>> COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE RETURNING TO VERMONT BY THE THOUSANDS FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO ARE THE FALL TESTING PROTOCOLS.

>> I LOVE BEING BACK ON CAMPUS.

GETTING TO BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE AND MY PEERS.

I FEEL VERY SAFE BEING HERE.

>> TONIGHT TWO OF VERMONT'S BEST KNOWN FACES OF PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION HERE FOR AN UPDATE ON THE CHALLENGES OF STAYING OPEN DURING A PANDEMIC.

THE TENSIONS ON CAMPUS AND THE FISCAL SQUEEZE NOW VERY REAL FOR BOTH.

AS A NEW LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS REQUESTS FOR MILLIONS IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING AN UPDATE ON PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION, AHEAD ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> FROM THE VERMONT PBS STUDIOS IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

HERE'S MODERATOR STEWART LEDBETTER.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.

I'M STEWART LEDBETTER AND THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

WE'RE PAUSING OUR USUAL ROUNDTABLE FORMAT WITH VERMONT JOURNALISTS THIS WEEK AS WE DO FROM TIME TO TIME TO FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGES FACING THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND THE VERMONT STATE COLLEGES SYSTEM.

WE HAVE THE LEADERS OF BOTH HERE ON OUR PROGRAM.

CHANCELLOR SOPHIE ZDATNY WILL JOIN US SHORTLY.

FIRST THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT DR. SURESH GARIMELLA.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON, STEWART.

>> PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU.

STUDENTS ARE BACK FROM AN EXTENDED BREAK.

CLOUDS ARE UNDER WAY AS OF THIS WEEK.

YOUR COVID TESTING PROTOCOLS ARE BACK AS WELL.

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED SINCE THE FALL AND HOW HAS IT BEEN GOING TO THIS POINT?

>> THANK YOU, STEWART.

IT'S THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MINDS, OF COURSE.

I DO THINK WE'RE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE.

THE VACCINES ON THE ONE HAND ARE VERY EXCITING.

WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THEM OURSELVES.

BUT OF COURSE IT'S BEEN A SLOW DISTRIBUTION.

IN THE MEANTIME PANDEMIC FATIGUE HAS SET IN.

NEW STRAINS OF THE VIRUS ARE SPREADING RAPIDLY.

SO IT CALLS FOR A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO SLOW THE SPREAD.

NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED EVERYONE TO FOUL LOW, TO STRICTLY FOLLOW ALL THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE, WEARING MASKS, KEEPING DISTANCE, AVOIDING CROWDED SPACES, NO SOCIAL GATHERINGS, ALL THAT.

TO BRING STUDENTS BACK WE DID FOR THIS SPRING WE'RE DOING VERY SIMILAR THINGS WE DID IN FALL, WHICH IS TO TEST THEM AT VERY, VERY EXPENSIVELY.

THEY ARE QUARANTINED WHEN THEY COME.

IF THEY ARE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE PRE-ARRIVAL TESTING, TESTING UPON ARRIVAL EVERY SEVEN DAYS.

WE CONTINUE TO OFFER AN AT HOME OPTION.

ONCE HERE IF THERE WERE ANY POSITIVE CASES WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CONTAINMENT STRATEGY OF EXTENSIVE TESTING, SUPPORTIVE ISOLATION, CONTACT TRACING.

THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO IS IT'S JUST BEEN A MARATHON EFFORT, AND WE'RE ALL FEELING THE PRESSURE AND EXHAUSTION.

SO WE'RE PROVIDING SAFE ACT IISTS.

WE HAVE AN ICE RINK AND FIRE PITS.

I HOPE THAT'S HELPING THE STUDENTS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, CITY OF BURLINGTON.

BEFORE I LET GO I WILL SAY THAT I EMPHASIZE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR SUCCESS LAST FALL WAS THE TREMENDOUS COOPERATION OF OUR STUDENTS.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT COOPERATION WILL CONTINUE.

>> WELL, THERE'S ALSO PAP PABL JOY IN GETTING BACK ON CAM WE CAUGHT UP WITH SOME OF THEM.

>> THAT ENERGY IS BACK AND I THINK THAT BY ALL ACCOUNTS IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL OPENING.

WE ARE REQUIRED SEVEN DAY TESTING FOR ALL STUDENTS COMING TO CAMPUS.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN IN IN PERSON CLASS SINCE "MARCH."

HAD MY FIRST TODAY.

