Systemic Reform of STEM Education via a Scalable and Equitable Undergraduate Research Program: Vertically Integrated Projects

Program Abstract: While undergraduate research is a high-impact experience associated with greater learning gains, higher graduation rates, and compensatory gains for marginalized students, minoritized students participate in undergraduate research at lower rates than their peers, and undergraduate research is difficult to scale up to serve all students. The low faculty-to-student ratio in traditional apprentice-style programs is not scalable, and paid research experiences are cost limiting. Course-based undergraduate research experiences are scalable, but they require substantial investments in course development and instruction. This workshop will give participants tools to expand undergraduate research through the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) model, which was designed to serve all students and all disciplines. The VIP model embeds large-scale, long-term, multidisciplinary student teams in ongoing faculty research. The model has proven cost-effective, sustainable, scalable, and adaptable to varied institutions, as it has been implemented at twenty-six US institutions of varying sizes, settings, and missions.