VIP creates long-term, large-scale projects that unite undergraduate education and faculty research, innovation, design, and entrepreneurship through multidisciplinary teams.
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Call for Campus Partner Proposals
ABOUT VIP
The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) model is a cutting-edge educational strategy that involves undergraduate students from various backgrounds and disciplines in extensive, multidisciplinary projects. These projects are integrated into courses and led by faculty, offering students practical experience in research and innovation.
Over the past two decades, the VIP model has been refined and is now implemented at more than 20 universities and colleges globally.
VIP@Maryland and The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) are working to broaden the expansion of this model at UMD. We are seeking to collaborate with campus units interested in offering students opportunities for research and multidisciplinary engagement.
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Call for Proposals
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Launch: December 2024
Submissions Close: February 28, 2025 (end of day)
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Background on the VIP Model​
Use the following resources to learn more about the VIP model:
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A Broad Range of Institutions (from VIP Consortium)
Core VIP Team Design Features
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Alignment with Faculty Goals: VIP Team objectives are based on VIP Faculty Mentors' scholarly and research goals.
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Team Structure: Each VIP Team consists of approximately 10-15 students and operates over multiple years.
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Diversity and Multidisciplinarity: Teams are encouraged to include students from various disciplines.
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Dedicated Spaces: Teams have access to specific learning, meeting, and research spaces as needed.
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Academic Credit: Students earn academic credit each semester they participate in a VIP Team.
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Skill Development: Participants develop both disciplinary and professional skills.
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Shared Goals: Participation by faculty and students is motivated by a mutual interest in achieving shared objectives.
Why Students are Interested in a VIP Team
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Belonging: Students feel a sense of membership by being part of a research group.
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Mentorship: They receive diverse mentorship from peers, graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and faculty mentors.
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Barrier Removal: The program does not require a specific GPA or prior experience for participation.
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Professional Development: Students acquire new skills within and beyond their academic discipline, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving, leadership, and resilience.
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Future Preparation: The program prepares students for graduate training or other post-graduation opportunities.
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Why Campus Partners Should be Interested in a VIP Team
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Long-term Engagement: Students are involved in scholarly and research goals over an extended period.
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Knowledge Continuity: There is increased continuity of knowledge compared to traditional smaller-scale engagements.
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Student Motivation: Participants are enthusiastic, motivated, and productive.
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Grant Proposal Benefits: The program provides educational and broader impacts that benefit grant proposals.
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Research Exploration: It adds a new dimension to scholarly and research exploration.
CATALYZING THE CREATION OF A VIP TEAM
AS A CAMPUS PARTNER
VIP Model Expansion
VIP@Maryland has developed a logistical and academic framework to guide, but not dictate, the design and operation of future VIP Teams. This framework is expected to expand inclusively as new teams form outside ENGR. VIP@Maryland will continue facilitating the approval, design, and launch of ENGR-based VIP Team proposals. OUR will manage the proposal and consideration process for new VIP Teams from other UMD units.
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Likely Candidates to Host a VIP
Campus partners who seek to host a VIP Team likely already have experience working with undergraduate students in their research environments. They might be individual faculty members or a part of a broader research center, group, or consortium. They seek more continuity in their undergraduate engagement and the desire to build a course-based community that operates efficiently, effectively, and sustainably. They want to see students with more experience naturally move into leadership roles and easily add new students as experienced students graduate and/or move on to other downstream opportunities. Campus partners who wish to achieve these goals and have someone to serve as an instructor of record and VIP Faculty Mentor are a good match for this opportunity.
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Long-term Support by OUR and VIP@Maryland
OUR and VIP@Maryland will provide long-term support in the following areas:
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Student Messaging & Recruitment: This includes undergraduate messaging, application facilitation, and team assignments.
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Course Creation & Scheduling: Development of VIPS courses and faculty scheduling.
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Degree Credit Negotiation: Working with academic units to negotiate potential degree credit for VIPS courses.
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Faculty Mentor Support: Ensuring VIP Faculty Mentor readiness and fostering an academic community.
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Team Assessment & Evaluation: Ongoing evaluation of VIP Teams.
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Campus Partner Responsibilities
Campus partners must provide the following for new VIP Teams:
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Infrastructure: Facilities, equipment, and consumables necessary for team operations.
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Instruction & Mentorship: A campus partner to serve as the VIP Faculty Mentor and instructor of record for the VIPS course. These courses typically meet 1-2 hours per week, with mentors committing an additional 1-2 hours for preparation, oversight, and mentorship.
Proposal Submission and Evaluation
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Submission: Interested campus partners are encouraged to submit a VIP Team Proposal via the link at the bottom of the page.
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Evaluation Process: This is not a competitive process; the aim is to start as many new VIP Teams as possible for the Fall 2025 term. Proposals will be reviewed based on the proposed VIP Faculty Mentor's commitment, ideas, and understanding of the program's structure.
Collaborative Conversations
The VIP Team Proposal Collaborative Conversations step (see figure below) will involve OUR team members, VIP@Maryland colleagues, and proposal submitters. The goal is to ensure the availability and readiness of necessary infrastructure and a committed campus partner to serve as the VIP Faculty Mentor.
VIP Team Readiness
We will collaborate with campus partners throughout the Spring and Summer of 2025 to ensure that new VIP Teams are prepared to welcome students in the Fall 2025 term. OUR and VIP@Maryland will provide materials to help new VIP Faculty Mentors prepare their course (template syllabi, formative and summative assessment templates, etc).
