University Relations

Local Government and Community Relations

Our mission is to connect the campus and the local community and support proactive, collaborative initiatives to address shared opportunities and challenges.

An important on-campus partner is the Office of Student and Community Relations (OSCR), which provides outreach and resources for on-campus students, off-campus students, and community members.

Programs and events include off-campus living workshops, neighborhood grants, clean-up events, and the Spring Move Out Project.
The Community Coalition, a group of university students and staff, city administrators and leaders, and community members who collaborate on quality of life issues and partnerships, is coordinated by OSCR and student government members.
And, there are links to support resources on campus and in the community.

Some of the ways community members can connect to university resources include:

News and events
Social media
The Office of Engagement - the university's "front door" to access resources around economic development, workforce development, and community connections.
Professional and Continuing Education

Joe Speidel, Director of Local Government and Community Relations

Joe Speidel@uvm.edu, 802-656-0299
Joe is the Director of Local Government and Community Relations at the University of Vermont where he is responsible for the University’s external relations with local government, business, non-profit, and other constituents. He has also held positions at UVM in Alumni Relations and Development as well as in Career Services. Prior to that he worked as a mental health counselor in Boston and Vermont. His educational background is in counseling and higher education, including a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College, and a Master of Education degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from UVM.
His involvement in the community has included volunteer positions with the CATMA transportation board, Parallel Justice, the ECOS Sustainability Project, the United Way, and Vermont Stage Company.