File photo of Castleton University.
Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) on Wednesday evening approved the name Vermont State University for the one new university unifying Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College. They will continue to have separate campuses. The rebranding will occur in 2023. Community College of Vermont, the other VSCS institution, will retain its name. The administrative structure and leadership was not announced.
“The establishment of the name—Vermont State University—is a pivotal point in the creation of our new and innovative university,” stated Board of Trustees Chair Lynn Dickinson. “Vermont State University capitalizes on the nationally and internationally known Vermont brand and highlights our connection to the state as a public higher education institution. In establishing the identity of the new institution, this is the first step. We are looking forward to the continued work over the next several months on the additional critical elements of the brand identity of Vermont State University: the mission, vision, brand identity, and academic structure.”
She continued, “the VSCS Board of Trustees is committed to fully unifying Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College. With the guidance, support, and financial investment of the State, the Board of Trustees plans to accomplish a unification that expands opportunities for learners throughout the state, restructures the system for financial success, and retains our current campus locations and thus our commitment to serving Vermont’s rural communities.”
Chancellor Sophie Zdatny said, "The establishment of Vermont State University is an opportunity to fully unify our three residential institutions. It is essential that we do so in a strategic and thoughtful way. Extensive research, including feedback from over 3,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, administrators, and community partners, was done to inform the name recommendation. This research was crucial to establishing the unifying name and will continue to be used in the coming months as we do further work on the mission, vision, and brand identity of Vermont State University.”
“One key takeaway from the research done is the importance of innovation and technology with a focus on the future,” she added. “Another is how embedded Vermont is in our collective identity through our workforce partners, applied learning opportunities, our local communities and alumni, and connection to the state. The importance of the word ‘University’ to convey the variety, strength, quality, and prestige of the education provided was another key indicator. Vermont State University gives us incredible flexibility in bringing the brand identity of the new university to life. In the coming months, we will be continuing the exciting work of establishing a unified brand identity for Vermont State University.”
Vermont State University will launch July 1, 2023 with recruitment for the first class to begin in fall 2022. Once the new university is established, the VSCS will consist of Vermont State University and Community College of Vermont.
With unification, VSCS will be accrediting Vermont State University as one institution with one leadership team. They are working with an executive search firm to launch the search for Vermont State University’s president and anticipate that person will be hired in 2022.
They have not yet identified the new president’s primary work location, although they anticipate that person will be regularly present on all campuses.
VSCS previously announced the hiring of two key leadership positions, the Provost and the Dean of Enrollment, as these roles are key to the ongoing unification work.
The Provost of Vermont State University will be Nolan Atkins, current Provost of Northern Vermont University. The Dean of Enrollment will be Maurice Ouimet, the current Dean of Enrollment for Castleton University.
The Vermont State Colleges System, with the guidance and direction of the state, began working on system transformation and the unification of the three residential colleges last year. In Act 74 of the 2021 legislative session, the state mandated system transformation and integration while also committing to stronger funding of the system, the member institutions, and Vermont students.
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. The Vermont State Colleges system includes Castleton University, the Community College of Vermont, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College. Learn more at www.vsc.edu.
Source: MONTPELIER, VT — Vermont State Colleges 9.30.2021