Updates on Workforce Development Projects (12/19/22)


How exciting, right?!! Actually, it IS exciting and new for a higher education system to have key performance indicators (KPI’s) to guide and inform the work of our system over the next 5 years through 2028. These were developed to better define what success looks like as we seek to elevate workforce development within the Vermont State Colleges System.  Workforce development has largely been the work of divisions within the colleges and universities within the system. We now seek to engage all of the parts of the system in this important work in various ways. We will know what success looks like if we achieve these results!

These KPI’s were developed by President Grewal at VTSU, President Judy at CCV and Patricia Moulton, Executive Director of Workforce in the Chancellor’s office. The VSCS Board of Trustees has reviewed and approved these as well.  They are what will guide the new VTSU workforce division, the continued CCV work and what Pat Moulton will be doing. 

These KPI’s respect that workforce development includes our degree programs which prepare people for careers as well as shorter-term educational programming done by the continuing education and workforce development teams at all of the institutions. Most of that work targets non-traditional students and employers in need of upskilling and new skill development for their employees. There is work to do within the degree and workforce programs to achieve these in the next 5 years. It is work which has begun and will be enhanced as teams come together and VTSU is formed. We look forward to gearing up and getting to work to achieve these results!


Workforce Development Office VSCS

  • Outreach to 5 new employment sectors for sector-based approaches
  • Establish 50 new funded employee workforce development contracts with businesses
  • Establish 25 new workforce development partnerships with professional industry or business organizations
  • Generate $40 million in federal and state grant funding for workforce development programs

Vermont State University

Academic Programs at VTSU

  • Embed industry-relevant micro-credentials into all degree programs: 100% of VTSU students will start earning at least one industry relevant micro-credential by 2028
  • Embed experiential learning/professional development opportunities in all degree programs: 100% of VTSU students will start engaging in at least one significant experiential learning/professional development activity before graduation (e.g. paid or unpaid internships)
  • Establish 5 new faculty professional development programs in workforce, community and economic development
  • Add 5 new workforce-related degree programs (e.g. Dental Therapy, Restorative Justice, Masters in Social Work)
  • Add 10 new industry-relevant certificate programs
  • Address shortages of workers in critical need professions by increasing program completions by 50%.

Workforce Development at VTSU

  • Add 4 new registered apprenticeship programs
  • Increase the number of businesses served through workforce development partnerships (credit or non-credit) by 100%
  • Increase in the number of organizations served through workforce development partnerships (credit or non-credit) by 200%

The Community College of Vermont

  • Increase number of Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs by 100%. (from 4-8)
  • Increase in the number of Employer-Based Programs, including 12 new opportunities with either existing or new employers in high demand sectors.
  • Develop a process to track special populations in workforce programs and increase the number of participants from special populations in workforce programs, including BIPOC participants and people with disabilities.
  • Increase occupational credential offerings by imbedding industry recognized credentials into existing programs and courses, along with offering 8 new industry recognized credentials through non-credit and credit bearing workforce offerings.
  • Offering 8 new industry recognized credentials through non-credit and credit bearing workforce offerings.