As they made plans to merge the three four-year schools in the Vermont State Colleges System into one entity, officials had used “Vermont State University” as a placeholder.
But Visionpoint Marketing, North Carolina-based consultants hired by the system, have now recommended that name be made permanent.
“This is a well-founded and strategic recommendation and I am truly excited by the results of the research and the name recommendation,” Sophie Zdatny, the system’s chancellor, said in a statement.
The Vermont State Colleges are embarking on an overhaul in a bid to get on more sound financial footing. Even before the pandemic, the schools struggled with chronic underfunding and declining enrollment, but Covid-19’s arrival in Vermont nearly closed three campuses for good. State officials have been reluctant to pledge more ongoing support to the schools, but they have poured tens of millions in one-time cash to plug pandemic deficits, pay for temporary scholarships and invest in a system revamp.
Leaders in Montpelier have also made clear they expect change in exchange for that money. System trustees have endorsed a merger plan consolidating Castleton University, Vermont Technical College and Northern Vermont University into one administrative entity starting July 1, 2023. Existing campuses would not close. The Community College of Vermont, which is also part of the system, would remain as-is.
“The name is the first of many critical steps to come in establishing the identity of the new institution,” state colleges trustee chair Lynn Dickinson said in a statement. “This is a strong recommendation that leverages both the well-known Vermont brand and our status as a public institution, conveys the state’s commitment to the VSCS and public higher education, and positions us to compete nationally by encapsulating our diverse strengths in a logical and well-established way.”
Institutions within the ailing system have rebranded several times in recent years to boost enrollment. Castleton State College became Castleton University, and Johnson State College and Lyndon State College kept both their campuses but consolidated leadership teams and were rechristened together as Northern Vermont University. Officials and consultants hope using the word “university” instead of “college” will communicate a greater level of quality and prestige.
System trustees are scheduled to vote on the name on Sept. 29, and are soliciting public comment in advance of the meeting. Members of the public can also sign up to speak directly at the meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be live-streamed online.
