Vermont State University Leadership Transition

The Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) today announced that Vermont State University (VTSU) President Parwinder Grewal has tendered his resignation and is stepping down effective immediately for personal reasons. Former Vermont Agency of Human Services Secretary Michael (Mike) Smith will assume the role of interim president beginning next week.

The announcement comes after much consideration about how best to lead the upcoming launch of Vermont State University set for July 1. The launch of Vermont State University is the culmination of years of work to unify the state colleges, streamline academic offerings and achieve financial sustainability. This has been a partnership with Governor Scott, lawmakers, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and our communities.

“We knew this work would be difficult – in fact, none of this work is simple or easy but we are making steady progress and will be ready to launch Vermont State University in July,” said Sophie Zdatny, Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System. “We are grateful to Dr. Parwinder Grewal for stepping into the role of President and bringing his skills and expertise from a similar higher education unification at this important time, and we appreciate his service.”

The Board of Trustees and Chancellor Zdatny have asked Interim President Smith to pause implementation of the proposed initiatives around athletics and the libraries, pending development of a comprehensive set of recommendations for continued transformation work in the coming weeks. More information will be shared when that work is complete.

Interim President Smith will serve for the next six-months and will initially focus on implementing transformation plans and meeting with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and communities with an eye towards ensuring the successful launch of Vermont State University in just a few short months.

“It is an honor to take on this role at such a critical time and I am committed to giving this my all to ensure the overwhelming success of Vermont State University,” Interim President Smith shared. “I am excited to work with the faculty and staff and welcome the inaugural class who will help chart this new path forward. Together, we are making history and securing a legacy that will serve generations of Vermonters.”

Interim President Smith comes to Vermont State University after a long career in public service, most recently as Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services where he was a key leader in the state’s nationally recognized COVID-19 pandemic response. Smith also served Vermont as Secretary of Administration, Deputy State Treasurer, and as a member of the general assembly. Smith served the United State admirably as a member of SEAL Team Two and has held various roles in the private sector.

“I also want to extend my appreciation to Dr. Grewal for his contributions and welcome Mike to this interim role,” added Lynn Dickinson, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Colleges System. “We know we have a lot of work ahead to achieve the vision of a unified, thriving and financially viable Vermont State University. Strong communications, engagement, and collaboration will be our ongoing focus.”

Vermont Tech Hosts Inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony

Vermont Technical College’s Athletic Department hosted its inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame event in conjunction with the college’s annual Homecoming weekend events on September 24-25, 2022, at its campus in Randolph Center, Vermont.

In total, 18 athletes and one administrator were inducted:

Basketball, Bob Pietryka, 1967
Nordic Skiing, James (Jim) Lehneman, 1984
Nordic Skiing, Andy Whitney, 1986
Nordic Skiing, Michelle Bean, 1989
Basketball, Lance Boire, 1999 & 2001
Basketball, Robby Cosgriff, 1999 & 2001
Basketball, Marybeth LaRocque, 2000 & 2002
Soccer, Chad Albrecht, 2002
Soccer, William (Billy) Field, 2002
Baseball, Jordan Hodge, 2008
Soccer, Shannon Leland, 2008
Cross Country, Justin Newland, 2011
Soccer, Amy Galipeault, 2011
Basketball, Kevin Carr, 2013
Basketball, Paige Wells, 2015
Basketball, Jamal Hughes, 2015
Soccer, Phil Hepburn, 2017 & 2019
Cross Country, Rebecca Broadbent, 2019
Administrator/Coach, Skip Distel

“We want to ensure that Vermont Tech’s athletics legacy is retained in a formal manner,” said Hilary Linehan, Director of Athletics and Recreation at the college. “The athletes inaugurated into this first Hall of Fame class showed exceptional talent and willingness to work hard both in the classroom and on the playing surface.”

Athletics have a long history at Vermont Tech, dating back to the 1960s. The athletic teams started as part of the NJCAA, competing with some schools within the same athletic conference for more than 50 years. After the college added its first bachelor’s degree program in architectural engineering technology in 1993, Vermont Tech moved over to the U.S. Small College Athletic Association, which rebranded as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) in 2005.

Vermont Tech has a history of excellence in athletics, with hundreds of student-athletes earning national and conference All-Academic, All-Conference and All-American awards. Our teams have also followed this pattern of excellence, appearing in over 50 different Conference and National Championship tournaments and events, and winning nine of these.

