Consolidation of the State’s Public Higher Education Systems Task Force Announced
Governor Jim Douglas today announced the formation of a five-member task force to examine the Vermont State Colleges and University of Vermont systems to determine what academic and administrative efficiencies could be achieved through their consolidation.The Governor announced in his recent inaugural message that he was recommending a 20% increase in the appropriations for both early childhood education and higher education. The Governor also announced that he would appoint a working task force to undertake a review of the structure, administration and program offerings of Vermont s two public higher education systems. I am proud of the quality of educational programs offered by both our State Colleges and the University, the Governor said. But I also believe that it is appropriate in this challenging economic climate to examine the structures of both to see what efficiencies in administration and program offerings could be achieved through a consolidation. I have no preconceived notion as to any specific structure.Stephan Morse, former Speaker of the Vermont House and recently retired president of the Windham Foundation, will chair the task force. I am excited to undertake this important work. As a graduate of UVM I know first hand how important this institution is, and I also recognize that the State Colleges are part of the very fabric of Vermont. We need to insure that we have a system going forward that is both economically sustainable and provides Vermonters with the educational experiences needed to prosper in the 21st century economy, Morse said.Other task force members include Deborah McDowell, a former member of the Vermont State Board of Education and past chair of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Dorothy Mitchell, a member of the Board of Directors of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, a trustee of the American College of Greece in Athens, and former chair of the Board of Trustees of Woodbury College; Ian Boyce, chairman of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees; and Gary Moore, chairman of the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees.The task force will report to the Governor with its recommendations by November 15th of this year.