IEEE Connecticut Section – Undergraduate Capstone Project Competition Rules
1. Eligibility
1.1. The competition is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled in a recognized university or college within the state of Connecticut.
1.2. Participants must be IEEE student members and/or have an IEEE mentor at the time of registration.
1.3. Projects must be original and completed as part of an undergraduate capstone course or independent study.
1.4 Each school or college can only nominate one project.
1.5. Each college nominating a team can request reimbursement for supply of food at each college’s internal “competition” for nominating their representative project up to a maximum of $200.
2. Registration
2.1. Teams must register for the competition by March 31st.
2.2. Each team must provide the following during registration:
- Project title
- Names of team members
- College/University Name
- Abstract (max 250 words)
- Faculty advisor’s contact information
3. Project Requirements
3.1. Projects must align with one or more IEEE focus areas which include: Engineering, Computer Sciences and Information Technology, Physical Sciences, Biological and Medical Sciences, Mathematics, Technical Communications, Education, Management, and Law and Policy.
3.2. All components of the project, including hardware and software, must be documented thoroughly.
3.3. Teams must adhere to ethical guidelines and ensure their projects comply with IEEE’s Code of Ethics.
4. Judging Criteria
4.1. Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Technical innovation (25%)
- Practical application and impact (20%)
- Quality of documentation and presentation (20%)
- Functionality and performance (25%)
- Adherence to IEEE standards and ethics (10%)
4.2. The judges’ decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
4.3. Judges shall not be responsible for faculty oversight of any of the competition entrants. If such a conflict of interest exists, the judge should be replaced with an unbiased volunteer from the section.
5. Awards
5.1. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams:
- 1st Place: $750 and a certificate
- 2nd Place: $500 and a certificate
- 3rd Place: $250 and a certificate
5.2. Additional awards may be given for categories such as Best Innovation or Best Presentation.
6. Conduct and Disqualification
6.1. Teams must maintain professional conduct throughout the competition.
6.2. Plagiarism or violation of IEEE’s Code of Ethics will result in immediate disqualification.
6.3. The competition organizers reserve the right to disqualify teams for failure to comply with the rules.
7. Communication and Updates
7.1. Official communication will be made via email.
7.2. Any updates or changes to the rules will be communicated to all registered participants.