Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) provides UMD students of all backgrounds, disciplines, and levels of experience with the opportunity to engage in scaffolded, multidisciplinary team-based projects.

Starting a VIP Team

About the VIP Program & VIP Teams

Discover the benefits of the VIP program for participating students.

About VIP Team Proposals

The VIP program aims to empower a broad range of faculty members from all campus disciplines to establish and maintain a team of motivated and productive undergraduates engaged in faculty-led research objectives. Our goal is to offload challenges related to advertising, student recruitment and selection, and the continual setup of affiliated courses and curriculum. We take that load on so that you can focus on student mentorship, research community development, and productive research outcomes. Each semester, we launch a campus-wide process of proposal facilitation with campus partners, which enables us to expand this program to serve a larger number of UMD faculty members and students.

About VIP Teams

Each VIP Team targets clear, defined, and achievable objectives related to research, design, entrepreneurship, or community outreach & service. An important aspect of VIP Team design is that all team projects are derived from the research agendas, interests, scholarship, and expertise of the VIP Faculty Mentor. In this manner, the VIP experience for students is more than just a class - it's an authentic, experiential engagement.

Campus partners who seek to lead a VIP Team may have experience working with undergraduate students in their research environments or may be new to leading a research team.

Launch a VIP Team and serve as a VIP Faculty Mentor to:

Advance your research & innovation with long-term student support.
Lead a multidisciplinary, scalable team with sustained peer mentoring.
Launch, grow, and succeed through the support we provide for student recruitment, team selection, course creation and scheduling, and other related materials.
Be a part of a community of VIP Faculty Mentors who meet, discuss, and grow together.

You do not need to have an existing research group to start a VIP Team!

Proposing a VIP Team

Submitting a proposal for a VIP Team generally happens in two phases. In Phase I, you provide the necessary information for us to understand the VIP Team you wish to lead. We discuss this information with you in a collaborative meeting.

If the outcome of the collaborative meeting is "launch this team!", we ask that you submit a Phase II proposal to provide all the necessary information to create courses and communicate the team to students during their application process.

Submit a VIP Team Phase I Proposal

Submit a VIP Team Phase II Proposal

Proposal Timelines

Phase I proposals for VIP Teams to launch in Spring 2026 will open in early September 2025.
Phase I proposals will close on September 30, 2025 (ongoing submissions considered).
Phase II proposals for VIP Teams advancing toward launch are due on October 17, 2025.

VIP Proposal & Launch Process

Submit VIP Team Phase I Proposal:
Interested campus partners should submit a VIP Team Phase I proposal before the close.
Collaborative Conversations:
After reviewing your proposal, we will connect with you to learn more. We will work with you to ensure the availability and readiness of infrastructure to support a VIP Team, answer your questions and concerns, and provide collaborative support to help drive a successful launch of your proposed VIP Team.
VIP Team Decisions Finalized & Announced:
After the collaborative conversation, should the VIP Team be determined to be ready to move forward, we will launch your VIP Team by developing a team web presence, advertising the team to students, and facilitating student applications and enrollments. To complete this step, please submit a Phase II proposal, providing us with the necessary information to launch your VIP Team as part of this program.
Supporting New Team Readiness & Launch:
We will collaborate with new VIP Team leaders in the period leading up to the team launch to ensure that new VIP Teams are prepared to welcome students. We will provide materials to help new VIP Faculty Mentors prepare their course (template syllabi, formative and summative assessment templates, etc).

Proposal Submission and Evaluation

Submission:
Interested campus partners are encouraged to submit a VIP Team Proposal via the link above.
Evaluation Process:
This is not a competitive process. The aim is to start as many new VIP Teams as possible. Proposals will be reviewed based on the proposed VIP Faculty Mentor's commitment, ideas, and understanding of the program's structure.

Can students propose or launch a VIP Team?

No. Students cannot propose or launch a VIP Team. Students interested in getting involved with VIP can learn more about the program on the VIP Students page.

What is the average size and structure of a VIP Team?

VIP Teams can range in size from 8 to 30+ students from any major at UMD. We suggest that new teams start with 8-10 students and welcome additional students after they are established. VIP Teams can be organized into any structure that best facilitates the functions of the team; most often, we see VIP teams organized into subteams of around 3-4 students.

What benefits do students get from participating?

In addition to developing a relationship with their VIP Faculty Mentor and VIP Team, students earn course credit for their involvement in VIP Teams. Long-term engagement in teams allows students the opportunity to develop and hone their communication, teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking skills. These skills help them as they move towards graduation and take on their next steps. Students who take on advanced leadership roles in their teams may earn additional course credit for the extra time they dedicate to supporting their team.

What benefits do I get from running a VIP Team?

Faculty benefit from student work and a broader impact of their research and education efforts, while students gain additional project experience, leadership opportunities, and teamwork skills. Additionally, VIP Faculty Mentors become part of a growing community of individuals across UMD who engage students in hands-on, experiential, and research-based activities.

What is the time commitment for running a VIP Team?

It depends, but ~4 hours per week. VIP Teams should meet once per week during their scheduled course time (1-2 hours per week). This "course" time can be used at the VIP Faculty Mentor's discretion. We often see VIP Teams doing hands-on work, having whole team meetings, and planning next steps during this time. In addition, students are expected to engage in VIP Team activities (e.g., working with their subteams, engaging in literature reviews, hands-on time in the lab, or online work) for an additional 1-2 hours per week. This time may or may not be supervised by VIP Faculty Mentor.

What course would I need to teach? Does that involve grading?

Each VIP Team is affiliated with a VIPS course that allows students to earn course credit for their engagement in the team. Students earn letter grades in VIPS courses and are assessed based on their documentation & record keeping, teamwork & interaction (peer evaluation), and personal contributions to the team.

VIP Program Responsibilities

We will provide long-term support in the following areas:

Student Messaging & Recruitment:
This includes undergraduate messaging, application facilitation, and team assignments.
Course Creation & Scheduling:
We are responsible for the creation and scheduling of VIPS courses.
Degree Credit Negotiation:
We will work with academic units to negotiate potential degree credit for VIPS courses.
Faculty Mentor Support:
VIP Faculty Mentor readiness and fostering an academic community.
Team Assessment & Evaluation:
Ongoing evaluation of VIP Teams.

Campus Partner Responsibilities

Campus partners must provide the following for new VIP Teams:

Infrastructure:
Facilities, equipment, and consumables necessary for team operations.
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.