I WAS LIKE THE MOST EXCITED I HAVE BEEN FOR SCHOOL SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> I HONESTLY THINK THEY ARE HANDLING IT REALLY WELL.

I DON'T THINK I HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION SO FAR ON CAMPUS THAT I HAVE FELT UNSAFE.

>> SO TO THIS POINT, HEALTH COMMISSIONER LEVINE SEEMS TO BE PLEASED WITH WHAT HE'S SEEING IN BURLINGTON.

THERE IS AN OUTBREAK AT NORWICH UNIVERSITY BUT WE ALL HAVE FINGERS CROSSED.

AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL TRYING IN A PANDEMIC TO IMPLEMENT A TRANSFORMATIVE PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

THAT -- HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS DRIVEN BY THE PANDEMIC AND HOW MUCH REALLY WAS ESSENTIAL BEFORE WE HAD EVEN HEARD THE TERM COVID?

>> RIGHT.

STEWART, THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

I REALLY ALWAYS BELIEVED PRUDENT MANAGEMENT IS CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

WE'RE FACING CHALLENGES ACROSS THE NATION.

IT'S NOT ABOUT CUTS AND SAVINGS ALL THE TIME.

IT'S ABOUT FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE, STRENGTHENING OUR OFFERINGS, TAKING A STRATEGIC APPROACH.

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T -- WE PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS TO REOPEN CAMPUS AND TOOK ALL THE MEASURES WE DISCUSSED BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THINKING AHEAD, NOT JUST REACTING.

AS YOU KNOW, STEWART, YOU'VE COVERED THESE WELL BEFORE COVID HIT, A FEW MONTHS AFTER I ARRIVED WE ANNOUNCED WE WOULD FREEZE TUITION FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

NOW WE'RE FREEZING TUITION FOR THE COMING YEAR AGAIN.

ROOM AND BOARD IS BEING FROZEN FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN MANY DECADES.

WE'RE ACTUALLY CUTTING BACK ON COMPREHENSIVE FEE SOS IT WILL BE CHEAPER TO ATTEND UVM NEXT YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE A STRATEGIC VISION FOCUSED ON STUDENT SUCCESS AND STRENGTH AND ENGAGEMENT.

WE DECIDED TO DIVEST FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

THIS ALL HAPPENED AFTER COVID HIT.

COVID HIT IN "MARCH."

WE ANNOUNCED OUR STRATEGY IN APRIL, DIVESTED IN MAY.

STREAMLINES AND SIMPLIFIES HOW UVM LOOKS TO OUR STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS.

WE'RE PUSHING FOR R-1 CLASSIFICATION, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST, WHICH WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE STATE, DOING MORE PARTNERSHIPS.

WE'RE ALSO REVIEWING OUR PLATFORM OFFERINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ADDRESS STUDENT DEMAND, THAT WE ARE FOCUSING OUR RESOURCES WHERE THE STUDENTS HAVE THE GREATEST INTEREST AND JUST THIS WEEK AGAIN WE ANNOUNCED THAT WE'RE STREAMLINING ALL OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE OFFERINGS TO FIND MORE AREAS OF STRENGTH IN EACH OF THE SCHOOLS, IMPROVE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND REDUCE REDUNDANCY.

ON A HAPPY NOTE, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO AN FEDERAL COURTHOUSE REVERSAL OF SALARIES THAT OUR EMPLOYEES TOOK.

WITH THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE BACK.

THESE CHANGES WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE MUCH MORE THAN COVID WILL.

WHILE COVID UNDERLINES SOME OF THIS IT'S ABOUT LOOKING MUCH FURTHER BEYOND COVID.

>> YOU WROTE IN YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK THAT NET TUITION REVENUE REMAINS SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS LOWER THAN LAST YEAR.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO RESTORE SALARY CUTS IN THAT ENVIRONMENT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

STEWART, WE LIKE THE REST OF HIGHER EDUCATION SO MUCH WAS UNCERTAIN BACK IN APRIL, MAY, ET CETERA, WHEN WE WERE PLANNING FOR THIS YEAR SO WE PREDICTED A CERTAIN SHORTFALL AND I THINK PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF OUR ADMISSIONS FOLKS, THE FACT THAT WE HAD AMONG THE BEST PERFORMANCE IN THE COUNTRY WITH RESPECT TO COVID, 150,000 TESTS WITH LESS THAN 100 POSITIVES.

I THINK PARENTS ARE NOTICING THAT.

PARENTS AND FAMILIES ARE NOTICING OUR TUITION FREEZE.

