Dear Faculty,

Fall is finally with us as the trees are changing colors and the night air is crisp. This is also a time for us to reflect on the changes we made last year that brought us a strong returning class. Retention numbers have just been released and our Fall 2020 cohort had an 87.8% one-year retention rate, the highest since the Fall 2004 cohort which had similar numbers. We are just 2.2% away from our Academic Success Goal of 90% first year retention, with an ultimate goal of reaching 92% in three years. Our two-year retention rate is at 84.7% for our Fall 2019 cohort, the highest rate in our history with a previous high of 79.6% for the Fall 2018 cohort. This is an amazing 5.1% jump.

Graduation rates are also notable with our Fall 2017 cohort achieving a 4-year graduation rate of 69.4%, the second highest rate compared to our Fall 2015 cohort at 69.5%. Our 6-year graduation rate for the Fall 2015 cohort is 76.9%, another record for the institution. There are many factors that certainly contributed to our improved retention rates, including COVID’s impact on student mobility, but our COVID response contributed significantly as did our focused efforts to support students last year and over the summer. A big thank you to all the faculty and staff who contributed to those activities with our first years and rising sophomores; you made a difference for them, and for the institution.

Career outcomes for our 2020 class also provide more good news to share. More than 92% of our undergraduate students were employed or enrolled in graduate education within six months of graduation. Among employed recent graduates 93% were satisfied with their position, 86% reported their position was related to their chosen field, and 88% indicated their position was related to their career goals. Among our graduate students, 96.6% were employed or enrolled in further graduate education within six months of graduation. An impressive 96% reported satisfaction with their position; 100% reported their position was related to their field and 99% indicated their position related to their career goals.

The power and impact of the high quality educational experience we provide is evident in these numbers. Congratulations to all for your contributions to our students’ success.

I hope you will find the important information below useful.

  • Last Friday the recipients of the 2021 President’s Our Common Ground Award were recognized. This year’s recipients represent many offices and departments across the campus. I hope you’ll take a moment to congratulate these colleagues and thank them for the important contributions they make to our university. Gary Derr, who will retire from his role of Vice President for Operations and Public Safety this fall and who has been at the center of UVM’s response to COVID-19 also received special recognition.

  • Please continue to make the necessary accommodations for students who have been told to isolate as a result of a positive COVID-19 test. You can find guidance here on how you can administer tests to students who are unable to attend class in person. If you have flexibility in how you are assessing students and want to consider alternatives to tests, this page also includes a decision-making tree to help you think through options.

  • The five secrets to a super productive semester will be revealed in this webinar! The program is included in your free membership to the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity.

  • Reminders and Recent Communications

    • Priority registration for the National Center on Faculty Development & Diversity’s Spring 2022 Faculty Success Program opens September 20. To take advantage of an $800 discount on the registration fee, please submit your name to Jim Vigoreaux before October 13.

    • On September 15, President Garimella announced the continuation of UVM’s tuition freeze in the 2022-23 academic year; no increases in other fees and on-campus housing costs, and a reduction in graduate student fees of $250.
       
    • On September 15, Michelle Paavola, MD and Director of the Center for Health and Wellbeing issued an update on student related COVID-19 protocols

Thank you for creating opportunities for our students. You have shown them what is possible for their future. Let’s continue to spark our young doers and innovators in the classroom and beyond.

Warmly,
Patty