“While we honor this year’s class of athletes, we know there are more out there that will be nominated for a future class,” Linehan said. “We expect to open nominations in late spring each year so please be sure to check the website to place your nomination.”

The Hall of Fame Kiosk is located in the alcove next to the SHAPE entrance on the Randolph campus. Visitors may view the Hall of Fame online by using the Hall of Fame link on the Vermont Tech athletic website under “Inside Athletics”.

GlobalFoundries Announces New Scholarship Program

GlobalFoundries Inc. (GF) (NASDAQ: GFS), a global leader in feature-rich semiconductor manufacturing, announces its first scholarship program for students at Vermont Tech. The GF Scholarship Program will offer an annual $5,000 scholarship and a paid summer internship to three selected candidates from Vermont Tech’s Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and/or Electrical/Electromechanical Engineering Degree, and/or Diesel, and/or Automotive Technology Program.

“Vermont Tech graduates continue to impress me with their knowledge and skills, work ethic, and their unique ability to learn and apply in any work setting, based on the hands-on experience they gain during their college education,” said John Lafreniere, Fab 9 Deputy Director of Engineering Operations at GF, who graduated from Vermont Tech in 1987 with an associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology and later earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Technology and Management. “Higher education accelerates the career path for our employees, helping them get where they want to go faster with significant ROI for their investment in at least two years of college.”

The scholarships will be awarded as follows:

  • Two $5,000 scholarships for freshman going into their sophomore year earning an associate and/or bachelor’s degree in the included programs.
  • One $5,000 scholarship for a junior going into his or her senior year earning a bachelor’s degree in the included programs.

“We are elated to deepen our relationship with GlobalFoundries,” said Kelly Boulan, Development and Alumni Relations specialist at Vermont Tech. “This generous scholarship program builds on the GF apprenticeship program and lunch-and-learn lecture series, among so many other ways GF supports our students. We are pleased to offer yet another opportunity for students to succeed and thrive in their post-graduate careers.”

Though priority will be given to Vermont residents, the scholarships are open to out-of-state students. Candidates must be enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering Technology and/or Manufacturing Engineering Technology and/or Electrical/Electromechanical Engineering Degree Program and/or Automotive Technology Program and/or Diesel Technology Program and maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher. To fully receive the $5,000 scholarship, students must successfully complete GF’s paid summer internship.

“During my time at Vermont Tech, I learned hands-on technical skills as well as how to communicate in a professional environment. These are attributes that have allowed me to succeed across my career from machining and welding, to teaching and now in engineering,” said Wesley McEntee, Equipment Engineer, GF, and Vermont Tech graduate (MEC 2016 & MAN 2018).

GF will announce the inaugural scholarship awardees at a formal dinner being held on October 25, 2022.

“The education and experience that I received at Vermont Tech prepared me to effectively learn and apply new knowledge for every role I have undertaken at GlobalFoundries. This has enabled me to successfully grow my career through the years from a Technician to my current Engineer position,” said Benjamin Broe, Equipment Engineer, GF, and Vermont Tech graduate (EET 2000 & BUS 2010).

Vermont Tech Announces 40+ Graduates of GE Aviation Apprenticeship Program

GE a world leader in providing aircraft engines, systems and avionics, with a location in Rutland, Vermont, announces that its GE Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Programs graduated 41 apprentices in toolmaking, electrical maintenance, and mechanical maintenance on August 26, 2022.

The graduation took place at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel. Patricia Moulton, executive director of Vermont State Colleges System’s workforce development division, was the keynote speaker. Jeffrey Higgins, EdD, professor and Director of External Degree Programs at Vermont Technical College, was the guest speaker.

“Our graduates gained so much from GE’s apprenticeship programs, but they also gave back to GE,” Dr. Higgins said. “Apprenticeship capstone projects accounted for more than $3M in plant efficiencies. Those savings don’t include what we call cascading benefits, things difficult to monetize such as freeing up technician time to work on more projects, increasing safety for employees, improving quality, and increasing employee morale.”

GE Manufacturing Technician Apprentice Program graduates earned 20 – 40 college credits, depending upon the program in which they are enrolled, and many are continuing on to Vermont Technical College for the associate and bachelor’s degrees in their respective fields.

“A strong manufacturing base is critical to Vermont’s present and future. As manufacturing jobs move from low-tech to high-skill, training the manufacturing workforce will be increasingly important. Building a strong program for workforce development is essential. This program is a sterling example of that,” said Patricia Moulton.