SO STUDENTS ARE FLOCKING TO OUR GREAT PROGRAMS SO THE SHORTFALL ISN'T AS BAD AS WE THOUGHT.

OF COURSE WE HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF VERY CAREFUL MEASURES TO CONTROL OUR SPENDING, $11.5 MILLION OUT OF THE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGETS AND SUCH, BUT I FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AS THE% STARTED LOOKING A LITTLE BETTER, STILL WORSE THAN LAST YEAR BUT A LITTLE BETTER, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REVERSE THE SALARY REDUCTIONS TO THE VERY EMPLOYEES, NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, THE ONLY ONES THAT WENT THROUGH THE CUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SO INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR SUCCESS.

>> AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE FACULTY UNION AT UVM, UNITED ACADEMICS, HAS MADE A LOT OF NOISE ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL.

THE COLLEGE ARTS AND SCIENCE PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE A DOZEN MAJORS, ALMOST AS MANY MINORS, IN AREA THAT VERY FEW STUDENTS MAJOR IN EACH YEAR SO IT BECOMES -- IN SOME RESPECTS A LOGICAL PLACE FOR YOU TO MAKE CUTS, BUT NONETHELESS, THEY CALL YOU LOTS OF NAMES, SHORT-SIGHTED, GUTTING THE HUMANITIES.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> SO STEWART I MENTIONED THE STRATEGIC VISION.

OUR PLAN IS TWO PAGES LONG AND STARTS WITH STUDENT SUCCESS AND STUDENT EXPERIENCE.

EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS LOOKED AT WITH THAT FILTER.

SO I'M TRYING TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE STUDENTS HAVE, THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND STRENGTHEN THE LIBERAL CORE OF EDUCATION THAT UVM IS KNOWN FOR.

I BELIEVE THAT COURSES IN LIBERAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES ARE BEING INCORRECTLY CONFLATED WITH MADGES.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER THE COURSES THAT OUR STUDENTS WANT ACROSS THESE DISCIPLINES, IT'S JUST THAT WHEN SO FEW STUDENTS WANT TO MAJOR IN THESE AREAS, 120 STUDENTS OUT OF 4650 IN THE COLLEGE ARE AFFECTED BY OUR ACTIONS.

SO WHEN STUDENTS ARE VOTING WITH THEIR FEET WE NEED TO RESPOND.

MOVE OUR INVESTMENTS TO AREAS IN WHICH THEY ARE VERY -- THE STUDENTS ARE SHOWING INTEREST.

I WILL REMIND YOUR AUDIENCE THAT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES WILL STILL HAVE 44 REMAINING MAJORS AND 52 REMAINING MINORS.

I BELIEVE THAT IS A LOT MORE OFFERINGS THAN MANY OF OUR PEERS OFFER, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SIZE.

SO NO, WE'RE NOT GUTTING LIBERAL ARTS, AND I THINK THE FOLKS WHO SAY THAT ARE FULLY AWARE OF THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, THEY USE THEIR TALKING POINTS.

I'M OKAY WITH IT.

I WILL JUST SAY WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON HOW TO GIVE THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> YOU HAVE BOARD MEETINGS THIS WEEK.

IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MULTI-PURPOSE ATHLETIC COMPLEX STILL A GO OR ON HOLD?

>> YES, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S STAY AT HOME STAY SAFE ORDERS WE HAVE TO PAUSE ALL CONSTRUCTION BUT CONSTRUCTION HAD PICKED UP WHEN IT WAS ALLOWED AGAIN.

WHAT THE BOARD SAID WAS THAT IT'S NOT PRUDENT TO BORROW MONEY AGAIN AS WAS PLANNED SO THEY ASKED US TO NOT BORROW THAT NEXT MONEY TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TO TAKE A VERY CAREFUL LOOK WITH SOME EXPERTS THAT HAVE HELPED US LOOK AT IT TO SEE HOW WE CAN DELIVER THE BEST MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER WITH A FOCUS ON RECREATIONAL WELLNESS FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THE MEANTIME.

TOMORROW WE'LL BE DISCUSSING WITH OUR BOARD HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY THAT IS AT HAND TO DELIVER THINGS WHICH A LOT OF US LOVE AND HAVE A GREAT FONDNESS FOR SO THAT PART WILL CONTINUE.

WE'LL HAVE A FOCUS ON RECREATIONAL WELLNESS WHERE WE WILL DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE SPACE.

