How Does it work?
Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) is a program, within the Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship, created to increase student access to hands-on learning with faculty mentors and diverse teams.
Faculty working on long-term projects that need students from multiple disciplines and skill areas are invited to create a VIP course. Students are then able to join their team and earn 1-2 credits in a semester at the 200, 400, or 500 level.
Each VIP project is set up as a unique section of VIP 200 (lower division), VIP 400 (upper division), and VIP 500 (graduate).
The courses are set up in the course catalog to allow maximum flexibility and long term engagement.
- VIP courses have no prerequisites.
- Students must have a permission number from the instructor. To request a permission number students should contact the instructor directly and/or complete the VIP Interest in Registering form.
- Students can register for 1 or 2 credits. Each credit equals about 40 hours of work for the semester.
- Undergraduate students can register for VIP 200 for up to 4 semesters and VIP 400 for up to 6 semesters. Graduate students may register for VIP 500 for up to 6 semesters.
- Course credits typically count as elective credits. Talk to your advisor or department chair to explore how it might count as a research, experiential/internship, and/or capstone class required for graduation.
What are the benefits for students?
Participating in project based learning prepares students for the work world of interdisciplinary teams working on complex problems, where they build skills and responsibilities over time. Students have the opportunity for leadership training and experience, as well as team building and project management skills. Students contribute to the project’s success by exploring different roles on the team depending on what professional and technical skills (e.g., lab skills, scientific method application) they wish to grow. At the heart of VIP is the faculty mentorship, which is one of the most powerful and proven factors in student success after graduation.
Read Gallup’s article “Life in College Matters for Life After College” to learn more about the importance of faculty mentorship.
What are the benefits for faculty?
“Rather than just a professor with an answer key, I get to be a faculty member working side by side with students to solve problems.”
Lynn Catlin, VIP instructor
Through VIP participating faculty are able to integrate their teaching, research, and service activities, while also supporting the scalability and longevity of their research endeavors. Credit for teaching hours and financial incentives for student credit hours varies by department. The Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship provides support to faculty in developing plans, recruitment, forms and materials, and connecting with other VIP instructors. Reach out to us at vip@boisestate.edu to learn more.
