In preparation for the upcoming screening of candidates to serve as the inaugural President of Vermont State University, the Board of Trustees had requested clarification as to the respective roles and responsibilities of the Board, Chancellor, and Presidents. Accordingly, at today’s meeting of the Board of Trustees (February 14, 2022), the Board reviewed those sections of the legislatively created Select Committee’s Report addressing the role of the Chancellor’s Office and the consolidation of administrative services, see here, plus a high-level summary outlining the respective roles in certain key areas. See here. As part of the discussion, the Presidents shared their thoughts and the Board heard from Dennis Jones, President Emeritus of NCHEMS.
The Chair of the Board reminded everyone that no decisions have yet been made as to the organizational structure for the delivery of administrative services and noted that there will be further discussion within the parameters of the roles and responsibilities set forth in the summary. Decisions as to what exactly this will look like will be informed by the ongoing transformation work regarding people, processes, and systems, as well as the ongoing financial analysis work. The Board also emphasized that, in providing funding and directing the transformation, the state is focused on the students served by Vermont State Colleges.