Problem-Solving with People, Information, and Technology - SI 500
Proposal open date: May 8
Proposal close date: August 7
Project timeline: September-December (15 weeks)
Number of projects needed: 15
Description
SI 500 is a graduate-level course at the University of Michigan School of Information where students work in teams to investigate complex challenges and propose solutions. For the 2026-27 academic year, we are seeking organizations with projects related to human health and well-being.
This theme, which is being explored across U-M in 2026-27, emphasizes helping people and communities thrive. Projects may relate to topics including healthcare, public health, mental health, wellness, accessibility, caregiving, community support, health technology, prevention and health equity.
Potential partners may include:
- Healthcare providers and health systems
- Public health agencies
- Nonprofit and community organizations
- Advocacy groups
- Technology companies
- Educational institutions
- Government agencies
- Research centers
- Other organizations working to improve individual or community well-being
What students can help with
Each partner organization will work with one section of SI 500, consisting of about 30 students divided into teams of 5-7 students. Student teams spend the semester researching a challenge, engaging stakeholders and developing thoughtful recommendations for future action.
As a client, you will receive:
- 5-7 unique student proposals
- Practical, innovative insights tailored to your context
- Final reports, presentations and optionally: prototypes, program designs or data analyses
- An opportunity to shape the learning of emerging information professionals
Example projects
Strong SI 500 projects are framed as problems, opportunities or emerging areas of inquiry. We are particularly interested in challenges at the organizational, community or societal level.
Examples include:
- Understanding barriers to accessing health technologies or services
- Designing more accessible tools, services or environments
- Exploring how misinformation affects health behaviors and trust
- Supporting mental health, belonging and emotional safety
- Investigating ethical approaches to collecting and using sensitive data
- Helping communities prepare for or respond to environmental challenges
Explore more project ideas in the SI 500 Course Brief and Client Guide.
Client expectations
Clients should be able to:
- Provide a challenge that can be explored from multiple perspectives
- Meet periodically with the student teams during the semester
- Connect students with subject matter experts who can participate in interviews
Time commitment: 15-20 hours
Clients are asked to:
- Co-develop a project brief in collaboration with the Engaged Learning Office (summer, 2-3 hours)
- Meet with faculty to align on the project scope, student learning goals and class engagement plan (early September, 1 hour)
- Identify and facilitate access to one or more subject matter experts and potential interview participants (early September, 2 hours)
- Present your challenge to the class (Friday, September 11; 1 hour)
- Schedule check-ins to provide feedback to students (October and November, 5-10 hours)
- Attend final presentations (December 11, 2+ hours)
- Provide brief feedback on your client experience (January, 20 minutes)
Get started
Interested in participating in SI 500?
Contact the Engaged Learning Office at [email protected] or submit a project idea through our client project form. If you would like your submission to be considered specifically for SI 500, please mention that in your submission.