Foundry Fellowship

A two-semester fellowship focused on collaborative, creative exploration and innovative teamwork.

BOW students may apply as a team (between 2-6 people) to develop or continue a project of their design. These projects could manifest in limitless ways, from advancing a design or engineering project, supporting an entrepreneurial endeavor/prototype-creation effort, creating an artwork, making an app/game or even choreographing a performance and producing a film or something at the intersection of all of the above—the opportunities are endless.

Each team may receive up to $1000 for their project and will also receive a dedicated workspace in the Foundry, priority for Foundry equipment, storage space for projects, and free Foundry materials.

Applications are open for the 2024-25 academic year cohort and will be due by October 21st, 2024 at midnight. Please email foundryinfo@babson.edu with the subject Fellowship if you have questions.

 

Expectations:

Membership

  • Fellows are required to uphold the values and honor codes of the Weissman Foundry.

    • You can sign both the honor code and Waiver here.

  • Fellowship teams are encouraged to include members from at least two BOW schools. Exceptions will be considered.

  • Fellows are required to have weekly check-ins with the Assistant Director of the Weissman Foundry or the Scout/Scout Manager of the Foundry Fellowship.

    • If a specific fellow is unable to attend a check-in, please notify us and reschedule 24 hours in advance.

  • Fellows are required to participate and attend all events on the Fellowship Calendar.

    • Reasons for missing events must be submitted in 48 hours.

    • Fellows are also strongly encouraged to attend other relevant Foundry events.

  • Normally, Fellows are required to work on their project at or with the Foundry, such as have internal team meetings, brainstorming, prototyping, etc. and not take Foundry Fellowship projects offsite to work on them. However, it is understood that in certain circumstances projects may be needed off-site, for testing, etc.

    • If you would like to work on site you may treat the fellowship as a residency at a hospital. We want you to almost “move-in” and take over a part of the Foundry.

  • Fellows are required to submit a fellowship work schedule, where it is stated the times they are dedicating to work on their fellowship project.  

  • Fellows are expected to meet their milestones.

    • Any changes and pivots are understandable but must be communicated via Slack or email.

  • Fellows are required to complete the Foundry Feedback forms and are entered to win team sweatshirts with your logo.

  • Fellows are required to submit a team photo(s).

2024-25 Calendar of Events for all Fellows

  • BLEND Event
    Wednesday, October 2nd, 5pm - 6pm

  • Applications Due
    Monday, October 21st, 11:59 pm EST
    DEADLINE EXTENDED TO Sunday, October 27th, 11:59 pm EST

  • Decision Date
    Thursday, November 7th shared via email

  • Fellows Kickoff
    Thursday, November 14th, 5pm - 6pm

  • Fellows Spring Start
    TBD - January

  • Fellows Workdays
    TBD - February, March, April

  • Final Presentations
    TBD - Mid-April

Communication

  • Fellows are expected to contribute to the Foundry culture such as: sharing your work with others, asking others how you can help them on their projects, or feedback on your own.

  • The main form of communication between Fellows, Scouts, and Administration is Slack.

  • Fellows are expected to check Slack everyday to receive or provide any announcements or information.

  • If you are awarded a Foundry Fellowship you will be invited to the Foundry Slack, and will be expected to check your messages there.

  • There will be weekly emails to remind teams on upcoming events and actionable items to complete for the week.

  • Fellows are suggested that they attend some Foundry-hosted events.

  • Fellows are suggested to promote and volunteer to work on Foundry-hosted event.

Funding & Finances

  • Fellows are responsible for ordering their materials through the Scout Fellowship Coordinator or Assistant Director. You will be asked to provide links to the materials you are interested in ordering, and the Coordinator will order your materials for you and will arrive at the Weissman Foundry.

  • Fellows are required to schedule a bi-semester audit with the PM of Fellowship Program

    • Should any purchases be made for any items outside the use of the fellowship program will result in immediate termination of your fellowship

 

FAQS:

  1. What are the hours to the Foundry?

    The Collaborative Workroom is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., everyday. The Studios are open during normal operational hours from 10am-9pm Mon-Fri and 12pm-8pm Sat/Sun. In addition, Foundry Fellows will have greater access to the Innovation Studio, as needed.

  2. How can I travel to and from Wellesley to The Foundry?

    The BOW schools have a shuttle that runs roughly hourly between the three campuses. Find out more here.

  3. How do I purchase my equipment and materials?

    By providing us with website links to the equipment and materials you require and we will purchase them for you.

  4. How can The Foundry Scouts help me with my project?

    The Scouts are here to provide feedback and technical advice, as well as (whenever possible) training on Foundry Equipment. You can sign up for trainings here and find contact information for all current Scouts here.

  5. What if my team begins to fall behind on our milestones?

    We will review this case by case, and work hard with you to get your team back on track. After two (2) attempts are made and work continues to not be completed, your team may be asked to forfeit the Fellowship.

  6. Who are the Fellowship judges for end of semester competition?

    Once we have identified the Fellows, we will be selecting judges with backgrounds that relate to your project themes to provide critique along the way and judgment at the end.

  7. What are the criteria my project will be judged at the end of the Fellowship?

    The judges will be looking at three criteria:

    1. How experimental and creative was your process of designing and making your project and how experimental and creative was your final product.

    2. How successfully your team and project made use of the Foundry culture, equipment, and trainings.

    3. How successfully your team and project integrated and worked with the BOW community.

**Failure to comply with any of these expectations and/or any safety violation will result in your team being placed on probation. Any further infringement on the policies or safety will result in the termination of your fellowship.