Vermont State University

Public university in Vermont, U.S.

"Vermont state" redirects here. For the U.S. state, see Vermont.

Vermont State University

Woodruff Hall in Castleton campus

Type| Public university
Established| July 1, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-07-01)
Accreditation| NECHE
President| David Bergh (interim)[1]
Students| 4,775
Location|

Castleton, Johnson, Lyndon, Randolph, and Williston, Vermont

United States

Campus| Multiple sites
Colors|     Amaranth and cyan
Website| vermontstate.edu

Vermont State University (Vermont State or VTSU) is a public university in the U.S. state of Vermont formed through the merger of three institutions: Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College. First proposed in December 2020 as a way to consolidate the Vermont State Colleges, the state's public university system, it is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).[2][3]

Vermont State University operates residential campuses in five communities: Castleton, Johnson, Lyndon, Randolph, and Williston.[4] In addition, VTSU operates nine smaller learning sites around the state as well as out-of-state locations in Alaska, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin.[5]

## History

[edit]

Castleton University was chartered as a grammar school in 1787, making it the oldest institution dissolved to create Vermont State University.[6] Johnson Academy was founded in 1828, later becoming Johnson State College; Vermont Technical College was founded in 1806 as Orange County Grammar School; Lyndon State College was founded in 1911 as a normal school. The Vermont General Assembly created the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) in 1961, creating a "loose confederation" of colleges that also included the Community College of Vermont after its founding in 1970 (but never included the University of Vermont).[7] Beginning in 1977, the Vermont State Colleges adopted a more centralized model, with its trustees overseeing the operations of all its constituent schools. This began to reverse somewhat beginning in 2000, when the system allowed more autonomy for the schools while still encouraging cooperation, including uniform course numbering so students could take courses from different VSCS institutions.[8]

By 2020, however, the Vermont State Colleges were in poor financial shape. That year, Vermont State Colleges Chancellor Jeb Spaulding proposed closing Northern Vermont University, closing Vermont Technical College's Randolph campus, and laying off almost 500 employees.[9][10] Even with the proposal, Spaulding told trustees, the system needed an immediate infusion of $25 million to keep operating.[11] Spaulding withdrew the proposal amid fierce opposition and the state appropriated additional funds to keep all campuses and colleges operating, but lawmakers asked VSC to come up with a way to fix its financial situation.[12] VSCS formed a committee, named the Select Committee on the Future of Public Higher Education, which ultimately recommended a similar proposal to Spaulding's closure plan. Instead of closing campuses, however, the committee recommended merging all three of the system's four-year colleges into a single institution with multiple campuses. While the committee did not recommend including the Community College of Vermont in the merger, it did recommend it focus more toward workforce education and adult learning.[13] The proposal was projected to save the system $25 million over five years.[14]

Two aspects of the original plans to merge proved controversial. First, the libraries were going to remove most of their physical books with most of their holdings only being virtual. Second, there were several planned changes to intercollegiate athletics. In particular, the athletic teams at the Johnson campus (previously part of Northern Vermont University), would leave the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). Athletic teams at the Randolph campus (previously part of Vermont Technical College) would leave the USCAA and move to a club-only model.[15] Students, faculty, and staff protested these planned changes and drew national attention. Vermont state legislators introduced bills to prevent these changes. These changes were both paused in April 2023 when president Parwinder Grewal abruptly resigned.[16]

The combined institution included the roughly 5,500 students at its three predecessor institutions; however, the 250 academic programs offered between the three schools were reduced to 100.[17] Interim President Mike Smith announced an initiative in September 2023 to "examine our list of academic offerings" and consider combining or closing additional degree programs.[18]

## Academics

[edit]

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023[19] Race and ethnicity  | Total

|

White | 78%  | 78

Hispanic | 5%  | 5

Black | 4%  | 4

Unknown  | 4%  | 4

International student | 3%  | 3

Two or more races | 3%  | 3

Asian | 2%  | 2

Economic diversity
Low-income[a] | 36%  | 36

Affluent[b] | 64%  | 64

Vermont State University offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. The Castleton, Johnson, and Lyndon campuses offer liberal arts education while the Randolph and Williston locations house technical programs. Students have the option to take online courses as well as hybrid courses from other campuses.[20]

