A key goal of the unification is to increase accessibility for students across everything Vermont State University has to offer. We believe that Vermont State University is the first example of an institution planning to deliver its entire academic program array—to a varying extent for each individual program depending on the learning requirements—with faculty and students in multiple locations all engaging together using different technology modalities. Our approach is one particularly suited to our small rural scale in Vermont.
This means that wherever possible, we will be establishing systems, processes, and learning opportunities that meet students where they are, breaking down barriers to access and creating a truly student-centered university. This hybrid approach blends the digital and physical spaces and will extend to student services, resources, and academic opportunities. Students will no longer have to come to campus to meet with a financial aid advisor, access academic advising, or meet with career counselors, but the on-campus access will be available to those who prefer that option.
On the academic side, this means we are working to expand access to courses and programs in the “Face-to-Face Plus” modality. Students will no longer be limited to the faculty or course offerings in-person on their campus; rather, they will be able to access courses using a variety of technologies from home or another campus, synchronously, or asynchronously if that works best for them. Students will be able to mix-and-match online, hybrid, and face-to-face experiences to complete their programs, while many programs will continue to be offered primarily in-person to students who wish for a mostly in-person experience.
We had several courses in the Business and Math programs at NVU taught in flexible modalities over the last few years. This enabled students with childcare challenges or school closures for their dependent children to access the class and classwork when it worked best for them, it allowed many of our students who work or commute long distances to campus to pick up additional work shifts or opt to attend virtually if that was the best option for them that day, and it made it possible for students residing at geographically distant campuses to access the specialties and research of professors not at their home campus. The FTF Plus pilot this fall with 28 faculty and courses will continue to expand the teaching strategies and learning technologies faculty are using to bring a wider variety of courses to students in more accessible formats in advance of launching Vermont State University next year.