This transformation update is primarily focused on actions taken today by the VSC Board of Trustees.
Anti-Racism Pledge
The Board voted to approve the Anti-Racism Pledge created by members of the Coalition of Minority Students Organization at NVU-Johnson and the VSCS Student Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of the following representatives:
- Tajae Edwards, Castleton University
- Kevin McGreal, Community College of Vermont
- Devyn Thompson, Northern Vermont University-Johnson
- Sabra Anne Snyder, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon ‘21
- Rawniesha Davis, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon
- Cynci Watkins, Vermont Technical College
The pledge is intended to serve as an educational tool and conversation-starter as the VSC seeks to become more respectful and welcoming to all people from all cultural backgrounds.
A copy of the pledge is available for review here (at pp.16-19). Moving forward, the students plan to engage in outreach about the pledge and other educational activities about anti-racism. The pledge is planned to be launched for the start of the Spring 2022 semester. Signing the pledge will be voluntary. While the students will be able to see the name and email address of those who sign the pledge, VSC administrators will not be maintaining a record of or otherwise tracking who chooses to sign the pledge.
As a reminder, the Vermont State Colleges prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of a person’s race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, genetic information, positive HIV-related blood test results, or any other status protected by state or federal law. See Policy 311: Non-discrimination and Prevention of Harassment and Related Unprofessional Conduct and Policy 311’s Implementing Procedures.
VSC DEI Definitions
The Board voted to approve the definitions of “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” used by the New England Resource Center for Higher Education (NERCHE) in its Self-Assessment Rubric for the Institutionalization of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education, with one amendment—the inclusion of “gender identity” in the definition of “diversity”—as follows:
“Diversity: Individual differences (e.g., personality, learning styles, and life experiences) and group/social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, country of origin, physical or cognitive abilities, as well as cultural, political, religious, or other affiliations) that can be engaged in the service of learning.
Inclusion: The active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity—in people, in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in communities (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical). This engagement with diversity has the potential to increase one’s awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions.
Equity: Creating opportunities for equal access and success for historically underrepresented populations, such as racial and ethnic minority and low-income students, in three main areas:
- Representational equity, the proportional participation at all levels of an institution;
- Resource equity, the distribution of educational resources in order to close equity gaps; and
- Equity-mindedness, the demonstration of an awareness of and willingness to address equity issues among institutional leaders and staff.”
NERCHE’s Self-Assessment Rubric will be used as part of the ongoing transformation work. A copy of the rubric is available here (pp. 23-43).
Mission and Vision Statements for Vermont State University
The Board voted to approve the proposed Mission and Vision Statements for the new university. These statements are a key requirement of the accreditation standards that will govern the new university. The proposed statements were drafted by a group of representatives from Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Tech, led by Provost Nolan Atkins, and took into consideration feedback received from faculty assemblies, the Council of Presidents, the recent Town Hall meetings, and other stakeholders, as well as data from VisionPoint’s research. The statements were intentionally crafted to not use higher education jargon and to be understood by a variety of audiences.
Vermont State University Mission and Vision Statements
Mission Statement[1]
Vermont State University prepares all students for meaningful work and responsible citizenship by fostering their intellectual, personal, and creative growth in an accessible, caring, and inclusive community. As Vermont’s regional public university, our technological, professional, and liberal arts programs engage with partners throughout Vermont and beyond to provide students with rich real-world learning while meeting the needs of our communities and the state.
Vision Statement
Vermont State University’s commitment is to the success of every student. We will stand as Vermont’s regional public university with interconnected campuses and sites dispersed throughout the state, a community dedicated to providing accessible and affordable higher learning. Our innovative, relevant programs will focus on student success and career readiness, and will meet students where they are on their educational journey. We will support students’ academic, social, and personal growth, as well as their futures as skilled leaders and lifelong learners through an integrated academic and extracurricular experience. A culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion will be fostered and endure. Our students’ transformational experience will be nurtured through intentional interactions and relationships. The University will provide globally relevant programs spanning the technological, professional, and liberal arts and designed to address the needs and challenges facing Vermont and our world. Students will be drawn to an academic experience that reaches beyond the classroom into our communities with our Green Mountain State as a living laboratory. We will embrace public engagement and partnerships as our civic responsibility, actively contributing to the vibrancy of our communities and their relevance in the global economy. In doing so, our students will gain understanding of community and self and their impact in the world. Our purpose will live on for generations in the positive contributions of our alumni.
Search and Screen Committee for recruitment of the first President of Vermont State University
The Search and Screen Committee members are:
| Trustees | Faculty & Staff | Community Partners |
| Megan Cluver, Chair | Sherill Blodget (Castleton, faculty) | Kathleen James, House of Representatives (Bennington-4) |
| Ryan Cooney | Gina Mireault (NVU, faculty) | Michael Pieciak, Commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation |
| Adam Grinold | Sharron Scott (OC, staff) | Michael Solimano, President and General Manager at Killington Resort & Pico Mountain |
| Bill Lippert | Tiffany Walker (CCV, staff) | Armando Villaseca, former Commissioner of Vermont Department of Education |
| Mary Moran | Roger Weeden (VTC, faculty) | |
| Shawn Tester |
Campus-based interviews of finalists are being planned for the last two weeks in March 2022.
Transformation Update
The Board also received a Transformation Update, which is available here.
[1] For comparison purposes, VSC’s Mission states: “For the benefit of Vermont, the Vermont State Colleges system provides affordable, high quality, student-centered, and accessible education, fully integrating professional, liberal, and career study, consistent with student aspirations and regional and state needs.” See VSC Strategic Planning.
CCV’s Mission states: “The Community College of Vermont supports and challenges all students in meeting their educational goals through an abiding commitment to access, affordability, and student success.” See Mission, Values, and History – Community College of Vermont (ccv.edu).