VIPP offers participants a wide variety of learning opportunities and experiences beyond the VIPP curriculum, such as free language courses, seminars, and cultural events.
Signature Lectures
- For VIPP's Signature Lecture series, we invite renowned MSU scholars and community leaders to deliver a lecture on important topics relevant to our scholars. Our signature lectures provide an intellectually stimulating discussion and will push your thinking beyond your current boundaries.
Cultural Events and Field Trips
- VIPP offers many cultural family-friendly events where participants can learn more about American cultures and lifestyles. Past cultural events have included cross-country skiing, a maple syrup festival, Thanksgiving potluck, and football tailgating.
Brown Bag Lunch Seminar
- A brown bag seminar is an American practice in which people gather during the lunch hour and learn something new while eating. VIPP provides two or three brown bag seminars each semester to provide casual learning opportunities to our participants. Topics are pertinent to safe and healthy living at MSU and in Michigan, helping participants smoothly transition to American life.
Conference Travel Grants
- VIPP is pleased to provide a conference travel grant worth up to $600 for VIPP participants. 12-month GPEP and SGPEP program participants are eligible to apply if they plan to attend academic or professional conferences, workshops, or other relevant events related to professional development during their program stay. The travel should be within the domestic U.S. For details of eligibility and application process, download the conference travel grant application form.
Free Language Courses
- In addition to VIPP's language courses, you can visit the Volunteer English Tutoring Program webpage to find Lansing community resources for free language courses. Make sure to check the time and place before you start attending any class.
Coursera
- MSU now offers free online courses through Coursera. All of the courses found on this site are non-degree, completely online, and free. These courses act as supplemental material for a class you may already be taking or as a trial run for a subject or field you may be interested in.