“I was determined to get into this program, and thankfully I was selected. I learned a lot in the Vermont Technical College classes – they really helped to lay the foundation. It has been a long road to get where I am today, but I am grateful I did it this way. I believe my time in the program will help me be a more effective engineer in the future, “ said Jim Wark, forge manufacturing engineer at GE Aerospace Rutland and a graduate of the apprenticeship program.

In addition to the GE Aviation Apprenticeship Programs, Vermont Technical College also directs the GW Plastics/Nolato Manufacturing Technology Leadership Program, the GS Precision Advanced Machinist Program, and the GlobalFoundries Maintenance Technician Apprentice Program.

Additional story information can be viewed on WCAX.

Vermont Tech Awarded $1.2 Million by U.S. Department of Commerce

On August 9, 2022, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) would award a $1.2 million grant to Vermont Technical College to expand the college’s agricultural workforce development and entrepreneurship training programs. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan and will support the establishment of agricultural and food entrepreneurship coursework designed to spur innovation and train the next generation of farmers, food workers, and food entrepreneurs. The EDA grant will be matched with $314,775 in local funds and is expected to create 690 jobs, according to grantee estimates.

“The Biden-Harris Administration applauds community-led efforts to grow regional economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will support workforce development efforts designed to spur innovation, fill job vacancies and graduate the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs.”

“This funding will provide vital support for keeping agricultural land in production and for educating young and beginning agricultural entrepreneurs,” said Senator Patrick Leahy. “For many years, agricultural businesses and organizations in Vermont have struggled to find staff to meet the sector’s growing workforce needs. This investment in Vermont Technical College will create jobs and strengthen our rural economies.”

“When I visited VTC last summer to talk about workforce challenges, we spoke about how important funding like this is to support their plans to grow and develop our workforce,” said Congressman Peter Welch (VT-01). “VTC has demonstrated incredible commitment to expanding opportunities for Vermont’s workers and employers, and I’m thrilled they’ll receive this additional support from EDA.”

In May 2022, Vermont Technical College announced plans for a new Center for Agriculture and Food Entrepreneurship set to launch in late 2023 under the auspices of the new Vermont State University. The Center will provide students with expanded educational degrees offered in a variety of modalities (on-campus, virtual, and hybrid) as well as a robust internship program.

The centerpiece of the program will be an Associate Degree in Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship, with concentrations in either Agriculture & Livestock Production or Food Entrepreneurship. Students may choose to go on to complete a bachelor’s degree in either Diversified Agriculture, or another degree offered at Vermont State University. The Dairy Farm Management Degree with a pathway to the 2+2 program at University of Vermont will remain in place. Other educational learning opportunities will include an expansion of the Vermont Technical College farm, which serves as a working laboratory to complement classroom-based learning. Planned changes include updating the greenhouses, farm facilities and launching new enterprises, including custom dairy heifer grazing, deep bedded hogs, vegetables, grass-fed beef, alongside the existing apple orchard and maple sugaring operations. Also planned is a meat processing training lab and program, which will support credit, non-credit, and apprenticeship opportunities, serving as a workforce training program for meat processing facilities and supermarkets for both matriculating and continuing education students.

“This funding will enable Vermont Technical College and the forthcoming Vermont State University to bring our shared vision for our agricultural education to life,” said Parwinder Grewal, PhD, president at Vermont Technical College and inaugural president of Vermont State University. “The grant will allow us to build upon our current programs and expand to new programs in diversified agriculture and food systems. It will also enable us to address programming, staffing student services, internships, and other elements of our new Center. We believe our new offerings will not only be of great interest and benefit to Vermonters but will attract students from across New England and the Northeast.”

Starting in 2020, Vermont Technical College engaged in a 20-month process to re-envision the agriculture and food educational degree programs and to re-design and modernize the campus farm at VTC. A group of more than 40 Vermonters, including alumni, farm and food producers, education professionals from other Vermont institutions as well as leaders in government, business, and the nonprofit sectors, engaged in the planning process. “Both Vermont’s and New England’s farms and food system businesses are expanding and are in need of more workers and the next generation to take over. Vermont Tech’s applied, hands-on education is a key asset to our region and those graduating from the new Center will play a major role in helping expand local and regional food production so that our food system can be more resilient in the face of climate change and future pandemics,” said Ellen Kahler, executive director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, and one of the volunteers involved in the re-envisioning effort.

Vermont Tech Awarded Grant to Increase Meat Processing Courses

Vermont Technical College has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the state’s Working Lands program to increase meat processing courses at the school.

