Dear UVM community,

I am so pleased to announce the leadership team for the University of Vermont’s Strategic Planning Committee, which will guide our institution through a collaborative planning process over the coming months. 

I am grateful that Katie Shepherd, Dean of the College of Education and Social Services, has graciously agreed to serve as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. She will be supported by Vicki Gilwee, from the Larner College of Medicine, and Ian Davis of Enterprise Technology Services. Together, this team brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to UVM’s mission and Our Common Ground values, and a strong capacity for facilitating a process that invites your participation. 

The committee will include more than 30 members, with broad representation from across the university, including elected faculty members from each college and school, staff from throughout our academic and administrative units, student representatives, members of our governance groups, our valued alumni, and the community in which UVM is engaged. The full membership list will be posted on the Strategic Planning webpage next week once finalized.

The strategic planning process is designed to reflect UVM’s unique identity, foster openness, and blend digital tools with personal engagement. A cornerstone of this effort will be listening sessions for members of the university community—both in-person and virtual—ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to provide input. 

The committee will meet biweekly beginning September 19, and will engage with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners to gather input and refine our strategic goals. Updates on progress will be shared regularly in Inside UVM and on the Strategic Planning webpage.

This is an important step for our community. It is an opportunity for us to come together and create a vision for the future of UVM.  What a powerful effort in this challenging time.  

I hope this process will prove unifying and inspiring for all of us. We know that members of our community won’t all agree with one another on every point or every strategy, but our committee will strive to create a meaningful plan that we all can support and to which we can direct energy as a university. I would be most grateful for your participation in this important endeavor and thank you in advance for your thoughtful contributions.

Sincerely,


Marlene Tromp

President