The ARC Program, launched in 2021 by the Office of the Vice President for Research and UVM Innovations, offers UVM students from any major experiential learning to become entrepreneurial leaders and supports faculty in commercializing research discoveries. It equips student entrepreneurs with skills to turn innovations into marketable products. 

Students work like a startups, guided by professionals, to explore team dynamics, ideas, and market viability. Multi-disciplinary teams develop business models and strategies, leveraging their academic knowledge in real-world projects. The program bridges university research and the professional community, fostering mentorship and societal impact through practical entrepreneurial experience.

The ARC program, overseen by Student Entrepreneurship Lead, Mollie Davis and the Entrepreneurship Faculty, is housed in UVM Innovations. UVM Innovations presents disclosed technologies to ARC students, who then evaluate and select projects based on commercialization readiness, faculty motivation, and achievable timelines. The program runs during the Fall and Spring semesters with a 10-hour weekly commitment over the semesters, excluding study periods, exams, and breaks. In the summer, teams work a full-time, 37.5-hour a week, advancing their technologies and developing business aspects. The program is open to all UVM undergraduate students regardless of major or college or academic standing. 

The ARC structure provides team members with opportunities for promotion and upward mobility within the program. Student team members have the opportunity to apply to become team leaders in the following year (provided they are still enrolled at UVM). This internal promotion plan ensures that, as long as the ARC program is operational, there will always be opportunities for students to learn valuable leadership skills they can take with them post-graduation.

ARC team leads will work with the Office of Research and UVM Innovations to recruit potential student participants into the program each year via social media, direct presentation in front of classes, and career center newsletters and outreach. Once an initial batch of applicants is identified, the program leaders work with UVM Innovations on the interviewing and review process used to select new members. This hiring process utilizes objective numerical rubrics to try to reduce personal bias and stigma from the hiring process. The ARC program will strive to be accessible and inclusive of all students regardless of academic focus or personal identity.