State agriculture officials say the money will create a number of certificate opportunities for students.

Officials say about 70 students a year will learn the trade which ultimately will help address workforce shortages in the industry.

“Vermont livestock producers cannot expand their operations or capitalize on the growing demand that we are seeing for their value-added products unless we really get the meat processing infrastructure expansions that are going to enable more throughput and help with the insufficient meat processing infrastructure that exists,” said Lynn Ellen Schimoler of the Working Lands Enterprise Fund.

This May, the program awarded $3.1 million in grants to grow agriculture and small businesses in Vermont.

More than $5 million in grants have been awarded since the beginning of the year.

As reported by WCAX, May 12, 2022

Vermont State University Unveils New Unified Brand Identity & Logo

Vermont State University, the first statewide, hybrid higher education institution in the United States, launched its unified brand identity and logo during a live virtual broadcast today. The unveiling is a major milestone in a transformation process unifying three institutions – Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College. Sixteen months ago, the Vermont State Colleges System initiated a strategic transformation process to redesign its system such that it could continue to deliver on its mission to Vermont and achieve financial stability.

The logo design, which features three triangles intersecting, represents the Vermont landscape and the connection between the three schools as they come together to chart a new path forward for higher education in the state. It was completed by Vermont-based company Solidarity of Unbridled Labour. More than 3,000 faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community partners have provided feedback throughout the process.

“Our Vermont State University brand identity emphasizes the idea of togetherness. Together, we can do great things,” said Sophie Zdatny, Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System.

“Together we are engaging in the hard work of transformation to bring together our individual strengths to provide innovative, affordable, and accessible higher education to Vermonters from all walks of life. Now, the logo is a symbol of our unification and our shared commitment to meet the needs of our students and the state of Vermont.”

Students, faculty, and staff from Castleton, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College joined Dr. Parwinder Grewal, who was named the inaugural president of Vermont State University in April 2022, to unveil the university’s new logo and share the brand identity, which celebrates that Vermont State University is at the heart of Vermont — a university of the people, driven by fearless innovation and exploration, developing students who are both doers and thinkers, with an expansive, yet intimate feel, and encouraging everyone to dream big and dream differently.

“Vermont State University is for every Vermonter who wants access to higher education; it’s also for Vermont – we are here to meet the state’s evolving and emerging needs. We’re transforming the way we think about college and leading the way with the nation’s first statewide, community-engaged and student-centered hybrid university,” Dr. Grewal said.

Enriched with multiple campuses and integrated within its host communities, Vermont State University is set to offer liberal arts, technical, and professional programs to students statewide and beyond.

“By bringing together the best of its programs, resources, and teachers, this new state university becomes a beacon of opportunity for all of us in Vermont and around the world to make our education truly one-of-a-kind,” said Ryan Cooney, a Class of 2022 Vermont Technical College student and VSCS student trustee.

Vermont State University opens its doors to its first class of students in the fall of 2023. Students admitted and matriculated this year will be the first students to graduate from the new university. Vermont State University will phase in its new brand identity and logo over the next year.

To learn more, please visit: https://vermontstate.vsc.edu

Nursing Students Work in Life-like Simulation Lab

Vermont Tech nursing students work in the life-like simulation laboratory on both the Randolph Center and Williston campuses. Learn more in the links below.

Vermont Tech Now Offers Online Bootcamps for In-demand IT Specialties

Vermont Tech has launched a new online bootcamp series geared towards helping students prepare for lucrative and fulfilling careers in the information technology (IT) industry. The six-month, immersive training programs provide students with fast access to in-demand and emerging tech jobs.

Students can enroll in comprehensive bootcamps covering artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), cybersecurity, and full stack web development to attain the necessary skills and knowledge to apply for their dream IT job opportunities. Each bootcamp features highly interactive training sessions led by industry experts, and hands-on exercises based on real-life applications in a wide range of relevant IT specialties.

Focus is put on enabling aspiring and existing IT professionals to conveniently access the training needed to fill high-need technical skills gaps in the industry. Each bootcamp helps participants prepare to stand out to employers through hands-on exercises and projects and a final capstone project so they can practice the skills needed to perform their job in the real world. Some bootcamps also provide participants with a completion certificate that can be used to attest their skills and knowledge—while others also leave them thoroughly prepared for relevant certification exams.