In 2023, the university announced plans to lay off up to 33 faculty members and the same number of full-time administrative and staff positions.[21]

## Campuses

[edit]

### Castleton

[edit]

The 165-acre campus is residential and is located in the heart of Castleton Village.[22] The Castleton Medical College Building, built in 1818, is the oldest building on campus.[23]

### Johnson

[edit]

Library and Learning Center at Vermont State University - Johnson campus

The Johnson campus is 350 acres and includes the Dibden Center for the Arts and the Julian Scott Memorial Gallery.[24] Nearby Babcock Nature Preserve is a 1,000-acre forest owned and maintained by Johnson for scientific and educational study.[25]

### Lyndon

[edit]

The 195-acre Lyndon campus[26] features the three-story Samuel Read Hall Library.[27] Other sites on campus include News 7, a daily live broadcast studio;[28] the Stannard Gymnasium;[29] and six residence halls.[26]

### Randolph

[edit]

The campus in Randolph is the largest of the five at 544 acres and hosts engineering labs and an advanced manufacturing center.[5] The campus has received United States Department of Defense funding to establish the first advanced manufacturing education, research, and development facility in the state.[30]

### Williston

[edit]

The suburban Williston campus, located just outside Burlington, houses several labs and a small residential building.[5]

## Leadership

[edit]

The Theodore N. Vail Center at the VTSU Lyndon campus

Parwinder Grewal was appointed as the university's first president in 2022.[31] Grewal was previously an administrator at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.[32] However, Grewal resigned abruptly in April 2023 before the university officially opened. His resignation was preceded by a vote of no confidence by the faculty, who also voted no confidence in the Vermont State College's chancellor, chief administrative officer, and its entire board of trustees.[33]

Grewal was replaced by Mike Smith, who previously served as interim president at Burlington College and was the state's Secretary of Human Services during the COVID-19 pandemic.[34]

On September 22, 2023, David Bergh, a former administrator at Johnson State College and the final president at the former Cazenovia College in New York, was selected as the college's next interim president.[35] Immediately after Bergh's rise to the interim president position at the beginning of November 2023, the student government associations at the Castleton, Randolph, Johnson, and Lyndon campuses submitted a vote of no confidence regarding staff and faculty terminations proposed by the university's administrators.[36]

### List of presidents

[edit]

1. Parwinder Grewal (July 2022 – April 2023; prior to establishment)[37]
2. Mike Smith (April 2023 – October 2023; interim)[38]
3. David Bergh (November 2023 – June 30, 2026)[39][40]

## Athletics

[edit]

Vermont State University has the former Northern Vermont University (Johnson Badgers and Lyndon Hornets), Castleton University, and Vermont Technical College athletics teams. Owing to the university's unique composition from a series of formerly independent colleges, four of its five campuses have their own athletics programs. Students are able to participate in athletics based on their campus, with some of the campuses competing against each other in athletic conferences.[41]

The original merger plans were that, starting in the 2024–25 academic year, athletics at the Johnson campus would become sanctioned by the USCAA, and athletics at the Randolph campus will move to a club-only model.[15] These plans were placed on hold in mid-April 2023 when the university president resigned.[16]

### Castetlon Spartans

[edit]

Main article: Castleton Spartans

The Castleton campus offers a wide variety of sports, including football, alpine skiing, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.

### Johnson Badgers

[edit]

Johnson State College teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. The Badgers are a member of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC).

In 2018, women's triathlon was added to the varsity sports roster, representing the only NCAA institution in New England to carry women's triathlon as a varsity sport.

Johnson Badgers monogram Men's sports  | Women's sports

|

Basketball | Basketball
Golf | Soccer
Soccer | Softball
Tennis | Tennis
Track and field1 | Track and field1
Volleyball | Volleyball
1 includes both indoor and outdoor.

### Lyndon Hornets

[edit]

The Lyndon State Hornets are a member of the NCAA, and compete on the Division III level in the North Atlantic Conference.

