Michigan State University

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program

Course Information

Multiple sections of the course are being offered by different instructors. Please see individual team pages for team specific information.

  • Credits: 1–2 per semester (repeatable)
  • Prerequisites: Instructor approval; prior related coursework preferred but not required

Course Description

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program engages undergraduate and graduate students in ambitious, long-term, multidisciplinary project teams led by faculty. Students earn academic credit while contributing to research and innovation initiatives. Teams are vertically integrated, consisting of students from different academic levels and disciplines, allowing continuity and mentorship across semesters.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Apply disciplinary knowledge to real-world, long-term research projects.
  2. Develop professional skills in teamwork, leadership, and communication.
  3. Engage in iterative problem-solving, research, and design processes.
  4. Contribute to project documentation, dissemination, and impact assessment.
  5. Gain exposure to multidisciplinary collaboration and mentorship models.

Structure & Expectations

  • Team Meetings: Weekly check-ins with faculty mentor and sub-team leads.
  • Work Contribution: ~3 hours per week per credit hour (e.g., 3–6 hours for 1–2 credits).
  • Deliverables: May include design documents, prototypes, reports, datasets, publications, or outreach materials.
  • Documentation: Students must maintain a personal project log.

Semester Overview

Week Activity / Event
Week 1 Introductions. Overview of teams’ work. Discussion of semester goals.
Week 2 Sub-team selections finalized. Sub-team meeting times finalized.
Week 7 Midterm grades due. Web-based peer reviews released. Design notebooks collected for mid-term grading.
Week 10 Integrated VIP Project Showcase.
Dead Week Final presentations. Peer reviews due at 4 PM Tuesday. Design notebooks collected for final grading.
Finals Week No final exam. No assignments.

Grading

The premise of VIP is teamwork. Like a real-world research and development environment, students work on different aspects of the project, contribute at different levels, and enroll for different credits (1–2). Your grade is based on three areas, along with three requirements. Students must show achievements in all areas below.

1. Documentation and Records (33%)

  • Design Notebook
  • Project wiki/blog or equivalent documentation
  • Code/data contributions (GitHub or similar)

2. Personal Accomplishments and Contributions (33%)

  • Individual deliverables (reports, modules, analyses)
  • Active engagement in project work
  • Pursuit of knowledge necessary for contributions
  • Technical progress demonstrated
  • Leadership/mentorship contributions (for experienced members)

3. Teamwork and Interaction (33%)

  • Attendance and active participation
  • Coordinating activities with teammates
  • Assisting and mentoring others
  • Contributing to team presentations
  • Peer evaluations

Grading Scale (MSU Standard):

  • 4.0 = Excellent
  • 3.5 = Very Good
  • 3.0 = Good
  • 2.5 = Adequate
  • 2.0 = Acceptable
  • 1.0 = Poor
  • 0.0 = Failing

Policies

  • Academic Integrity: Students are expected to uphold MSU’s policies on academic honesty.
  • Teamwork: Collaborative work is central to VIP. Credit will reflect both individual and group contributions.
  • Attendance: Consistent participation is required; repeated unexcused absences may lower the final grade.
  • Continuation: Students may enroll in VIP for multiple semesters, deepening expertise and leadership roles.

Deliverables & Milestones (Sample)

  • Week 1–2: Orientation, onboarding, and initial project goals.
  • Mid-Semester: Progress review presentation.
  • Final Week: Written summary and/or presentation of semester contributions.

Example Team Roles

  • Faculty Mentor: Provides long-term vision and direction.
  • Graduate Student Lead(s): Guide technical and research aspects.
  • Undergraduate Seniors: Mentor newer students, take leadership roles.
  • New Undergraduate Members: Contribute to specific tasks while building skills.

Course Policies and Resources

Inform Your Instructor of Any Accommodations Needed

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD):

Once your eligibility for accommodations has been determined, you will be issued an Accommodation Letter. Please present this letter at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc). Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.

Illness and COVID-19

If you are feeling ill or have tested positive for COVID-19 and have questions:

  • Contact MSU’s COVID-19 Triage Hotline at 855-958-2678 or your primary health care provider.
  • Notify your instructor. You will be excused from class and can receive an extension on assignments.
  • Course material will remain accessible online.

Intellectual Property Agreements

All Virtually Integrated Sections and teams work on projects lead by MSU Faculty. Students volunteering to join the teams are required to share appropriatly in in any discoveries. Students are required to sign the following standard Intellecutal Property agreement in order to participate on the team and get credit for the course:

Commercialized Lecture Notes

Commercialization of lecture notes and university-provided course materials is not permitted in this course.

Academic Honesty

The College of Engineering adheres to MSU’s policies on academic honesty as specified in:

  • General Student Regulations 1.0 – Protection of Scholarship and Grades
  • All-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades

These are detailed in Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide.

Violations:

  • Students who plagiarize or cheat will be reported to the university for disciplinary action.
  • Possible penalties: 0.0 on the assignment/test/quiz and/or point deductions for the first occurrence.

Tuition Refund Period

Details available at: MSU Academic Calendar

Religious Observance

MSU permits students, faculty, and staff to observe holidays of their chosen faith. If you wish to be absent from class for religious observance, make arrangements in advance with your instructor.

Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) Policies

Tolerance and Civility

MSU strives to build an academic community with living and learning environments that expect tolerance of viewpoints and civility toward others.

We call upon all who participate in university events to promote tolerance and civil behavior and to hold themselves to high standards that reflect the university’s commitment to respect viewpoints that may be different from their own. Only by respecting individuals with diverse perspectives and ideas can we build an environment of civility that is conducive to advancing knowledge and transforming lives.