Vermont Tech’s bootcamps are the new addition to an expanding catalog of more than 1,000 online trainings through interactive, self-paced training, participants have the flexibility to learn at their convenience, while instructor-facilitated coaching sessions provide the structure and support they need to fulfill their career goals.

The self-paced training is offered entirely online and requires 15 to 25 hours per week to complete the curriculum. A dedicated instructor facilitates these bootcamp trainings and paces learners, so participants have a good balance between the flexibility of self-paced learning and the structure of instructor-led classes.

Participants also go through online coaching sessions, where they receive advice and feedback from expert instructors who are leaders in their respective fields. This kind of mentorship helps to strengthen their knowledge in the subject and provides them with a better sense of direction for a career in IT.

To learn more, contact Vermont Tech’s Continuing Education & Workforce Development department at cewdonline@vtc.edu or visit us online.

Vermont Tech Partners with Instrumart to Train & Support Students

Vermont Tech’s Continuing Education & Workforce Development Division announces that Instrumart, a leading distributor of industrial instrumentation headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, has joined its Employer Partner Program.

“This type of partnership is really impactful for our students,” said Maureen Hebert, Associate Dean of Industrial Relations & Workforce Development at Vermont Tech. “The scholarship funding can mean the difference between completing their education or not, and paid summer internships enable students to get real world experience in their area of interest and build a relationship with the employer.”

Vermont Tech’s Employer Partner Program

Vermont Tech offers a program that gives employers the opportunity to help train and shape the workforce that will move their industry forward and help keep their local communities vibrant.

The Employer Partner Program leverages support from Vermont employers to furnish students with financial resources to obtain a college degree. Participating businesses and organizations play a key role during every step in the process, providing students with career guidance, meaningful workplace experience, and the opportunity to start working immediately following graduation. Employers benefit by developing a pipeline of local students who are trained in a relevant degree program and are engaged in both their workplace and their city or town.

“The Associates in Electric Engineering Program at Vermont Tech provided me with engineering skills and technologies knowledge that helped me progress my career from a Lab Technician to an Applications Engineer at Instrumart,” said Mark Dion, an Applications Engineer at Instrumart and a graduate of Vermont Tech’s Associate in Electrical Engineering program.

“The education was well-rounded and not solely based on engineering designing, testing, and building. My professors were always available for further discussion and helped me throughout my program. The skills that I learned in the Vermont Tech lab directly influenced my ability to provide technical support and application advice to the customers I talk to daily. I strongly recommend the Electrical Engineering Program at Vermont Tech for those looking to jumpstart their Engineering career.”

Learn more about Vermont Tech’s Employer Partner Program. Learn more about current job openings at Instrumart.

Landscape Student, Aiden Cudhea, Receives Merit Scholarship from Vermont Nursery & Landscape Association

Vermont Tech announces that Aiden Cudhea, a student studying Landscape Contracting, has received a merit scholarship from Vermont Nursery and Landscaping Association (VNLA).

“It is probably one of my greatest achievements to be recognized by an organization full of the top landscaping professionals in the state of Vermont,” said Cudhea. “I am glad that Vermont Tech has such a positive relationship with the organization, because it really benefits students entering the landscaping field.”

The faculty at Vermont Tech’s Landscape Contracting Program nominated Cudhea for the merit award, noting his dedication to his studies, perseverance, and a sincere plan to have a career in the green industry in Vermont. He recently completed an independent project in landscape construction that he tackled with passion and creativity. His positive attitude is an asset to all around him.

Cudhea chose Vermont Tech for its small class sizes and focus on hands-on learning. He says the diversity in class structures is something that plays to many learning styles.

Receiving this award was a pleasant surprise for Cudhea, and something that he sees himself taking with him as he enters the landscaping industry. As the recipient of this award, he also receives a one-year free membership from VNLA.

Cudhea spends a lot of time in the greenhouse on the Vermont Tech campus. He said that since many of the landscape contracting classes are heavily lab-oriented, having a resource like a greenhouse connected to a classroom is an ideal scenario.

Cudhea also spends a lot of time in the landscaping drafting studio, where all the landscape design classes take place. “It’s not only a place where landscape contracting majors learn to create landscape design plans, but it also serves as a place to present some of our work to other faculty members as well as professionals from the landscaping industry,” he said.

Upon graduation, Cudhea hopes to help people in the community and create beautiful landscapes wherever he lands.

Landscape Contracting program at Vermont Tech

The Landscape Contracting program at Vermont Tech prepares students for a wide range of careers in the green industry. Students gain technical, business, creative, and scientific skills necessary to grow a variety of plant crops and to design and manage landscapes that enhance the environment and the daily lives of those who use them.