LSC sponsored teams include:

Lyndon Hornets wordmark Men's sports  | Women's sports

|

Baseball | Basketball
Basketball | Cross country
Cross country | Lacrosse
Lacrosse | Soccer
Soccer | Softball
Tennis | Tennis
| Volleyball

### Randolph Knights

[edit]

Randolph Knights wordmark Men's sports  | Women's sports

|

Basketball | Basketball
Cross country | Cross country
Soccer | Soccer
Track and field | Track and field
| Volleyball

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
2. ^ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Staff Report (2024-08-29). "VTSU Interim President David Bergh to continue in role until 2026". Rutland Herald. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
2. ^ Bakuli, Ethan. "Vermont State Colleges freezes tuition for next year, weighs future consolidation plans". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
3. ^ "Vermont State University granted accreditation". Rutland Herald. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
4. ^ "3 Campuses Unite to Become Vermont State University | Inside Higher Ed". insidehighered.com. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
5. ^ a b c "Our Locations – Vermont State University". vermontstate.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
6. ^ "Our Campus". Castleton University. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
7. ^ "The Vermont State College System - update and what's next". Rotary Club of Essex, Vermont. 2015-10-14. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
8. ^ Seife, Ethan de. "Are Vermont State Colleges Still Fulfilling Their Mission?". Seven Days. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
9. ^ Duffort, Lola (2020-04-17). "Vermont State Colleges chancellor to recommend closing three campuses". VTDigger. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
10. ^ Sabataso, Jim (January 14, 2021). "Report Offers Another VSC Plan". Rutland Daily Herald. p. A3.
11. ^ Duffort, Lola (2020-04-21). "Vermont State Colleges need $25 million now — even if three campuses close". VTDigger. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
12. ^ Bakuli, Ethan. "After backlash, Vermont State Colleges chancellor withdraws proposal to close three campuses". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
13. ^ Bakuli, Ethan (December 10, 2020). "VSC Will Freeze Tuition". The Burlington Free Press. p. 1A, 9A.
14. ^ "Three Vermont Schools Merge to Stay Afloat During Pandemic". The College Post. 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
15. ^ a b D'Auria, Peter (2023-02-08). "Vermont State University community surprised, dismayed by library and athletics changes". VTDigger. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
16. ^ a b D'Auria, Peter (April 14, 2023). "Vermont State University president Parwinder Grewal resigns as system pauses library changes". VTDigger. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
17. ^ Allen, Anne Wallace. "Parwinder Grewal Settles In as the First President of Vermont State University". Seven Days. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
18. ^ D'Auria, Peter (2023-09-20). "Vermont State University could consolidate, cut academic programs in 'optimization' process". VTDigger. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
19. ^ "College Scorecard: Vermont State University". College Scorecard. United States Department of Education. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
20. ^ "FAQs – Vermont State University". vermontstate.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
21. ^ Schwartz, Natalie (October 31, 2023). "Vermont State unveils administrative and staff cuts to save $3.1M". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
22. ^ "Castleton Residence Life". Vermont State University. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
23. ^ Waite, Frederick Clayton. The First Medical College in Vermont: Castleton 1818–1862. Vermont Historical Society (1949).
24. ^ "Johnson Residence Life". Vermont State University. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
25. ^ "Babcock Nature Preserve". Town of Eden, Vermont. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
26. ^ a b "Lyndon Residence Life". Vermont State University. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
27. ^ "History". Lyndon State College Vermont. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
28. ^ "NEWS 7". Northern Vermont University. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
29. ^ "George W. Stannard Gymnasium". Vermont State University. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
30. ^ "Leahy Tours VTC Manufacturing Ctr". The White River Valley Herald. 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
31. ^ Gagnon, Kyle. "Trustees appoint Dr. Parwinder Grewal to helm Vermont State University". Basement Medicine. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
32. ^ Serrano, Jody (2013-07-10). "UT Regents Approve Land Deal for New University". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
33. ^ Doton, Lily; Bellomo, Pearl (2023-04-16). "Mixed reactions to Grewal's resignation". Castleton Spartan. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
34. ^ McQuiston, Timothy. "Jack of all trades Mike Smith leads VTSU | Vermont Business Magazine". Vermont Business Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
35. ^ D'Auria, Peter (2023-09-22). "David Bergh to take over as Vermont State University interim president". VTDigger. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
36. ^ Colman, Evan (2023-11-14). "Lyndon SGA Last to Join No Confidence Vote - The Critic - Feature". The Critic. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
37. ^ D'Auria, Peter (2023-04-14). "Vermont State University president Parwinder Grewal resigns as system pauses library changes". VTDigger. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
38. ^ "Interim president ends tenure at Vermont State University". WAMC. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
39. ^ "David Bergh new VTSU pres". Castleton Spartan. 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
40. ^ "President Dr. David Bergh Announces 2026 Retirement". Vermont State Colleges System. 2025-05-29. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
41. ^ "Athletics at Vermont State University – Vermont State University". vermontstate.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-22.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vermont State University.

