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Winning teams will be celebrated at the 2026 Exposition Awards Ceremony immediately following Exposition
Monday, April 20 | 2:00-2:30 PM | Michigan League Ballroom
Awards by Degree Area
Awards by Degree Area
BSI Capstone
BSI Capstone
The Bachelor of Science in Information (BSI) Capstone is a required course sequence for all BSI students at the School of Information. The capstone course sequence consists of two classes: Capstone I (2 credits), a preparatory course that introduces the student team to their project, client, and context, and Capstone II, or Final Projects Course (4 credits), during which student teams synthesize and apply their prior curriculum to a real-world project shared by a project client. The BSI consists of two pathways, Information Analysis (IA) and User Experience Design (UxD), with opportunities to focus on areas like social media, entrepreneurship, digital humanities, and consulting. Judges for this category will review projects from both the IA and UxD pathways.
Bachelor of Science in Information (BSI) Capstone Courses
Bachelor of Science in Information (BSI) Capstone Courses
SI 485 Information Analysis Capstone
SI 487 User Experience Design Capstone
SI 495 Information Analytics Project
SI 497 User Experience Final Project
Residential Master's Programs Final Projects
Residential Master's Programs Final Projects
This comprehensive category includes the culminating projects from all UMSI master's degree programs: the Master of Science in Information (MSI), the Master of Applied Data Science (MADS), and the Master of Health Informatics (MHI). These final projects demonstrate students' mastery of core theories, methods, and practices required for entry into their respective information professions.
Master of Science in Information (MSI) Mastery Courses
Master of Science in Information (MSI) Mastery Courses
MSI students complete their capstone through either a project-based, three-credit Mastery Course (SI 699) or a six-credit Master's Thesis Option Program (MTOP). Both options are rigorous, second-year experiences that require a high degree of independence.
SI 699 Mastery Courses: These project-based courses require students to demonstrate a synthesis of major theories and methods across specific career tracks. Tracks include:
Big Data Analytics
Library, Archives, and Knowledge Environments
UX Research and Design
User-Centered Agile Development
SI 697 & 698 Master’s Thesis Option Program (MTOP): This is a two-semester research experience where students work closely with a faculty advisor to explore original research questions and apply the tools of information science to generate new knowledge.
Master of Applied Data Science (MADS) Capstone
Master of Applied Data Science (MADS) Capstone
MADS students culminate their learning with a project that applies an end-to-end data science approach, drawing on computation, theory, and application.
SIADS 699 MADS Capstone: This is a project-based course in which students propose and build end-to-end data science projects in their areas of interest. Students must produce a creative, original, and technically rigorous portfolio piece that demonstrates mastery of data science concepts and methods.
Master of Health Informatics (MHI) Projects
Master of Health Informatics (MHI) Projects
MADS students culminate their learning with a project that applies an end-to-end data science approach, drawing on computation, theory, and application.
MHI students also have the option to submit projects developed in the final term of their course for consideration within this capstone category, showcasing their application of information science tools within the healthcare domain.
Awards by Thematic Area
Awards by Thematic Area
Entrepreneurship/Innovation
Entrepreneurship/Innovation
This award is for projects that embody the spirit of deep innovation by developing and proposing novel, technology-driven solutions to complex societal or informational challenges. Projects must demonstrate the creation of tangible value through a creative initiative or new venture that not only employs advanced technology but also critically considers the sociotechnical aspects of the solution—how people, culture, policies, and ethics interact with the technology. Highly considered projects will present original ideas and approaches with the potential to have a transformative, positive impact on communities, organizations, or markets.
Access, Belonging, and Inclusion
Access, Belonging, and Inclusion
This award recognizes projects that broaden access and reduce obstacles to information and resources. Projects in this category demonstrate inclusive work that enables fair treatment and full participation of all people. This supports the mission of the School of Information (UMSI) to build a better world through people’s use of information—with technology. Projects in this category can focus on UMSI, the University of Michigan, other communities, and society at large.
Democracy and Civic Empowerment (U-M Theme Initiative)
Democracy and Civic Empowerment (U-M Theme Initiative)
This category recognizes projects focused on the participation, rights, and obligations of people in democratic societies, including local and global initiatives. This includes projects that promote civic empowerment, enhance government transparency, foster informed public discourse, or address challenges related to democratic processes, community mobilization, and engaged citizenship. This category directly supports the University of Michigan's thematic Year of Democracy, Civic Empowerment, and Global Engagement. (Democracy and Civic Empowerment Impact Area)
Life Changing Education (U-M Theme Initiative)
Life Changing Education (U-M Theme Initiative)
This category recognizes projects that explore and envision the future of education, focusing on how learning experiences can be transformative and life-changing. Projects may focus on topics such as learning flexibility, skill development and division, global talent pools, productivity, innovation, well-being, automation, remote work, or new models of leadership and management. This category specifically aligns with and contributes to the broader U-M Look to Michigan Campaign effort to define the next generation of education, and includes Campus of the Future Student Idea Showcase Proposals. (Life Changing Education Impact Area)
Judging
Judging
Projects are judged using the following criteria:
Presentation of project (articulation, design, flow)
Presentation of poster (design, accessibility of language)
Alignment of project with category
Clearly defined problem
Outcome of project, accessibility of outcome for audience
Impact of project
Novelty of project
Read more about the awards and judging. Students can read more about preparing to submit for judging on the Prepare for Exposition page.
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