Information for UB Students
We provide students from the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences with opportunities to enhance their resumes with experiential learning.
We recruit students to work on engineering-based projects at companies in Western New York. Work experiences are a way to develop professionalism and technical competence, and prepare for a future career.
Student Projects
Retrofitting an 18-foot speedboat with a mechanical steering system. Writing code for a new software platform, testing it and fixing bugs. Creating work instructions and integrating process controls.
The above are a few examples of short-term engineering projects that students have undertaken. Opportunities – which range between 12 and 16 weeks – are announced through the student engineering listserv that most appropriately matches the needs of the company. The emails include a short description of the project and directions for applying.
If you are interested in serving on a student project, check your email regularly. Please note that emails are only sent when we need to match a student to a project. We do not keep resumes on file.
Student Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
The two-semester Student Six Sigma Black Belt Certification is a competitive program offered by TCIE with the UB Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering that places students at a company to apply the problem-solving approach of Lean Six Sigma. Students work on a project aimed at eliminating process variation and receive support from a Master Black Belt mentor.
FAQs
Summer semester continuing though the fall semester
- Approximately 20 hours per week for the summer semester and 14-16 hours per week for the fall semester, on site at the sponsoring company*
- Attending two four-hour workshops to help achieve a rapid start and early success in the program: a program orientation and short introduction to the DMAIC methodology (Define/Measure/Analyze/Improve/Control), as well as a MinitabTM software workshop. These workshops are offered solely to students accepted into the program and before the start of the summer semester.
* Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation
The program is open to students from all engineering departments, as well as the School of Management, at UB. The following are eligible:
- Undergraduate students entering senior year during the program’s fall semester
- Graduate students
Please note that you cannot graduate during the program’s timeframe.
An email is sent to all engineering listservs in late October announcing that applications are being accepted for the next year’s program. Students apply to Tim Leyh. We conduct an application review and reference verification. Qualified candidates are invited for a mandatory interview. All students are notified of the status of their application.
- Students gain industry experience
- Students attain Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, if all requirements are met
- Six Sigma certification helps candidates differentiate themselves in the job market
A non-refundable entrance fee of $1,999 is charged upon acceptance into the program. Payment in full and a signed commitment letter is required to secure a spot.
We coordinate sponsor relationships and make appropriate introductions, providing mentoring to each student throughout the project cycle.
Students are required to complete the following courses (either prior to applying or during the program), or must have extensive statistical training:
IE 408/508 Quality Assurance
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IE 409/509 Six-Sigma Quality
| ISE Majors | Non-ISE Majors |
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- Complete IE 408/508 and IE 409/509 with at least a “B” grade in each (student must provide a transcript at the completion of the courses) or show proof of statistical training
- Complete a satisfactory Six Sigma Black Belt project
- Complete weekly online progress reports documenting 20 hours per week for the summer semester and 14-16 hours per week for the fall semester
- Complete a Six Sigma Black Belt certification examination at the end of the fall semester with a passing grade of 70% or higher
- Complete DMAIC tollgate progress presentations and a final project presentation
- Satisfactorily complete a Six Sigma Black Belt project report
What can the Student Six Sigma Black Belt Certification do for you?
- Sundervel “Sunder” Ganesh Velayutham worked at a company to solve real problems. Now he is a leader in operational excellence for a metal powder components manufacturer.
- Fanni Kozma and Manimanjari Vemula are diving into data at Sumitomo Rubber USA to help reduce changeover time variation and scrap.