Vertically Integrated Projects for Experiential Research (VIPER)
Colorado School of Mines
About VIPER
The VIPER Model
The Vertically Integrated Projects for Experiential Research (VIPER) Program is a transformative approach to enhancing higher education by engaging undergraduate and graduate students in ambitious, long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary project teams that are led by faculty. The program model has been evaluated and refined over more than two decades at 50+ institutions.
In VIPER, teams of undergraduate students – from various years, disciplines and backgrounds – work with faculty and graduate students in their areas of scholarship and innovation. Undergraduate students earn academic credit for their work and have direct experience with the innovation process, while faculty and graduate students benefit from the extended efforts of their teams.
| Creates long-term experiences with the innovation process | VIPER extends project-based learning beyond a single semester, with students participating for up to three years. It provides the time and context for students to gain deeper insights into their field of study, to learn and practice professional skills, to make substantial contributions to real-world projects, and to experience different roles on large, multidisciplinary teams. |
| Cultivates leadership & mentoring | The long-term nature of VIPER creates an environment of mentorship, with faculty and graduate students mentoring teams, experienced students mentoring new members, and students moving into leadership roles as others graduate. |
| Supports faculty scholarship and innovation | VIPER attracts students from many disciplines and enables the completion of ambitious projects, which strengthens and expands faculty scholarship and innovation. Faculty members create projects around their own interests, so they bring both expertise and enthusiasm to each team. |
VIPER Team Information and Applications Coming Soon
Through VIPER, students work with faculty on multidisciplinary project teams. Students earn academic credit and can participate multiple semesters, with returning students taking on additional leadership/project responsibilities. “Vertically Integrated” refers to VIPER team compositions, which include sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate students, post-docs and faculty.
The Vertically Integrated Projects model was established by the VIP Consortium, a global, nonprofit alliance of universities that operate Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) programs. It provide the ecosystem that supports the expansion, success, promotion, and implementation of VIP worldwide.