The Vertically Integrated Projects-Research (VIP-R) Program
The Vertically Integrated Projects – Research (VIP-R) program is a new initiative out of the Office of Instruction designed to unite the University of Georgia’s commitments to excellence in instruction and in research.
This program follows a national model from the VIP Consortium and aims to offer a research structure that supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research teams that include undergraduate researchers, their faculty mentors, and other scientists such as graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and faculty collaborators. VIPR teams engage UGA students in long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary research as they work alongside faculty and graduate students to solve real-world challenges.
Through this innovative teamwork, this program provides three main benefits: undergraduate students are more prepared for the future, faculty research is advanced across the university, and faculty and graduate students gain increased leadership and mentorship experiences while undergraduate students develop as professionals.
VIPR teams are built with student success in mind. The VIPR teams are equitable and open to all students who have completed their first year at the university; they are accessible, allowing students to experience research projects typically reserved for graduate students and faculty; and they are scalable, helping faculty design teams that work best at the University of Georgia.
The VIP Consortium’s primary goal is to remove systemic barriers to high impact learning experiences, creating pathways for students of all backgrounds to succeed in college and beyond.
As the birthplace of public higher education in America, the University of Georgia is inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs, researchers, and informed citizens who will change the world.