Vermont Technical College will join with Castleton University and Northern Vermont University to become Vermont State University on July 1, 2023. Learn more and apply for fall 2023.
On July 1, 2023, Vermont State University officially launches unifying the best of three colleges: Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College. With this unification, Vermont State University will serve students throughout Vermont and beyond better than ever.
It’s an exciting time to be part of Vermont State University as the first classes that will build upon the long histories of our Castleton, NVU, and VTC institutions. Vermont State University will continue the high-quality, comprehensive experiential education our colleges are known for, preparing students for the rewarding careers and active citizenship that students have come to expect. Additional benefits include:
- Flexibility via a hybrid model – Various modes of learning, in-person and online options provide deep and unprecedented access across the state
- Choices – A broader and deeper range of courses, faculty, and student activities
- Connections – An expansive alumni network to tap into for a lifetime of inspiration and career success
More information on the unification can be found at transformation.vsc.edu.
Visit our Vermont State University microsite to learn how we’re better together.
Vermont State University Mission
Vermont State University prepares all students for meaningful work and responsible citizenship by fostering their intellectual, personal, and creative growth in an accessible, caring, and inclusive community. As Vermont’s regional public university, our technological, professional, and liberal arts programs engage with partners throughout Vermont and beyond to provide students with rich real-world learning while meeting the needs of our communities and the state.
Vermont State University Vision
Vermont State University’s commitment is to the success of every student. We will stand as Vermont’s regional public university with interconnected campuses and sites dispersed throughout the state, a community dedicated to providing accessible and affordable higher learning. Our innovative, relevant programs will focus on student success and career readiness and will meet students where they are on their educational journey. We will support students’ academic, social, and personal growth, as well as their futures as skilled leaders and lifelong learners through an integrated academic and extracurricular experience. A culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion will be fostered and endure. Our students’ transformational experience will be nurtured through intentional interactions and relationships. The University will provide globally relevant programs spanning the technological, professional, and liberal arts and designed to address the needs and challenges facing Vermont and our world. Students will be drawn to an academic experience that reaches beyond the classroom into our communities with our Green Mountain State as a living laboratory. We will embrace public engagement and partnerships as our civic responsibility, actively contributing to the vibrancy of our communities and their relevance in the global economy. In doing so, our students will gain an understanding of community and self and their impact in the world. Our purpose will live on for generations in the positive contributions of our alumni.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is transformation occurring? How will the unification of Castleton, NVU and Vermont Tech meet the goal?
To ensure we can provide a high-quality education to students and preserve and expand access to education statewide, we must make a shift. As Vermont State University, we can strengthen our services and our offerings to better serve the students of Vermont and beyond. This will allow us to continue to focus on our strategic priorities of affordability, accessibility, quality, and relevance by creating a singly accredited entity thus reducing redundancy, increasing efficiency, and making us more fiscally sustainable. The model of higher education is changing, and we need to adapt and modernize in order to build a solid foundation for the future.
Will each campus remain open?
Yes. We are currently exploring what the best configuration of the campuses will look like for our students’ experiences. For example, this may be shaped by academic program offerings, co-curricular opportunities, and workforce development needs.
Will my major be offered at the new university?
Most likely. We are currently aligning programs across institutions and campuses and developing ways, using technology, of extending access to a broader selection of programs at each campus location and online. This program array will create stronger, more academically robust programs. Information about the exact program offerings and the plans for in person courses and alternative options will be released in the near future.
Will my major be offered at the location I am considering?
Most likely. Most degrees can be pursued from various locations around the state through a combination of face to face, online, and synchronous remote learning modalities. Some academic programs will be location-based due to their unique classroom/laboratory or other special facility needs, for example Flight School and Pilot Training, Atmospheric Sciences, and nursing. Vermont State University will provide more access to more programs and courses to round out the collegiate experience. Some program names may change as we build a more sustainable and accessible array for the new university, but our commitment to high-quality education options for all students remains.
Will the support I need for success continue to be available, such as specified academic support and wellness services?
Yes. We are committed to preserving the high-touch, personalized approach, and close-knit campus communities for which we are known while delivering comprehensive higher education and continuing education for all of our students. Student support services are vital to the success of our community. There will be support services on location for in person support as well as through remote access. All students, regardless of location, will have access to a wide array of services.