This commentary is by Parwinder Grewal, president of the soon-to-be Vermont State University.
We have completed the fall semester at all three institutions that will become Vermont State University in July 2023. During the fall semester, we completed some key elements of our strategic vision, such as program array optimization, new general education connections program, and lowering tuition by 15% for in-state students and 33% for out-of-state students entering in the fall of 2023.
This is possible because of the governor’s vision for an education system that bridges students from high school to career readiness, the investments in our public higher education institutions and students championed by the Legislature, and the strategic direction the Vermont State Colleges System board of trustees is giving to our work.
As we fully engage with this chance to reimagine higher education in our state, our priorities are four-fold: 1) to become the first statewide hybrid university, 2) to evolve as a career-ready university, 3) to act as a catalyst for rural transformation through community-engaged scholarship and learning, and 4) to be an employee- and student-centric university.
Here’s how we will address these priorities:
- To be the first statewide hybrid university that enhances access and affordability.
We will increase access across our five campuses and 15-plus learning sites through flexible in-person, in-person-plus, and online offerings. A pilot of the in-person-plus approach with our faculty is already underway and seeing success.
Meaghan Meachem, professor and chair of journalism and communications at our Lyndon campus, said of the pilot: “I’ve been able to see the benefits of using technology in a way that brings students together from different locations and allows them to engage in course material in a way that breaks down the barriers of where students are attending from. I’ve also strengthened my course delivery and been able to allow for modality diversity in how students do work within the course, which has allowed students to get more creative with how they tackle different tasks within the course.”
2. To be a career-ready university.
We are embedding industry-relevant micro-credentials in every degree path. Students will be able to study what they are passionate about, while also earning credentials that better prepare them for jobs.
For example, as a liberal arts major, you may earn a micro-credential in Microsoft Excel, proving that you can gather and synthesize data, or Adobe Creative Suite, showing that you can communicate and present information effectively. Hundreds of such micro-credentials will be woven into our courses.
I’m excited for a series of courses and credentials in the realm of entrepreneurship that will help students start their own businesses and nonprofits in the communities in which they live, supported by the Small Business Development Center co-located on our Randolph campus.
3. To be a catalyst for rural advancement.
Vermont State University will foster workforce, community and economic development in rural communities. In doing so, we will engage faculty, staff and students with community leaders to co-envision solutions to local problems through our courses and programs in community-engaged learning, such as our Learning and Working Program.
We will also address the higher education gap by fostering a strong middle and high school-to-Vermont State University pipeline with dual credit programs, early college programs, and summer programs as well as exciting learning opportunities, such as our forthcoming Certificate in 3D Technology, which will be available to high school students in the summer of 2023.
The opportunities offered by our Advanced Manufacturing Center will continue our partnerships with area businesses and support new start-ups. Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, co-located on the Randolph campus, will continue to support small manufacturers in their process improvements and will help prepare our engineering students for industrial process improvements.
4. To be an employee- and student-centric institution.
Vermont State University will foster employee and student well-being with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice. We will promote creativity, innovation, and teamwork, and build a culture of data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.
Comprehensive? Yes. Ambitious? Also yes. Working in the best interest of Vermont and Vermonters? Always.
