Community Relations

Good Neighbor Initiatives

The relationship shared by UVM and the City of Burlington is characterized by many mutual interests and synergies, and the success of both entities are closely intertwined.   We must and do depend on each other to thrive.  Through strategic collaborations, new initiatives and investments we have made excellent progress together to address problems, resolve concerns and build a strong and respectful relationship. 

• There are many neighborhood initiative programs including Have a Heart, Neighborhood Liasons, Babysitter Minglers, Catamount Classes, Off-campus living workshops, neighborhood clean-ups and programs to fund additional neighborhood police patrols.  Many of these are a result of the Community Coalition, which is a group of students, neighbors, landlords, city officials and UVM and Champlain College personnel who coordinate efforts to improve overall quality of life throughout Burlington.  
• The Payment for Services Agreement is $1.2 million paid to Burlington for fire services and other costs incurred due to university impact.
• Redstone Lofts is a recently completed 403 bed privately-owned apartment facility which will take UVM over the top in terms of the goals for housing students on campus detailed in the housing agreement between UVM and the City.  Students are excited about this housing option which was designed specifically to pull students away from living in local neighborhoods. 
• Our office collaborates with several offices across campus, including the Office of Student and Community Relations, Student Life, and Campus Planning Services to promote mutually beneficial relationships between campus members and the community. The Office of Student and Community Relations (OSCR) is integral in convening offices across campus to create a safe and respectful environment for off-campus students and neighbors, providing resources and education to students to encourage a successful transition to living off campus, and working with students, neighbors, and city partners to improve the quality-of-life in neighborhoods.

Community Partnerships

The University facilitates outreach to the community including lifelong learning, internships, community-based research, technology transfer, arts, athletics, and business resources, to name a few.

Resources for the Community

• Outreach to the community
  
• University-Burlington Annual Report (PDF)
• Payment for Services Agreement (PDF)
• Memorandum of Agreement on Zoning and Housing (PDF)

Joe Speidel, Local Government & Community Relations Director 
Joe.Speidel@uvm.edu, 802-656-0299

Joe is the Local Government and Community Relations Director in the office of University Relations at the University of Vermont. He has also held positions in Career Services and Development and Alumni Relations at the University. He earned a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology at Boston College, and a Master of Education degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs in 2001 from UVM. He completed the Snelling Center’s Vermont Leadership Institute program in 2009.

Joe’s community involvement includes volunteer positions with the Burlington Legacy Project (Co-Chair), the Champlain Initiative, Vermont Stage Company, ECOS, and the United Way of Chittenden County.

Last modified March 14 2013 08:59 AM