To respond to some of the most pressing questions that may be circulating on campuses, here are some transformation FAQs that you may find helpful. Transformation is a work in progress and so there are not answers to every question at this point, but we will update these FAQs as more information becomes available.
As of June 2022, there is now a FAQ page on the Vermont State University website, which can answer additional questions.
1. Why is transformation occurring? How will unification of Castleton, NVU and Vermont Tech meet the goal?
Demographic and economic challenges are impacting higher education institutions throughout the country. As the model of higher education shifts, we are abuilding a university that will transform higher education in Vermont and build a solid foundation for the future. GAs a singly accredited entity, Vermont State University, , will broaden and deepen our offerings for students while reducing redundancy and increasing efficiency to make us more fiscally sustainable. Transformation will ensure we can provide high-quality education to our students now and in the future and is critical to preserving and expanding access to education statewide.,
Through unification, we can strengthen our services and our offerings to better serve the students of Vermont and beyond. The State of Vermont is mandating that we make these changes and is providing significant financial support to us while we do so. We must meet their expectations of system transformation and focus on the VSC’s strategic priorities of affordability, accessibility, quality, and relevance.
2. Will my campus remain open?
Yes. The VSCS Board of Trustees and the Vermont Legislature have expressed their commitment to maintaining our existing campuses at Johnson, Lyndon, Randolph, Williston, and Castleton. By investing millions of dollars into the VSCS over the past year, the legislature has demonstrated its support for our campuses.
3. Will my major be offered at the new university?
Faculty are working hard to align programs across institutions and campuses and develop ways, using technology, of extending access to a broader selection of programs at each campus location and online. This program array work involves exploring ways to bring similar programs currently offered across the three institutions together to create stronger, more academically robust programs. Information about the exact program offerings and the plans for in person courses and alternative options by location will be communicated in the coming weeks. Unification is an incredible opportunity for students to have access to more programs and courses to round out their collegiate experience. Program names may change as we unify programs across the system and build the new, high-quality, and more sustainable array for the new university, but our commitment to high-quality education options for all students remains.
4. Will my major be offered at the location I am considering?
In most cases, students will be able to pursue their desired degree from multiple campus locations around the state through a combination of face-to-face, online, and synchronous remote learning modalities. There will be some academic programs and courses that will be location-based due to their unique classroom/laboratory or other special facility needs. Other programs and courses will be available remotely from anywhere in the state without an on-campus residential requirement. As you consider which majors are of most interest to you, you should work with your admission advisor to determine the program and location combination that best provides the academic and student experience you are seeking.
5. Will the support I need for success continue to be available, such as specified academic support, and wellness services?
We are committed to delivering comprehensive higher education and continuing education for Vermonters and our out-of-state students, while preserving the high-touch, personalized approach, and close-knit campus communities for which the VSCS is known. Student support services are vital to the success of our new university. Each student will have at least one point of contact who will provide personalized support and help the student navigate the institution. Students will be connected to specialists as needed who may be located at their campus or a different campus and may provide those services virtually. All students will have access to high-quality and personalized service and support, regardless of their campus location or online program. Particular attention will be paid to making sure services are accessible and inclusive.
6. Will I be able to complete my current program?
Existing students and those enrolling in the classes starting in Fall of 2022, will continue to have access to the same programs and required courses through their time at the university. If they choose to change to a new program that is offered after Vermont State University launches, they will be able to work with their advisor to ensure it is the best fit for them.
7. Will the courses I currently have at my campus continue to be offered in-person or as a hybrid course?
A wide variety of courses will continue to be offered in-person at your campus. In the future, classmates may join you remotely or you may have the opportunity to take a new or different course as a remote student accessing an in-person, online, or hybrid class offered at a different campus. The bottom line is while many of your offerings will continue as they are, you’ll have more choices moving forward.
8. Will the same Athletic program options be available at my campus after unification?
Athletics is recognized as a core element of the student experience and a source of diversity and energy on each campus where athletics exists today. We are not making any immediate changes to our athletic offerings. We will keep the existing mascots at each location and will incorporate them into the branding standards for the new university. As we always have, we will continue to use data and analysis to make adjustments to athletics in the coming years, but any substantive changes would be announced at least a year in advance.
9. What residential options will be available on the campus I choose to attend?
Existing housing and dining options will remain in place for the 2022-23 academic year, and any significant changes to those options will be made over time. Some flexible and affordable residential and dining options will be added in the future, with a particular focus on how to better serve the evolving needs of students. We will have more information for students entering in Fall2023 as the transformation work continues this spring.
10. If I enroll in one of the three institutions before Fall of 2023, can I choose to have my diploma reflect the name of my current institution?
If you enroll before the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, you will have the option to request a commemorative diploma with the name of your current institution or Vermont State University.
11. Are the requirements for liberal arts or general education in the technical associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs going to change?
By design, undergraduate programs across all disciplines currently include courses in liberal arts or general education to ensure that students graduate with the non-technical knowledge, skills, and abilities that are needed in the 21st century workplace. As we align and unify our general education offerings, students will have a more diverse and larger selection of courses to choose from to meet their program’s general education requirements. For existing students, any new requirements will only affect new students or those choosing to change to a new program.
12. Will there continue to be programs that focus on workforce development, innovation, and technology?
The state recognizes the critical role Vermont Tech and the other VSCS schools play in building a skilled workforce in Vermont, as well as in supplying the workforce of the future. We will continue to meet this need through unification and look forward to this being reflected in the mission, vision, and brand identity of the new institution.