The centerpiece of the course is the project. You will be assigned to a team of four students whose objective is to work with a client to understand the client’s needs, define an acceptable solution, and then deliver a real, working system. The clients are different school programs or state/city government agencies who need your help to meet their objectives.
Because there are intellectual property issues involved, there is a right to use/right to modify agreement (RTU/M) that must be completed if your work is for a client. Northeastern believes any work product you create in the class is yours. Thus, you must decide whether you grant your client a license to use or modify the software you will be creating in the class. It's your decision. If you choose not to grant this license, you will be assigned to a project team for the class nonetheless and the professor will be the client. To work with an external client, you must sign an RTU/M agreement.
The CS TA’s, Shruti Patankar and Roop Ghosh, are responsible for technology oversight of the project and the principal graders. If you have any legal questions or concerns, you should consult a licensed attorney. Northeastern University's IP-CO lab, led by students at the School of Law and faculty from the law and business schools, is a resource where students may receive information.
Every student is expected to treat the clients with respect and with a professional demeanor. This means keeping and being on time for all appointments, keeping accurate and sufficient d ocumentation of all communications, and keeping your commitments. Client happiness is an extremely important part of assessing project success. Happiness means satisfaction with the results AND the process by which the team conducted the project. Any misbehavior should be reported immediately to the professor or TAs. Title IX or criminal violations should be reported to the appropriate authorities immediately.