WE'LL DISCUSS THAT AND ANNOUNCE MORE DETAILS TO THE MEDIA TOMORROW.

>> DR. GARIMELLA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

THANK YOU.

>> HAPPY TO COME BACK AGAIN.

>> NOW WE'LL SHIFT GEARS AND WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM SOPHIE ZDATNY, STILL RELATIVELY NEW CHANCELLOR OF THE VERMONT STATE COLLEGE.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE AS WELL.

THE ISSUES ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE STATUS OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION ACROSS YOUR RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES AND ACROSS YOUR SYSTEM.

>> YES, SO WE WILL BE DOING MUCH OF WHAT WE DID IN THE FALL AND AGAIN WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.

I BELIEVE WE HAD A TOTAL OF 11 POSITIVE CASES ACROSS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

IN THE FULL.

THE ONE BIG CHANGE IS CASTLETON UNIVERSITY, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE IN THE FALL, WILL BE TEACHING A NUMBER OF IN-PERSON COURSES SO WE'LL HAVE A MIXTURE OF IN-PERSON AND REMOTE AT CASTLETON UNIVERSITY.

OTHERWISE WE'LL BE DOING THINGS VERY MUCH AS WE DID LAST FALL CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S UPDATED MANDATORY GUIDANCE FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

>> THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IS WELL KNOWN I THINK BY NOW, CHANCELLOR.

YOUR PREDECESSOR RESIGNED SUDDENLY LAST YEAR WHEN HE VOTED A PLAN THAT MET A LOT OF RESISTANCE AND CLOSED AT LEAST ONE MUCH THE RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES BUT BETWEEN JOHNSON LINDEN, VERMONT TECH AND CCV, YOU'RE SORT OF UNDERGOING A PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE FUTURE THAT IS SUSTAINABLE.

I'M WONDERING, THERE IS A SELECT COMMITTEE THAT'S TRYING TO COME UP WITH AN ANSWER.

WHERE DOES THAT PROCESS STAND?

I THINK THERE THEY ARE ABOUT TO ISSUE A NEW REPORT.

>> YES.

YOU'RE CORRECT.

THE SELECT COMMITTEE WAS CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE BACK LAST SUMMER.

IT WAS CREATED IN CONJUNCTION WITH GIVING US FUNDING FOR THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.

THE SELECT COMMITTEE ISSUED ITS INITIAL REPORT IN DECEMBER.

ITS SECOND REPORT IS DUE OUT FEBRUARY 12th SO WE'RE COMING UP CLOSE ON THAT.

OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE IN THE INITIAL REPORT AND WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH A VISIONING PROCESS WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IF THEY WERE TO BE ADOPTED BY OUR BOARD IF THE FUNDING WERE TO BE PROVIDED BY THE LEGISLATURE WHAT COULD THAT LOOK LIKE FOR US MOVING FORWARD.

>> THE GOVERNOR DID MENTION THE STATE COLLEGES IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS, AND HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, WHICH IS NOW UNDER REVIEW IN THE LEGISLATURE, DID CALL FOR ANOTHER BIG CHUNK OF CHANGE IN BRIDGE FUNDING AS THE STATE COLLEGES FIGURE OUT THE PATH FORWARD.

>> MY BUDGET PROPOSES $20 MILLION IN ADDITION TO THEIR $30 MILLION BASE APPROPRIATION GIVING VERMONT STATE COLLEGES A TOTAL OF $139 MILLION IN STATE APPEARED FEDERAL FUNDS IN TWO YEARS.

WE DO, HOWEVER, HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.

OUR PENSION SYSTEM, OUR STATE COLLEGES NIEDERE STRUCTURING AS WELL.

IT'S MY HOPE THE STATE COLLEGE BOARD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONTINUE WORKING TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURAL ISSUES WE FACE.

>> SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SORT OF BUZZWORDS THERE.

WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC, AND ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURAL ISSUES.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE UNDERLYING STRUCTURAL ISSUE?

>> FIRST OF ALL WE WERE VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT WE WERE INCLUDED IN THERE WITH A SIZABLE SUM, $20 MILLION IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY SIGNIFICANT SUM.

THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPING OVER MANY YEARS, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE US QUITE SOME TIME TO GET THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED IN ONE YEAR.

THE SELECT COMMITTEE HAS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AS HAVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOOKED AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS LOOKING AT THE VERMONT STATE COLLEGES RECOGNIZING IT HAS TAKEN CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET INTO THIS SITUATION THAN IT WILL TAKE TIME AND MONEY, INVESTMENT BY THE STATE FOR US TO COME OUT OF THIS SITUATION.

