Program Overview

Introduction to the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program is designed to facilitate long-term research involving large teams of faculty/staff members and students. The students gain valuable research skills and academic credit through their participation, and faculty are able to scale up their research through the framework provided by VIP.

Key Characteristics of VIP Teams

• They are large, often involving multiple faculty and staff members, 10-20 undergraduates, multiple graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, community or organizational partners, etc.
• They are interdisciplinary, involving multiple perspectives to solve big problems.
• They are based in faculty research interests, which allows teams to thrive for several years and helps advance the scholarly agendas of faculty members.
• They are aimed at big issues in the discipline(s).

Examples of VIP Projects

• A team at Georgia Institute of Technology conducts research on the safety of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, recruiting students from nine different majors.
• A team at Boise State University conducts research on how to support students with disabilities, recruiting any students interested in the topic with special emphasis on education, social work, sociology, psychology, and others.
• A team at Purdue University is focused on making the planet's history easily accessible to both public and scientific audiences, recruiting students enthusiastic about tackling innovative creative projects.

Benefits of VIP for Students

• Improved written and oral communication skills
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Acquiring information independently
• Analyzing literature critically
• Developing intellectual curiosity
• Academic and professional socialization
• Better credentials for graduate school and careers
• Success in graduate school

Participation in VIP

• Students can participate in VIP teams for several semesters or years.
• All students will present their research at the Symposium of Student Scholars and write a reflection about their experience.
• Other tasks will be decided in consultation with the Primary Investigator and other team members.

Grading and Credits

• All students will enroll in a course each semester they participate in a project.
• The Primary Investigator of each team will create a syllabus for their section of RES 4000 or RES 7000, explaining the grading requirements.
• Students may be graded on the quality of their work, performance on a team, attendance/participation in team meetings, and possible outputs such as a final poster, oral presentation, and/or paper.

Getting Involved in a VIP Project

• Descriptions of each project are located on the teams page.
• If you have questions, contact the Primary Investigator on the project you wish to join to learn more about the project.
• Complete the application form to join a project.
• Once selected, you will be enrolled in RES 4000 or RES 7000 for a variable number of credits depending on the workload.

Restrictions on Participation

• The VIP program is open to all students of all majors at all levels.
• Students can join teams that are in their major or outside of their major, but should consult with their academic advisor regarding how VIP credit can fit into their degree program.

Resources for Students

• Video Series: The Office of Undergraduate Research provides short videos on undergraduate research topics.
• Online Resources: A list of online resources on undergraduate research topics from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
• Presenting & Publishing: Numerous presentation and publication opportunities for work, including KSU's Symposium of Student Scholars and other conferences.
• Funding: The Office of Undergraduate Research provides funding for student researchers through the URCA program.
• Undergraduate Research Club (URC): A Registered Student Organization free and open to any undergraduates with an interest in research.
• Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR): A national organization supporting undergraduate research, with resources for faculty and students, including funding.