We am seeking clients for a class at the University of Michigan School of Information. Students in this class break into teams to build Drupal websites.

We have about 30 students in the class this winter, so we need 10 sites to create.

That’s where you come in.

Do you know anyone that needs a site (re)built that would be a good candidate for our students?

These are advanced practitioners, typically in the latter half of their Master’s degree in information. They’ve received previous training on everything from information architecture to current theories on what makes websites most usable.

What you get:

Students are expected to deliver a working site and design documents, as well as complete documentation/user manual explaining how to carry out the tasks required for using, maintaining, and administering the site. The documentation package is normally around 100-130 pages. We also provide directions on how to deploy the site.

Some of the sites do require some theming (and design work) after the term is over. Not all the students know how to do this, but they will provide some resources on the best ways to get it done.

What we're looking for in a client:

We’re looking for people who need relatively easy sites that have content to manage.

Our clients are frequently nonprofits, but are not required to be.

You must be willing to help students by explaining your group's work and giving continuous feedback. You’ll need a single point of contact who is willing to spend at least one hour per week with the student team by phone/Skype/etc. or in person.

And you must have an interest in deploying the site at the end of the term.

Past clients:

U-M Medical School, VA Hospital HSR&D, Rwanda: Stories for Hope Project, Polar Bear Archives, William Davidson Institute, Temple Beth Emeth, the U-M Biological Station, and the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.

Other information:

The course’s faculty members will present a list of projects to students during the first class and allow them to express preferences. Faculty will then assign student teams to projects, taking into account their preferences while ensuring that the students' skills complement each other so that each team has a good balance.

Questions/comments/concerns?

Contact:

Michael Hess
University of Michigan School of Information
mlhess@umich.edu

Want a site?

Potential clients should complete a brief interest form here .
Projects will be chosen by the second week in January. The projects will be completed by April 2016.