BUT WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT THE GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES THE VITAL ROLE THAT VERMONT STATE COLLEGES PLAYS IN VERMONT.

WHAT WE DELIVER TO VERMONTERS ACROSS THE STATE, WE DO HAVE A STATEWIDE PRESENCE AND HOW IMPORTANT WE ARE AS ECONOMIC ENGINES IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE WE'RE LOCATED.

SO WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE LEGISLATURE, WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WITH OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MOVE FORWARD IN TERMS OF REIMAGINING WHAT THE VERMONT STATE COLLEGES COULD BE.

>> ISN'T BOOSTING ENROLLMENT REAL AT THE CORE OF ALL OF THIS?

>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD BOOST ENROLLMENT.

CERTAINLY IF WE COULD FIND MORE STUDENTS TO COME THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL BUT WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.

THE CHALLENGE IS PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE UNITED STATES THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE DEMOGRAPHICALLY WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADUATING.

VERMONT IS EVEN WORSE THAN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

SO I THINK THAT THE NOTION THAT WE COULD GROW OUR WAY OUT OF THIS WOULD BE A FOOLHARDY ROUTE TO TAKE.

HAVING SAID THAT THERE'S RECOGNITION IN THE SELECT COMMITTEE'S REPORT THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITIES WITHIN VERMONT THAT WE'RE NOT WELL SERVING, COMMUNITIES OF LEARNERS, IN PARTICULAR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADULT LEARNERS, PEOPLE THAT GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND MAYBE HAVE NOT MOVED ON TO GET ANY FURTHER CREDENTIALS OR DEGREES.

AS WELL AS THOSE THAT HAVE COLLEGE CREDITS.

THERE ARE MANY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN VERMONT THAT HAVE SOME COLLEGE KRETZ BUT DON'T HAVE A DEGREE OR CREDENTIAL FOR THAT SO I DO BELIEVE THERE'S ROOM FOR US TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE FOLKS BUT WE DON'T -- WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO GROW THE NUMBER OF TRADITIONAL 18 TO 22-YEAR-OLDS ATTENDING A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE.

THAT MARKET -- ALL OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE IN THE NORTHEAST.

EVERYONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.

PARTICULARLY FOR THAT DEMOGRAPHIC.

WE CAN JUST SEE BASED ON BIRTH RATES IN VERMONT THAT THOSE NUMBERS -- WE'RE PLATEAUING NOW BUT THEN THEY ARE GOING TO DROP OFF AGAIN I THINK IN 2026.

>> I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR ENROLLMENT THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST, AND CASTLETON IS DOWN 200 STUDENTS, NVU 600.

VERMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE 200.

CCV IS STEADY.

IS THIS PANDEMIC DRIVEN OR IS THIS GOING TO BE THE LONG TERM TREND?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

CCV WAS REALLY BUCKED THE TREND NATIONALLY.

IF YOU LOOKED AT THE NATIONAL NEWS COMMUNITY COLLEGES WERE DOWN TO 18, 20%.

HUGE AMOUNTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CCV BUCKED THAT TREND.

THEY WERE PROFILED NATIONALLY.

ONE OF THE REASONS WAS BECAUSE OF A GIFT THEY RECEIVED FROM THE McCLURE FOUNDATION WHICH PROVIDED A FREE COLLEGE COURSE AT CCV IN THE FALL FOR ANY GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR.

THAT MEANT CCV DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT WENT ON TO CCV.

SO THAT REALLY HELPED CCV.

THEY ALSO MADE THE DECISION TO BE ONLINE VERY EARLY ON SO I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF CERTAINTY WHERE OTHER COLLEGES WERE NOT SURE WHAT THE FALL WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AS WE LOOK AHEAD WE DO ANTICIPATE WE WILL SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT DECIDED TO STAY OUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WIL% MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO COLLEGE.

BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WILL ALL HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY.

IN ADDITION TO WHICH THAT SMALLER INCOMING CLASS IN THE FALL OF 2020 WILL BE WITH US FOR FOUR YEARS AS THEY WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

SO WE WILL -- WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE LOOK AHEAD.

>> THE BASE APPROPRIATION FROM THE STATE TO THE STATE COLLEGES IS ABOUT $30 MILLION OR SO EACH YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR AS YOU JUST HEARD IS PROPOSING A TEMPORARY BUMP TO GIVE YOU SOME BREATHING ROOM.

