the implementation of a creative solution, making a decision, interpreting results and writing reports.

The assessment rubrics for problem solving are independent. Every level reflects the mastering of knowledge. The first level will be limited knowledge in applying skills by identifying the problem. The second level will be basic demonstration in applying knowledge and skills in addressing more than one perspective to distinguish between fact, opinion and to acknowledge value judgments including perspectives drawn from outside information. The third level will be comprehensive skills in applying essential knowledge and skill by examining the evidence and analyzing the scope and context. The fourth level will be through demonstration in applying effective and sophisticated knowledge and skill by Identifying and discussing conclusions.

Teamwork will be integrated by sharing ideas, by engaging all team members in discussion and contribution, by encouraging team members to ask questions, to put forward ideas to enhance their effectiveness and completing tasks, by providing learning opportunities on an ongoing basis, to strengthen the skills and capabilities of growth and development and by cooperating at all levels. The assessment rubrics for teamwork can be measured by Teamwork skills, project planning skills, and fostering a team climate.

How often does the class meet?

The CSCC has a classroom component that meets for two hours a week for fourteen weeks over the course of the semester. Student entrepreneurs present and discuss their client matters during class meetings. The classroom component also provides students with a solid understanding of contract drafting and other skills necessary to be a successful scientist. Students are required to devote 50 clinic hours per course credit during the semester. This means that students will be expected to devote either 150 or 200 total hours to clinic work.

Can part-time students take the course?

Yes. Part time students have the opportunity to work with a faculty member who offers evening and weekend supervision by appointment.

Still have questions?

If you still have questions, please contact Nouhad Rizk, Instructional Professor and CSCC Director, at njrizk@uh.edu.