In an 11:00 AM press release, Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) Chancellor Jeb Spaulding withdrew his proposal to close both Northern Vermont University campuses and Vermont Technical Center in Randolph, Vermont. The original proposal would have consolidated select NVU programs and students to Castleton University and VTC programs and students to Vermont Technical College in Williston, Vermont.
“Our Board of Trustees heard loud and cleat from thousands of students, employees, communities, and the State’s elected leadership and determined that my recommendations would be damaging on many levels and would not be acceptable. I accept their judgment,” Spaulding wrote. “That means we do not plan to close campuses this fall.”
The press release mentioned that although the proposal is no longer an option, the Vermont State Colleges System can not sustainably operate in its current structure and changes will have to occur. “Through whatever process we define a more workable solution to this problem, it will surely be disruptive to the VSC’s current mix of 4 colleges and universities and 5 campuses,” Spaulding wrote.
The Board of Trustees and Chancellor are going to be “taking additional time to work with elected, campus, and community leaders” in a redesigning of the Vermont State College System.
The full press release can be reviewed here: VSCS-newsrelease-04-22-2020.
While the long-term future may be uncertain, students, faculty, and staff can look forward to returning to their home campuses in the fall depending on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feature Photo by Alexandra Huff || NVU-Lyndon campus