Important Dates in October

 Announcements will also be made in the 2023-24  Program bCourses. 

Oct 3 @Noon:  On a industry-advised team? Join Jennifer Mangold for Zoom Office Hours #2.  RSVP required >>

October 4:   Capstone Coffee Chat with MEng and Fung Fellows. RSVP >>

October 13:      Spring 2024 Leadership Course Enrollment Zoom Info Session. (see bCourses for recording)

October 17:   Confidential Capstone Pulse Survey: Project Launch #1 (posted in MEng 2023-24 bCourses under Assignment)

October 18:      On a industry-advised team? Join Jennifer Mangold for Zoom Office Hours #3. RSVP required >>

October 24:      Complete the entire Project Canvas Workbook Deliverable #1 Due. Project Canvas template is in your Project Working Folder. 

October 25:   Capstone Lunch & Learn feat. Hemel Gandhi,  Chief Product Officer. RSVP required >> Note: Seating capacity has been reached. 

Looking for campus resources (i.e. Software Packages & Trainings)? VISIT RESOURCES. 

In the spirit of Hispanic Heritage month, we would like to highlight the contributions of Cruz Grimaldo, Oscar Dubon, Mario Molina, and Xioranny Linares to UC Berkeley's financial aid and engineering spaces. Illustration: Ella Lawton.

October 3: Capstone Industry Advised Office Hours #2 (with Jennifer Mangold)

We are excited that the capstone projects have launched and hopefully you are getting settled into your classes as well. In the past, students were required to meet with me (Jennifer) if you were on a capstone project with an outside organization/industry advisor. To create more community and learning across the teams, this year I'm hosting office hours/webinars. To kick this off I've schedule two office hours/webinar sessions in September and October for all capstone teams that are industry advised. 

Required for all Industry Advised Teams: Register for one of the office hour/webinars that I will be hosting in September and October. 

• RSVP to receive Zoom link: Capstone Industry Advised Office Hours #2 

October 4: Coffee & Connections - MEng & Fung Fellows Mixer

Wednesday, October 4th at Noon:
Connecting MEng and Fung Fellowship students to build community and expand our network.

Mix and mingle with Master of Engineering (MEng) students, Fung Fellowship undergraduates, and Fung Institute staff! Bingo cards will be distributed to students. Enter to win cool prizes through a random drawing! Winners will be announced at the end of the coffee chat so make sure to stay until the end.  

Who: Fung Institute students, faculty, and staff are welcome!

Where: Mudd Hall lawn (1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley CA 94709) as long as the weather permits. In inclement weather, you can find us in the Mudd Hall lobby.

Other perks: For those who are interested in a professional headshot, a photographer will be available.

Please RSVP so we can order refreshments accordingly.

October 13: Spring 2024 Leadership Course Enrollment Zoom Info Session

Join the Fung Institute staff for an online enrollment information session this Friday, October 13th from 11am-12pm. During this session we will detail the process of enrolling in your Spring Bootcamp and leadership courses next semester. Information about what spring technical engineering electives you need to take should already have been shared by your engineering department advisor.

In the Spring, students are required to enroll in the same section as all their teammates for required capstone integration courses E295, E270K. 

• View presentation slides & recording in 2023-24 MEng bCourses.

October 18: Capstone Industry Advised Office Hours #3 (with Jennifer Mangold)

As many of you requested, I'm holding office hours this week for industry advised project teams on Wednesday for those teams who weren't able to make it on the Tues/Thurs time slot. Registration link below. Only teams that have yet to attend office hours are required to join. However, it is open to any and all teams. So if you have questions about your project, capstone deliverables, or anything else we can help with, please feel free to join!  

Required for all Industry Advised Teams: Register for one of the office hour/webinars that I will be hosting in September and October. 

• RSVP to receive Zoom link: Capstone Industry Advised Office Hours #3 

October 25: Capstone Lunch & Learn feat. Hemel Gandhi

Good communication is a crucial component of making goals reachable no matter what project a team is working on. Join us for a lunchtime presentation featuring Hemel Gandhi,  Chief Product Officer, who will provide insight from their unique experiences and offer best practice tips on how to communicate and collaborate effectively with teammates and multiple stakeholders on a project to ensure a successful teaming experience. Hemel will also share his career path journey and lessons learned as product manager.

 This presentation is limited to 30 seats for MEng and Fung Fellowship students. Lunch will be provided. RSVP is required by Monday, Oct. 23, 5pm.  RSVP >>

*Note: This workshop has reached maximum seating capacity. The Capstone team plans to host another Lunch & Learn workshop towards the end of the fall semester. More information will be shared on bCourses later this semester. Thank you for understanding. 

October 17: Pulse Survey #1 Due (Project Launch)

Note: Students in IEOR/Fintech track: You will form teams and work on your project later in the semester. Please do not complete Pulse Survey #1 and #2. You will complete Pulse Survey #3 in Spring semester. 

• Pulse surveys are confidential (and seen only by Fung staff) and are useful for us to help support your teams in navigating team dynamics, working with partner organizations, and providing your team with the resources you need to be successful. We want to co-design this experience with you to make it the most impactful for your academic and career success.

• While completing the survey is mandatory, your answers do not (and CANNOT) impact your grades.

• Survey is available for students to complete individually located in the 2023-24 MEng Program bCourses under Assignments.

October 24: Project Canvas Workbook Deliverable #1 Due

Note: Students in IEOR/Fintech track: You will form teams and work on your project later in the semester. Your deliverables are the Project Canvas due on 12/9. Assignment will need to be submitted by the point-of-contact (one team member) of each Fintech team. 

• Students will work collaboratively outside of their classes to complete deliverable. Save your work in your google project working folders.

• Students will complete the PROJECT CANVAS when you launch your team’s work together and will revisit the plan periodically to assess how well your team is doing and then adjust it as needed. The Project Canvas template can be found in your team's corresponding project working folder.

• Assignment will need to be submitted by the point-of-contact (one team member) per assignment in the 2023-24 Master of Engineering Program bcourses site. 

October Check-In Meetings with Fung Capstone Staff

• Capstone check-in meeting gives your team an opportunity to discuss and get feedback on project plans, team effectiveness, and reporting deliverables.  You're welcome to reach out and make an appointment; alternatively, Fung capstone staff will reach out to you.

• If you are on an academic project that's advised by a postdoctoral researcher or a PhD candidate, you need to meet with your faculty advisor (or principal investigator) once a month.

• Reach out to Jennifer Mangold or Claire Trias if you're having difficulty scheduling a meeting. 

Campus Opportunities

• Big Ideas @Berkeley - 3 page applications due December 6, 1pm PT

A new cycle of the Rudd Family Foundation Big Ideas Contest has launched and we are excited to see what game-changing social innovations students develop this year! This year's program features a new social impact track, new funding opportunities, and a packed roster of upskilling workshops and networking events.

Learn more: About Big Ideas I Advising Appointments I Rules & Requirements