Specifically, students learn to create comprehensive and holistic landscapes by integrating fundamental design principles and cultural and aesthetic knowledge of ornamental plants and the natural systems that support them. Students also gain technical skills in materials and methods of construction; site engineering, such as grading and drainage; greenhouse and nursery environmental systems; integrated pest management; and the use of appropriate computer applications. Students become fluent in design practices such as analyzing a site for the best design fit, taking site measurements and creating base maps, developing conceptual design ideas, and creating planting plans and master plans for real-world residential and community projects.  Students develop a wide range of horticultural skills, including identifying and propagating woody and herbaceous ornamental plants, diagnosing and creating preventive plans for insect and disease problems, and managing nutrients and water for plant crops.
Learn more about the Landscape Contracting program at Vermont Tech. We also offer a scholarship fund for Landscaping students titled the Randolph Garden Club Scholarship.

The Vermont Nursery & Landscape Association / Green Works, established in 1964, is a non-profit professional organization for the horticultural industry in Vermont. Members include growers, retailers, garden centers and nurseries; landscape architects, designers and contractors; arborists, turf specialists, industry representatives, allied trades people, students and educators. The VNLA’s mission is to support and strengthen the horticulture industry of Vermont through programming and certification as well as create greater awareness of the benefits of landscaping and the professional services and products our members offer to the buying public. For more information, visit: vnlavt.org

Inaugural Vermont State University President Named

Today the Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Colleges System announced that Parwinder Grewal has accepted the position of president at Vermont State University, effective July 1, 2022. Vermont State University will welcome its first class in fall 2023. The University, comprised of the current Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College will be the first statewide, hybrid institution in the United States.

Dr. Grewal brings over 25 years of higher education experience and 10 years of biotechnology research and development experience in industry and government in six US states and five countries. Most recently, he served at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a new university created through the merger of three long-standing legacy institutions spanning multiple campuses and communities where he played key leadership roles including as the Founding Dean of the College of Sciences, Dean of the Graduate College, Executive Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and New Program Development, and Special Assistant to the President. Prior to Texas, he served as the Department Head of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and as a Distinguished Professor of Entomology at The Ohio State University where he also served as the Founding Director of the Center for Urban Environment and Economic Development and of the Urban Landscape Ecology Program.

Dr. Grewal has a BS in Agriculture and a MS in Plant Pathology from Punjab Agricultural University, and a Ph.D. in Zoology from Imperial College London. In addition to his many entomology, nematology, and distinguished faculty awards, Dr. Grewal received a Fulbright Scholar Award from the U.S. Department of State and Stockholm University in Sweden in 2013.

Dr. Grewal is an internationally recognized nematologist and is ranked among the top two percent of the world’s most-cited scientists. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Nematologists and has served as its President. His most recent research has focused on community resilience through local self-reliance in food, energy, and water.

“We are excited for Parwinder Grewal to chart this new path for higher education in Vermont,” said Sophie Zdatny, Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System. “Dr. Grewal brings a passion for engaging students, a commitment to strong relationships with faculty and staff, and robust experience building university-community partnerships to Vermont State University. He is a thoughtful, strategic leader and we are excited to welcome him to Vermont.”

Dr. Parwinder Grewal added, “I am honored to be selected as the Inaugural President of Vermont State University. I look forward to collaborating with Chancellor Zdatny, the VSC System, the Board of Trustees, the State of Vermont, community leaders, faculty, staff, and students to build our new university as a national model for a state-wide, community-engaged, hybrid university that transforms lives and communities across the state. I see this as an incredible opportunity to build a model, post-COVID university in the United States.”

“Parwinder Grewal is a proven leader with a track record of success in bringing together institutions, leaders, and teams,” noted Megan Cluver, Vice Chair of the VSCS Board of Trustees and Chair of the Vermont State University President Search and Screen Committee. “We are confident in his ability to bring our three institutions together, and ultimately launch the new University with the needs of our students at the heart each decision. We also recognize and honor the tremendous contributions of Interim President Mauhs-Pugh of Castleton University, President Patricia Moulton of Vermont Technical College, and Interim President John Mills at Northern Vermont University, who have steadfastly stewarded us through the transformation process up to this historic point.”

