The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the proposed Strategic Plan for the university at its annual winter meeting Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Dudley H. Davis Center.
The approved plan, Green, Gold, and Bold – Green Mountains, Gold Standard, Bold Future, lays out an updated mission and vision for the university, as well as four pillars encompassing the most vital areas of the institution’s work.
“With this deeply collaborative plan, our community has called upon us to come together to help our students achieve great success and do good in the world, to accelerate our pathbreaking research, to increase our positive impact on Vermont and Vermonters, to improve our infrastructure,” said UVM President Marlene Tromp. “It will elevate our characteristic bold and innovative thinking and increase mark we make across the globe. I want to sincerely thank everyone who contributed their ideas and insights throughout the process. The finished plan truly reflects who we are and what we aspire to achieve together as a university.”
The strategic plan will be rolled out Monday, Feb. 9, when it is posted on UVM’s website and broadly shared via email and social media.
In business advanced by the Educational Policy and Institutional Resources Committee, the Board approved credit for prior learning frameworks for graduate courses. The Board also approved the creation of:
- A minor in Urban, Rural and Community Planning in the College of Arts & Sciences
- A minor in Biodiversity and Global Change and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Studies in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- A Certificate of Graduate Study in Autonomy and Robotics, a Master of Science in Agroecology, a Master of Science in Exercise Science, and a Doctorate in Public Health in the Graduate College
The EPIR committee also received a presentation on the UVM Cancer Center.
In business advanced by the Budget, Finance, and Investment Committee, the Board passed a resolution reaffirming the debt policy and a resolution authorizing bond issuance for the purpose of refunding existing debt at a lower rate; a resolution authorizing an infrastructure license agreement with the City of Burlington; and a resolution authorizing acceptance of a bequest held by American General Life Insurance Company.
The BFI committee also received a preview of FY 2027 key budget assumptions.
The Audit Committee received a presentation of FY 2025 uniform guidance, NCAA agreed-upon procedures, IT observations and management response. The Board approved a resolution accepting Fiscal Year 25 audited financial statements.
The Board reelected its slate of Board and University officers including Vice Chair Donald McCree; Secretary Catherine Toll; and UVM President Marlene Tromp. The election of Chair is scheduled to take place in March. The Board also passed a resolution marking the retirement of self-perpetuating trustee John Dineen.
The Board received an update on the UVM Foundation President/CEO search, as well as updates on emerging issues in the 2026 legislative session, the Multipurpose Center project and honorary degrees.
The Board received reports from Chair Cynthia Barnhart; President Marlene Tromp; Interim Provost Linda Schadler; acting UVM Foundation president Kathleen Kelleher; and governance leaders including the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, Student Government Association, Graduate Student Senate, and Alumni Association presidents.
Schadler’s report highlighted an historic $16M estate gift to UVM’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences for nursing scholarships; the university’s Leverage, Empower, Align, Progress (LEAP) plan to modernize people, processes and technology; creation of the “Ask UVM” information and support hub; and other updates.
As always, agendas and other materials from the meeting can be found on the Board of Trustees website.