Vertical Integration (presence of team leader(s), graduate students, and undergraduates at various levels of experience) on the team allows for students already on the team (vs. the team leader exclusively) to mentor and onboard new students to the team.

Some team leaders also have success with creating small sub-teams of 4-6 students, with mixed levels of experience within each sub-team - so each sub-team has built-in leadership.

VIP courses most often run as (small group) Directed Research at the level of the department or college- ex. BME 392 (Dept, UG level), or INFO 592 (College, GR level). However other options are possible if you dept/college prefers another setup. Whatever the VIP course, please tag it with the VIP course attribute available in the registration system - it is under Research Experience (REXP) and the VIP attribute is "VIP."

It benefits VIP for students to be enrolled, even if it is just for one unit, so we can show the impact of the program, and students involved can be tracked in the U of A system as "students participating in research, scholarship or creative activities."

See more detail on enrolling students: VIP Enrollment Guide

Yes, if funds are available and you are able to hire a student as a research assistant who would not otherwise be able to participate in your VIP Team (or participate as fully), hiring students has the potential to expand access to research for them. You can hire students from your own funds or check with the VIP Program Coordinator to see if funds are available for the VIP program to hire and pay a student through the federal work-study program. 

See more details on hiring students: VIP Hiring Guide

Yes.
Here are two recent examples:

Syllabus for a large (40-person) lab-based VIP Team

Syllabus for a small (6-person) VIP focused on secondary data analysis 

VIP course structure is up to the Team Leader(s). But, suggested elements include: 

• VIP Notebooks – at least 2x/semester (Notebook in form of a Wiki/Website, VIP Notebook Check Rubric)
• Peer Evaluations – at least 2x/semester (Peer Eval Tool)
• Final presentation or poster (VIP Poster Templates, Presentation Rubric)
• Reflection on their work/experience (Example reflection)

Some VIP Teams also may use:

• Student-selected final projects where they create something to benefit the team in the future.

Please email Program Coordinator Kay Orzech, kmcelvee@arizona.edu

She can direct you to a VIP template to be filled in with your grant details, and ensure the letter is signed by the VIP Faculty Director.

Please allow at least 5 workdays for this to happen!

If you have been funded by a VIP Catalyst Seed grant, you can include the text “Funded through a VIP Catalyst Seed Grant.” 

If you are a health sciences/medicine team funded by a Catalyst Seed Grant, you can include: “Funded through a VIP Catalyst Seed Grant with matching funds from Health Sciences Design.”

For a more detailed acknowledgement of VIP student work, see this example. 

You are always welcome to include the University of Arizona VIP Logo on posters:
Link to the light-background VIP logo

Link to the reverse (dark background) VIP logo

In Fall 2026, only University of Arizona faculty or staff who currently lead an active VIP team are eligible to apply. 

The AZ Cultivate direct link is: https://azcultivate.arizona.edu/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2036222 (Google Chrome is the browser that works best with AZ Cultivate)

Or you can visit https://azcultivate.arizona.edu/ and look for "Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Catalyst Seed Grant Fall 2026"

Teams may request any amount up to $2,000. Request the amount needed for the proposed work; smaller requests are welcome.

No. Growth is one possible use of Catalyst funding, but it is not required. A strong proposal might instead help current students remain involved, take on more meaningful work, or contribute more effectively.

Yes! The Fall 2026 Seed Grant Preview for Applicants is a Word document listing application questions asked, available for viewing/download in the VIP Team Leader Resources folder available behind the U of A login. 

Yes. Previous recipients may apply. If you have an overdue report from a previous VIP seed grant, you may still compete for an award, but the report must be completed before new funds can be released.

Recent VIP support is not part of the proposal score. When similarly strong proposals compete for limited funding, however, the review team may consider recent VIP support when making final award decisions.

Yes. VIP may offer a partial award when a smaller amount can still accomplish something meaningful. The application asks whether partial funding would be useful, the minimum useful amount, and what you would prioritize. If VIP funds only a specific part of your proposal, your award notice will identify what the funding is intended to support.

No. Matching funds and other contributions are welcome but are not required or expected. Applications do not receive preference simply because they include matching funds.

Count the students whose participation, contribution, responsibility, ability to continue, or access to the team will actually change because of the funding. Do not automatically count everyone on the team if the proposed investment will affect only some students. The number of students is useful context, but a proposal does not become stronger simply because it lists more students.

List the business or financial administrator who handles purchasing and financial transactions for your unit

Please confirm that this is the correct person before submitting. If your team receives an award, this person may need to work with VIP Finance to process purchases, payments, reimbursements, or other expenses from your Catalyst subaccount. Do not list a student, VIP staff member, or yourself unless you actually serve in this financial role. Providing the wrong contact, or a contact who does not respond, may delay your ability to use the award.

VIP Catalyst funds are flexible when the expense directly supports the purpose of the proposal. Possible uses include:

•  undergraduate student wages;
•  pay for graduate/professional student mentors;
•  supplies, materials, equipment, software, or licenses;
•  research, project, field, or community-engagement costs;
•  student travel, dissemination, or professional-development costs;
•  food or refreshments connected to an eligible activity;
•  participant incentives or compensation; and
•  other project costs that directly support undergraduate participation or contribution.

All expenses remain subject to University of Arizona financial, purchasing, hiring, travel, and other applicable rules. Equipment, software, supplies, and materials do not need to be used exclusively by undergraduates, but the application should explain how they will benefit undergraduate participation or contribution.

Yes. If students may be eligible for Federal Work-Study, Catalyst funding can go substantially further. For Spring 2027 planning, approximately $1,000 in Catalyst funding can cover the University of Arizona share for one eligible Federal Work-Study student for one semester, with federal funds contributing additional dollars toward the student's wages. Applicants should budget the University share, not the student's full wages. You do not need to know a student's Federal Work-Study eligibility before applying; select 'Not sure' if appropriate.

Yes, when their role directly increases the team’s ability to engage, mentor, or develop undergraduate students. The appropriate payment mechanism will depend on the student’s existing appointment and University requirements.

Yes. Funding may support travel connected to the team's work as well as dissemination and professional development, including conference presentations.

For dissemination travel, students should also consider the University of Arizona Undergraduate Research Travel Grants as an additional source of support.

Yes, when those expenses directly support the proposed activity and are allowable under University rules. Participant compensation for human-subjects research must also be consistent with the approved research protocol.

No. Do not make purchases or financial commitments assuming that your application will be funded. If you have received written notice of an award but the funds are not yet available, contact VIP before incurring expenses.

VIP Finance will create a centrally managed subaccount for each award.

Your proposed use of the funding should be realistic to carry out during FY27, which ends June 30, 2027. Please communicate with your business office to ensure you allow time for processing of your spending – “final spend” deadlines often occur well in advance of June 30. Award funds must be used during FY27 and cannot carry forward beyond June 30, 2027.

Minor changes are fine if they still support the purpose of the award. If you want to make a significant change in what the funding will support or what the award is expected to make possible, contact VIP before spending the funds.

Yes. A brief final report is due July 30, 2027, describing what the funding made possible and what changed for the students or team. VIP will also complete a spending check on April 5, 2027 with all awarded teams, to identify potential year-end spending problems early.