Pending approval by the New England Commission of Higher Education, the accrediting body for the member institutions of the Vermont State Colleges System, the inaugural President will serve simultaneously as the President of Vermont State University and President of Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College for the 2022-2023 academic year. During this time, he, will lead the three institutions as they transition to Vermont State University. Effective July 1, 2023, Vermont State University will officially launch as a unified, singly-accredited institution and President Grewal will assume the sole role of President of Vermont State University.

The Vermont State University President will exercise broad responsibilities for all aspects of the academic, student, financial, and development dimensions of the university. The President will report to the Chancellor and work closely with the Board of Trustees and with Vermont State University’s sister institution, Community College of Vermont.

Additional Resources:

Vermont Tech Ranks #10 Nationally for Best Construction Management Associate Degree Program

Vermont Technical College’s Construction Management Associate Degree program has been ranked #10 out of 23 Best Construction Management Associate Degree programs by Best Accredited Colleges. The ranking comes at an important time for both Vermont and the nation: Construction continues its upward jobs trend. In March 2022, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shared a report that showed the ninth-straight month-to-month increase in jobs, pushing the industry’s total employment ahead of its pre-pandemic high mark. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects an 8% growth for construction managers during the 2019-2029 period, and the median earnings for these professionals were $97,180 in May 2020 (www.bls.gov).

Best Accredited Colleges considered hundreds of institutions across the country and ranked Vermont Tech using data around financial aid awards, quality of education, faculty, campus resources, and more. The team at Best Accredited Colleges realizes that each student has unique needs and goals, and its rankings highlight schools that put these needs first, while providing an education that is both attainable and high quality.

Why Construction Management?

Starting a career in construction management begins with learning the necessary knowledge and skills. An Associate of Applied Science Degree programs in Construction Management give students the opportunity to develop valuable skills and gain practical, pragmatic experience. This leads to direct entry into the industry or the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.

Students learn about residential, horizontal (roads, bridges, airports), and vertical (hospitals, schools, high-rises) construction, as well as building site supervision, construction safety business skills, and project management. The curriculum is divided between course theory and hands-on activities, such as lab exercises and visits to real construction sites and is taught by faculty who have extensive industry experience.

Students are hired for paid internships between their first and second year. Industry demand for these graduates is extremely strong.

Why an associate degree?

An associate degree typically is completed in just two years, and rapidly accelerates a career in the construction industry.

About Vermont Tech’s Construction Management Program

With new technology comes new materials, new products, and new implementation techniques. Construction Management is an ideal major for those who enjoy a creative challenge and like to see the results of their work. Graduates of this program have found work as supervisors and project managers with construction companies like Pike, DEW Construction and PC Construction. Other career paths include construction contracting and materials testing.

Vermont Tech’s program is designed to serve both recent high school graduates with limited experience in the construction field and adults already employed in the building industry who want to prepare themselves for more advanced roles.

Learn more about Construction Management at Vermont Tech.

Vermont Tech, in Partnership with Beta Technologies & Vermont Flight Academy, Launches Local Chapter of Women in Aviation International

Vermont Technical College has launched a provisional chapter of Women in Aviation International in partnership with Beta Technologies and Vermont Flight Academy. The new community provides a professional networking space to students and graduates of Vermont Tech’s Professional Pilot Technology Program as well as the broader Vermont aviation community. It is the first such chapter in Vermont and one of few in New England. The chapter’s first meeting took place on Friday, March 25 at BETA Technologies.

The Vermont chapter is open to anyone interested in the field of aviation, from high school students to college students to alumni to professionals in roles ranging from pilots to flight instructors, aeronautical mechanics, and aeronautical engineers, reflecting the broad range of professional roles in the industry.

“We are excited to open up more opportunities for women looking to pursue a career in the airline industry,” said Robin Guillian, program director for the Professional Pilot Technology Program at Vermont Tech and a former airline pilot. “Now, if you are a Vermont girl into airplanes and you want to fly with a woman, you can find a connection to do that. If you are interested in being a seaplane pilot, you can connect with women who do that. The possibilities for connection are exciting.”

“Flying helps develop a really meaningful skill set, whether it’s for growing confidence, having fun, or building a career,” said Willa Clark, a team member at BETA Technologies and founding member of the chapter. “I remember the freedom and possibility I felt when I got my pilot’s license. At BETA, we’re always trying to create new opportunities and get different types of people to join this industry, so it’s exciting to be part of creating this Women in Aviation chapter that will encourage more women to pursue aviation.

