Sustainability

Steps to Complete the Challenge

The 2024-2025 Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact

An opportunity nationally recognized for innovation in sustainability education, the Bronco Challenge invites all full-time WMU students to compete for financial prizes. Students will form interdisciplinary teams to tackle problems that challenge the survival of civilization.

Office for Sustainability
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5286 USA
(269) 387-0943

2024-25 Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact Student Playbook.

STUDENT PLAYBOOK
 

Start Date: Fall 2024

Welcome to the Bronco Challenge! This exciting competition invites teams of students to develop innovative solutions addressing pressing social, environmental, and economic issues. Below, you will find all the necessary details to participate and succeed in the challenge.

Optional Informative Meetings Schedule :

October 29, 2024: General information session for all interested students.
January 14, 2025: Q&A session for teams accepted into the challenge.
March 12, 2025: Guidance for final report submission.
March 26, 2025: Preparation for oral presentations.

Exact locations will be announced.

 

Challenge Deliverables : 

Format Requirements:

  • Document Specifications: 8.5” x 11” paper, 12 pt Times New Roman font, single-spaced, 1-inch margins, numbered pages, PDF format.
  • Cover Page: Include title, authors' names, and the date.
  • Graphics and Videos: Use graphics to enhance explanations and include hyperlinks to any complementary videos (max 3 minutes).

 

Phase 1 : Team Formation and Proposal Submission

Due Date: November 12, 2024, by 5 pm

Submission: Email to Professor Neil Drobny, PhD at Neil.Drobny@wmich.edu

Page Limit: 7 pages

Proposal Contents:

  1. Project Scope and Objectives
  2. Project Inspiration
  3. Solution Vision
  4. Solution Advantages
  5. Project Management
  6. Solution Implementation
  7. Supporting Resources
  8. Team Member Profiles

Note: Proposals missing any of the above items or being less than 7 pages will not be accepted.

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be critiqued on clarity, grammar, writing style, and completeness.

Phase 2 : Oral Progress Report

Dates: February 3-14, 2025

Format: In-person meeting with Dr. Drobny and a Comm Center staff member

Report Contents:

  • 10-minute PowerPoint Presentation
  • Follow-up Q&A Session

Evaluation Areas:

  1. Project Drivers
  2. Improvements
  3. Solution Detail
  4. Implementation Testing
  5. Supporting Resources
  6. Priority Tasks

Feedback will be provided immediately after the meeting.

Phase 3 : Final Evaluations

Final Report Due Date: March 19, 2025, by 5 pm Page Limit: 5 pages

Report Contents:

  1. Detailed Solution Description
  2. Path of Inquiry
  3. Business Plan
  4. Lessons Learned
  5. Mentors and Experts

Oral Presentation:

  • Date: April 3, 2025
  • Format: 15-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A
  • Location: Schneider Hall, Room 2XXX, Haworth College of Business

The presentation will be live-streamed and recorded.

Terms & Conditions:

Eligibility: Teams must have 4 members from at least two disciplines, all full-time students in good standing at WMU.

Financials: No participation fee. Teams bear any material costs. Cash awards are subject to taxes.

Intellectual Property: Submitted materials remain the property of the team but can be used by WMU for non-commercial promotion.

 

Contact :

The Bronco Challenge Leadership team will be available to meet with teams or individuals to provide guidance and assistance in finding a team, recruiting team members, selecting a project, etc.

Contact Professor Neil Drobny, PhD with any questions: @email