IT'S NOT ALL THAT YOU WANTED FOR, YOU'RE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE ASKING FOR MORE.

IS IT REALISTIC IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP ALL OF YOUR RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS OPEN TO HAVE -- JUST REQUIRES A SIGNIFICANT PERMANENT INCREASE IN STATE APPROPRIATION.

IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

>> THE SELECT COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING ONE-TIME FUNDING TO ASSIST WITH THE CURRENT STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AS WE WORK TO STREAMLINE, BECOME MORE EFFICIENT OVER TIME, THEY ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE TO OUR BASE APPROPRIATION OF 17.5 MILLION THAT WOULD BE A PERMANENT INCREASE.

YES, IN ORDER TO REALLY SERVE-VS THAT WE SERVE, WE REALLY DO NEED A HIGHER BASE APPROPRIATION BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS AFFORDABILITY.

IF WE CAN'T BRING DOWN THE COST OF ATTENDANCE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE STATE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE STUDENTS THAT DESERVE TO BE SERVED.

WE'RE AN OPEN ACCESS INSTITUTIONS SO WE REALLY ARE PROVIDING EDUCATION TO STUDENTS THAT IF WE'RE NOT THERE WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION, TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUING EDUCATION, THE DEGREES AND CREDENTIALS AND CERTIFICATES OF VALUE THAT WE PROVIDE.

I BELIEVE AS PART OF THE REIMAGINING MOVING FORWARD, THE STATE REALLY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT AN INVESTMENT IN THE VERMONT STATE COLLEGES IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE AND PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING RESIDENTIAO DO IS MAINTAIN A PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN ALL THE PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

THAT MAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WE'RE CERTAINLY EXPLORING OPTIONS TO REDUCE OUR PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT IN SOME OF OUR LOCATIONS AND WE MAY REIMAGINE WHAT THE CAMPUS LIFE LOOKS LIKE AT SOME OF OUR CAMPUSES, BUT THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT IN THE VARIOUS LOCATIONS WHERE WE CURRENTLY ARE.

>> WITH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.

>> WITH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING BUT MAYBE NOT RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IT.

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE YOU SERVE VERMONT STUDENTS.

>> RIGHT.

WE SERVE ABOUT ABOUT 83, 86% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE VERMONT STUDENTS, THEN TWO-THIRDS WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE STATE OF VERMONT.

SO AGAIN WE DO SEE THAT WE ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF VERMONT.

>> AT THIS POINT YOU DON'T ANTICIPATE CLOSING ANY OF YOUR CAMPUSES.

>> THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE PLANNING RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE HOPING TO MAINTAIN A PHYSICAL PRESENCE AT ALL OF OUR CURRENT CAMPUSES.

OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE THE STATE OF VERMONT SO WE PUT STUDENTS AT THE CENTER AND VERMONT AT THE CENTER.

HOW CAN WE BEST SERVE THE STATE OF VERMONT.

SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE OUR RESIDENTIAL CURRENT RESIDENTIAL CAMPUSES BUT WE HAVE CCV HAS 12 ACADEMIC CENTERS.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NEARING SITES THROUGH VERMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

CASTLETON UNIVERSITY HAS A NURSING SITE IN BENNINGTON.

THEY ALSO HAVE A RESORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN KILLING TON.

WE REALLY ARE VERY SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE STATE AND OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT.

>> I JUST HAVE HALF A MINUTE, YOU OBVIOUSLY WALKED OUT ON TO A HOT PAN FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF YOUR PREDECESSOR JEB SPAULDING.

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST AS YOU COME UP ON A YEAR ON THE JOB?

>> HOW MUCH I HAVE ENJOYED IT.

[LAUGHTER] WHICH IS PROBABLY A STRANGE THING TO SAY.

I'M REALLY SUPPORTED BY OUR PRESIDENTS ARE WONDERFUL.

MY SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS BEEN AMAZING.

I FEEL WE HAVE BEEN VERY WELL SUPPORTED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE ATTENTION OF THE STATE AND THE KEY LEADERS IN THE STATE, SO I ACTUALLY VIEW THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US MOVING FORWARD AND I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE US SUCCEED.

>> WE ALL HOPE FOR THAT AS WELL.

MANY THANKS.

SOPHIE ZDATNY AND DR. SURESH GARIMELLA.

I'M STEWART LEDBETTER.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND AND A GOOD WEEK.