* Official website
* Athletics websites:
* Johnson
* Lyndon
* Randolph

* v
* t
* e

Colleges and universities in Vermont

Public|

* University of Vermont
* Vermont State Colleges (Vermont State University, Community College of Vermont)

Private|

* Bennington College
* Champlain College
* Landmark College
* Middlebury College
* Norwich University
* Saint Michael's College
* School for International Training
* Sterling College
* Vermont College of Fine Arts
* Vermont Law and Graduate School

Unaccredited|

* Center for Cartoon Studies
* Northeastern Baptist College

Organizations|

* Association of Vermont Independent Colleges

Defunct|

* Burlington College
* Castleton Medical College
* Castleton University
* College of St. Joseph
* Goddard College
* Green Mountain College
* Johnson State College
* Lyndon State College
* Marlboro College
* Northern Vermont University
* New England Culinary Institute
* Southern Vermont College
* Trinity College
* Vermont Technical College
* Windham College
* Woodbury College

* v
* t
* e

Little East Conference

Full members|

* Eastern Connecticut State Warriors
* Keene State Owls
* Plymouth State Panthers
* Rhode Island College Anchormen
* UMass Boston Beacons
* UMass Dartmouth Corsairs
* Southern Maine Huskies
* Vermont State Castleton Spartans
* Western Connecticut State Wolves

Associate members|

* Bridgewater State Bears1
* Fitchburg State Falcons2
* Framingham State Rams2
* Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers3
* Salem State Vikings4
* Western New England Golden Bears5
* Westfield State Owls6
* Worcester State Lancers7

* 1field hockey, men's and women's tennis, and women's swimming & diving
* 2field hockey
* 3men's lacrosse
* 4field hockey, men's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis
* 5women's swimming & diving
* 6field hockey and women's swimming & diving
* 7field hockey and women's tennis

* v
* t
* e

North Atlantic Conference

Full members|

* Husson Eagles
* Lesley Lynx
* Maine Maritime Mariners
* SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers
* SUNY Delhi Broncos
* Thomas Terriers
* UMaine Farmington Beavers
* UMaine Presque Isle Owls
* Vermont State–Johnson Badgers
* Vermont State–Lyndon Hornets

Associate member|

* MCLA Trailblazers1

Former full members|

* Bay Path Wildcats
* Becker Hawks
* Castleton Spartans
* Cazenovia Wildcats
* Colby–Sawyer Chargers
* Elms Blazers
* Green Mountain Eagles
* Johnson State Badgers
* Lasell Lasers
* Lesley Lynx
* Lyndon Hornets
* MCPHS Cardinals
* Mount Ida Mustangs
* New England Pilgrims
* SUNY Canton Roos
* SUNY Morrisville Mustangs
* SUNY Poly Wildcats
* Wheelock Wildcats

Former associate members|

* Daniel Webster Eagles (men's lacrosse)
* Lasell Lasers (field hockey)
* MCLA Trailblazers (men's golf)
* Mount Ida Mustangs (men's lacrosse)
* Rivier Raiders (field hockey)
* Salem State Vikings (men's golf)
* Simmons Sharks (field hockey)
* Saint Joseph's (ME) Monks (baseball, field hockey, and men's lacrosse)
* Western New England Golden Bears (field hockey)

1lacrosse and tennis
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