On April 28, NVU Provost Nolan Atkins hosted his last Open Session for the academic year via Zoom. In recent light of the rallying behind Northern Vermont University, Vermont Tech, and Vermont’s rural higher education, this last Open Sessions saw over a dozen people in attendance. Previous Open Sessions yielded lower attendance numbers, but now it seems education, and our Vermont institutions, is worth learning a little more about.
That is Atkins’ job – his veteran status serving with our university, formerly Lyndon State College, spans two decades and counting. These Open Sessions were designed and created as a platform to better connect the administration to the students, and with everything needing to take place virtually, more community members were able to participate in the afternoon’s meeting.
Atkins opened the floor up to any inquiries or concerns people may have. There were concerns over the availability of classes during the summer and fall. Atkins noted that due to the Governor’s stay-at-home orders, NVU and its professors were instructed to provide remote learning for the summer. Many colleges and universities are doing the same around the nation. For those that know, NVU hosts “two parts of summer,” May-June and July-August sessions. Atkins stated that NVU is taking the necessary time to decide if in-person classes will happen for part two of summer, hoping to have a better idea as that time gets closer.
While this may not be the news we want to hear – as Atkins pointed out, we’re all fatigued with the remote learning and abundance of Zoom meetings – it is necessary to better prepare for the bigger challenge ahead: the fall 2020 semester. Atkins stated that NVU has been paying close attention to college media and news, making notes of what other institutions are doing. “There needs to be preparation for a variety of scenarios,” Atkins said. This means acknowledging that elevated population densities will increase when students return to campus, not giving in to chance or hope with how the COVID-19 virus will impact our state and region, and the decreasing enrollment status NVU continues to face.
Let it be known, this does not spell any peril or doom for any circumstances we may yet encounter. The whole point of Atkins’ Open Sessions was achieved in this meeting as community members and students spoke up about ways both NVU and the VSCS can improve upon their systems. Suggestions flowed in such as strengthening and promoting the Criminal and Restorative Justice programs; targeting potential non-traditional students, especially those that have shown they don’t plan to leave Vermont; expanding the roles of student ambassadors, and including alumni into the process; and capitalizing on the stories of successful students and alumni not just as a marketing tool but as a way to better capture high school graduates. Atkins noted that was one current objective of NVU-Lyndon, “we’re working to reconnect with Lyndon Institute, and looking into other programs that provide direct line tracks into nursing.”
Atkins thanked everyone for their insightful suggestions and ideas. These are the very ideas higher education needs at the table. Brian Lamoureux, NVU-Lyndon graduate of 2020, supported the efforts being made, saying, “this will help people to look at how they work together.”
As the next few academic years approach, the University will be evaluating its degree programs, and having the student and community input is what will help ensure appropriate academic expectations and opportunities are put in place. “These are very important conversations,” Atkins stated, “and I really hope more students get involved.”
On a personal note, it was an honor to attend and report on the Open Sessions of the 2019-2020 academic year. Atkins was recently announced as Chair of the new NVU Strong Committee, whose task will be to focus on sustainable solutions to ensure a thriving future for NVU. With assurance, we will continue to watch Atkins’ commitment to lead this Northern Vermont Strong community. To follow along with the Committee updates, please visit www.NorthernVermont.edu/StrongFuture.
Feature Photo by Sabra Anne Snyder || Provost Atkins posing from his Open Session series in the fall semester.