The Vermont chapter will provide mentoring, scholarships, professional development opportunities, and networking events in-person and virtually. Resources will also be available for those pursuing a career in aviation. The membership cost is $35 for students, $45 for other members, and chapter dues are $15. The chapter is planning its first social gathering at a hangar space in the spring of 2022 and has plans to attend a national conference and upcoming air shows.

Vermont Tech’s Professional Pilot Technology Program is no stranger to community involvement. Vermont Tech is highly involved in STEM outreach for young women. In the past it has brought in an aviation simulator for many events (such as Women in Aviation Week), hosted a flight simulator experience for sixth graders, an aero camp, and partners with Burlington High School to host a 10-day aviation immersion experience for high school students.

Vermont Technical College has graduated 47 individuals from the Professional Pilot Technology Program since its inception in 2016, six of whom identify as women. Students who graduate from the program are typically hired as airline pilots within six months of graduation. Vermont Tech ranks #1 in Vermont and #7 nationally among public colleges for short- and long-term return on investment and has a 99% placement rate.

Learn more about our Professional Pilot Technology program.

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Vermont Tech Partners with Earthwise Global Inc. on Hydroponic Study

Vermont Technical College partnered with Earthwise Global Inc., a Northfield, Vt.-based AgriTech company, on a 6-week preliminary feasibility study that evaluated the use of a nanobubble technology to grow hydroponic crops more efficiently and abundantly. Vermont Tech’s study employed Earthwise’s advanced water aeration technology and resulted in a 25% net yield in both basil and lettuce weight with additional analysis of plant health and nutrient value forthcoming.

The study results show an opportunity to increase crop yield and decrease phosphates in the environment while also improving the nutritional value of a hydroponic crop. In doing so, the research addressed critical issues facing hydronic crop growers in Vermont and more broadly; namely, food availability, access, and nutritional value as well as climate and environmental impacts.

The study was led by Michelle Sama, PhD, associate professor and department co-chair of Science, Molly Willard, project manager for Agricultural Training and director of Vermont Tech’s Institute for Applied Agriculture and Food Systems, and Ross Lieblappen, PhD, assistant professor and department co-chair of Science. It ran from mid 2021 through early 2022.

“If we can improve the growth efficiency and lessen the financial burden of producing nutritious foods, we can support our state and country in solving critical food access and availability challenges,” said Dr. Sama.

“As growers contend with climate change impacts, growing crops in a controlled environment is beneficial,” Willard added. “Earthwise technology helps growers maximize yields with lower nutrient inputs under smaller contained growing environments.”

There are potentially economic impacts as well. “We are very pleased with the collaboration with Vermont Tech and the excellent results from their study. We are also confident that we can deliver similar results in organic lettuce production, which will lead to a tremendous boon to the profitability of organic farmers,” said Peter Appleton, PhD, founder and CEO of Earthwise Global Inc. “These results, when applied to a commercial grow operation of a medium-sized, 10,000-sq ft. greenhouse, translate to over $50,000 increase in net income per harvest. “

The research is in response to Vermont’s Governor’s Commission on Agriculture recent call for changes in agricultural education and practice in order to innovate.

Study Details

The goal of the feasibility study was to optimize the use of oxygen as a catalyst for efficient nutrient uptake and usage and to also reduce nutrient discharge.

Other research has shown that more than 50% of fertilizer applied to crops in open field agriculture and more than 25% in controlled environment agriculture is not taken up by the plant in the growth cycle. This results in a waste of nutrients, higher input costs, and the potential for discharge into the environment.

“Increasing nutrient uptake will produce healthier and higher-yielding crops, all while decreasing the environmental burden,” Dr. Sama explains.

It was deemed beneficial by the research team to scale up the growth experiment to a semi-full-size outdoor trial, allowing the plants to fully produce harvestable fruit. This was done to assess the representative impact of nanobubble water-to-plant growth. The study’s results indicate that while normal water used in agriculture has an oxygen concentration of 6-8 mg/L, 20 mg/L is a target concentration for optimizing green pepper plant growth.

No students were involved in this study, but there is future opportunity for students to engage in such research to experience the hands-on use of technology, engage in data analysis and measurement, and make data-informed decisions. A new hydroponic resource for Vermont Tech students is available at the Randolph campus as part of the existing greenhouse.

Based on these results, Earthwise Global, in collaboration with Vermont Tech, is seeking agricultural producers interested in applying this technology to greenhouse and field operations. Contact Earthwise at peter.appleton@earthwiseglobal.com.

Learn more about Science and Agriculture at Vermont Tech.