Student Web Development Enterprise (SWDE)
The Student Web Development Enterprise (SWDE) offers both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the B.S., B.A.S., and MST/GIT degree programs the chance to experience workplace Web development. Supervised by a GIT faculty member, students work on commercial Web projects for the University or the surrounding community. Past projects have included a Web site for the Mesa United Way, an online learning tool to teach middle school students about the Central Arizona Project, an online room reservation system for the Student Union at the Polytechnic campus, and a campus student organization Web site.
As part of the SWDE, undergraduate students function as Web designers, content providers, and usability testers. A graduate student acts as the project manager. Together, the faculty supervisor and graduate student manager advertise for and hire undergraduates who meet specific skill sets, such as designer or programmer. Students are paid on an hourly basis to work on each project and can generally use their work to fulfill graduate applied project or senior project requirements. Students meet directly with customers and learn what it means to work with deadlines.
Each SWDE project typically generates a small amount of revenue that is used to purchase new software or tools as needed for future projects. Not only does each project benefit the students with workplace experience, but revenue also benefits future students by enabling enterprise projects to continue.