The Engineering Institute

Students who complete an Institute can often use the experience for high school credit through participating high school's flexible pathways programs. The hours and academic content at each GIV Institute often equate to a full class at most Vermont high schools.

Awarding high school credit is at the discretion of the student’s sending school.
Some high schools cannot award credit for completion due to variations in grading systems, PLPs, and credit systems.

To support the process, we recommend students make a plan with their high school guidance counselor or Flexible Pathways coordinator before attending GIV to explore credit options

For participating schools and Flexible Pathways programs, students have been able to gain credit for presenting their academic achievements at GIV through methods such as...
- Offering a formal presentation to reflect on their studies and their experience at GIV to present for counselors and/or teachers in Fall after completing an Institute.
- A showcase of a final product, which are created in the final days at most Institutes either as an individual or group project.
- A learning journal to be submitted and reviewed to share areas of learning, activities, reflections.
- Work examples to share with sending school teachers (physical or digital products, writing, videos of presentations, learning journal, etc.) to be reviewed and assessed.

To connect with someone at your school who can explore or support this process, see the current list of School Ambassadors at https://giv.org/resources-for-students (scroll to the bottom of the page).

1-week intensive
2 activities each day
Students choose between two strands of study- energy or hydrology
Students work independently and in teams on projects
Workshops, presentations, and activities that cover different areas of engineering
Field trips to area engineering hubs and businesses
Hands-on exploration
Dormitories and roommates
12:1 student-to-staff ratio

Energy
Sustainability
Hydrology
Electricity
Mechanics
Robotics
Mathematics
Manufacturing
Aeronautics and aerospace

50+ hours of engineering training
Connections/collaborations with professional engineers and college professors.
Resume-building
Connections with partner organizations, companies and local employers (GS Precision, Global Foundaries, Norwich Solar, NASA, and more)

Equivalent to one semester of high school credit in 1 or more of the following:

Science - Physical Sciences
Science - Engineering and Technology
Mathematics- Geometry

This Institute’s curriculum has been aligned with the following Vermont proficiency-based graduation requirements at the high school level.

Science
- Physical Sciences: 1d, 1e, 1j, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g
- Engineering Technology and Applied Science: 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f, 8g, 8h

Mathematics
- Modeling: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f
- Functions: 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f
- Geometry: 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e

Transferable Skills
- Communication: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g
- Self-Direction: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i
- Problem Solving: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h
- Citizenship: 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f
- Informed Thinking: 5a, 5b, 5f

For more detail and to compare different opportunities, check out our Academic Guide!