Current Students FAQs
While returning students do not need to reapply, team leaders can require a registration permit or establish other requirements to ensure that returning students are academically eligible and have demonstrated satisfactory engagement with their VIP team. Please contact your VIP team leader with any questions.
Because VIP was designed to encourage long-term participation, the program is not meant to accommodate students who switch from team to team. As a disincentive, students might be asked to take a one-semester break between involvement in their current team and enrollment in a different team. Students seeking exceptions to this rule should discuss the matter with each team's leader(s).
Peer evaluations are an important component of the VIP team experience. Students evaluate classmates with whom they work, typically with one evaluation at midterms and one at the end of each semester. Only instructors can view completed evaluations, and they use them to monitor student progress. Students can only submit peer evaluations during active evaluation periods. Instructors can access evaluations at any time. If they are required in your team, your team leader will provide details regarding how the peer evaluations will be conducted.
VIP notebooks, whether electronic or hard-copy, allow students to track and document their efforts. In turn, VIP notebooks allow instructors to assess student contributions to the team. Notebooks are graded twice each semester (or at other intervals as determined by team leaders), and explicit feedback is given in categories including completeness of meeting and design notes; maintenance and check-off of a to-do list; and usability by future students who may need to understand why a particular design decision was made. More information on VIP notebooks is available under our Tools menu.
Yes! As the VIP grows, it will have opportunities for student ambassadors to table at recruiting events, execute VIP poster sessions, and speak at VIP receptions. Please email vipprogram@arizona.edu for more information.