Capstone Mentor Resources

What is a Capstone mentor?

A capstone mentor is a faculty member or an individual in the community with knowledge or experience in a particular discipline, profession, or field who provides guidance, support, expertise, and evaluation of a student's Honors Capstone project. Faculty and community capstone mentors play a critical role in Honors students completing exciting, relevant, and meaningful capstone projects.

how do I evaluate the Honors Capstone?

Mentors will use the seven Honors Capstone Learning Outcomes to assess their mentee's work. When the mentee completes the project, the capstone mentor will use the Capstone Mentor Evaluation Form to evaluate whether the student's project met each outcome while designating a pass/fail overall score. 

If your student is completing an Honors Capstone in conjunction with another required capstone or other similar culminating experience in another major, then you as the capstone mentor will be asked at the proposal stage to attest that the project will fulfill the seven Honors Capstone learning outcomes. If you attest that it will, then Honors will accept the project for the Honors capstone even while it also fulfills another degree’s requirements.

The Capstone Mentor Evaluation Form is provided as a pdf below for informational purposes. The capstone coordinators will email the designated capstone mentor a link to complete this form officially through a secure portal prior to the capstone completion deadline.

Capstone Mentor Evaluation Form

What are the Honors Capstone Learning Outcomes?

  1. Students will define a question that their project will address, responding to a problem, concern, or need. (The project can be scholarly, creative, service-oriented, or entrepreneurial) 

  2. Students will develop a plan for carrying out the project that incorporates the following elements, as appropriate to the nature of the project: relevant skills, methodologies, bodies of knowledge, and field-specific and/or interdisciplinary conventions   

  3. Students will analyze and interpret the material in their project, whether this be data, evidence, creative output, etc.  

  4. Students will engage in a process of sharing work with their mentor/s, receiving feedback, and incorporating feedback in the development of the project  

  5. Students will create a tangible product that demonstrates critical thinking and insight in responding to the initial question   

  6. Students will communicate their project at an Honors approved venue (usually Undergraduate Research and Inquiry  Day)  through an oral presentation addressing the nature and significance of the project, as well as its implications/impact  

  7. Students will reflect metacognitively on the project (i.e. articulate what they learned and how they grew from doing the project) 

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WHY BECOME A CAPSTONE MENTOR?

Becoming a capstone mentor means that you are committed to helping your mentee work towards their goal in completing a meaningful, relevant, and exciting capstone project. The fulfilling work of seeing students acheive more than they ever thought imaginable through your own expertise and unqiue support is rewarding and impactful service.

"My capstone mentor was a true source of encouragement in completing my project and taught me what it means to live and learn with purpose."

-Makayla Kocher, BA, 2023

 

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"My capstone mentor provided stepping stones, guidance, and expertise that pushed my project where it needed to go. My mentor provided regular feedback that helped me understand my ideas in larger and relevant contexts."

-Sabrina Considine, Honors Senior

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WHAT ARE MY STEPS AS THE CAPSTONE MENTOR?

Step 1

Typically 18-12 months prior to Capstone Completion goal

Agree to become a capstone mentor.

Please review the Honors Capstone Requirements. As the capstone mentor, your role is to help support and guide your student towards successful completion.

Step 2

Typically 6-18 months prior to Capstone Completion goal

Review mentee's Capstone Project Initiation Form and provide feedback.

Deadlines:

  • December Completion Goal: May 5

  • May Completion Goal: Oct 31

  • August Completion Goal: Jan 22

The completed proposal will be submitted to the Capstone Coordinators after it has been evaluated by the capstone mentor.

Most students select one capstone mentor, however, in some circumstances it can be appropriate to have co-mentors on a project. Encourage students to designate any co-mentors on the Capstone Initiation Form to ensure transparency and coordination between mentors.

Capstone Initiation Form

Step 3

Until capstone completion

Working toward capstone completion.

Meeting with your mentee regularly allows the time and space for your mentee to reflect, make connections and discoveries, and make revisions or changes as necessary.

Step 4

Prior to Graduation

Support your mentee in successfully presenting the results of their project at an Honors-approved venue.

This presentation should be completed at Undergraduate Research Day or an Honors-approved venue. Please reach out to the Capstone Coordinators with questions regarding options.

 

Step 5

December DEADLINE: DECEMBER 15 | May DEADLINE: MAY 10 | August Deadline: August 9

Evaluate the student's completed capstone project.

Using the Honors Capstone Learning Outcomes and the Capstone Evaluation Form, the capstone mentor will evaluate the student's completed project and submit this evaluation to the Capstone Coordinators.

The Capstone Mentor Evaluation Form is provided as a pdf below for informational purposes. The capstone coordinators will email the designated capstone mentor a link to complete this form officially through a secure portal prior to the capstone completion deadline.

Capstone Mentor Evaluation Form

Step 6

Prior to Graduation

Is your mentee interested in publishing their work?

All Honors students have the opportunity to publich their completed capstone projects in the Wyoscholar Repository through the UW Libraries. Please consult with your student to provide guidance on this practice in the context of your own discipline/field. Please reach out to Honors Capstone Coordinators with questions.

CAPSTONE MENTOR FAQs

Meet with them! Discuss their project, provide feedback, share ideas to help narrow and appropriately scope the project. The student will need to submit their Honors Capstone Proposal to you. In this proposal form, you as the mentor will be asked to accept (or decline) the proposal, share any feedback, and send the proposal form to the Honors College. 

You as the faculty mentor will likely have to submit an IRB (Institutional Review Board) application on behalf of the student before any research begins. This application process is routinely completed by Honors students and their capstone mentors. For guidance, please review the UW IRB Guidelines and contact the Honors Capstone Coordinators, Dr. Joslyn Cassady and Dr. Thomas Grant, with any questions.

Guide your mentee towards the Honors College student funding opportunities to learn more about our Enriched Education Grants, Capstone Research/Creative Grants, Capstone Completion grants and more. These opportunities exist to support students in capstone research and creative inquiry.

You may contact the Honors Capstone Coordinators, Dr. Joslyn Cassady and Dr. Thomas Grant, at honorscapstone@uwyo.edu.