Vermont State Colleges trustees refine 2026 meeting calendar and set presidential search timeline

The Vermont State Colleges executive committee on June 2 reviewed a draft calendar of trustees and committee meetings for calendar year 2026, directed staff to revise the schedule, and set a timeline for the system’s presidential search.

The committee asked staff to refine the draft 2026 calendar circulated in the meeting packet, remove an October 26 board meeting previously included, add an audit committee and an EPSO committee meeting in October, and consider striking a finance and facilities meeting currently listed for June 8. Sharon, the system’s chief financial officer, said the State Auditor’s Office confirmed the financial audit materials may be delivered immediately after the board retreat in early November, which would allow the October 26 meeting to be removed from the schedule.

Why this matters: The calendar changes affect the timing of committee reviews for the FY26 budget, tuition-and-fee requests, audit work and personnel actions tied to the presidential search. Trustees discussed methods to preserve in-person engagement while accommodating travel and legislative schedules.

Key facts and actions

- Meetings and retreat: The draft calendar presented includes three in-person board meetings (April 13, June 8 and the annual retreat moved to November rather than the traditional September date). Staff said the June 8 meeting is intended as the annual meeting when new officers begin their service. The committee agreed to refine dates and return an updated calendar to the full board in about 10 days.

- Audit timing: Sharon told trustees that the State Auditor’s Office allowed the system to submit audit materials after the November retreat, enabling staff to propose striking an October board meeting. That guidance prompted the committee to ask staff to add an audit committee meeting in October and to coordinate audit timing with the retreat.

- June annual meeting logistics: The committee discussed a calendar conflict for the annual meeting that had been scheduled for June 16 in Castleton; several trustees noted a possible legislative floor session on June 16–17. Staff said they were checking with the Community College of Vermont (CCV) about using campus space on Saturday, June 14, with a proposed 9 a.m.–noon session, and would poll trustees for quorum. Because of travel burdens for some trustees, the committee discussed making the meeting fully virtual while still offering at least one physical location for members of the public to attend, per state public-participation requirements.

- Presidential search timeline: Trustees discussed the search process and timeline used in the prior search. Staff described a likely schedule this year that would begin preparatory work and a request for proposals (RFP) for search consultants in the summer, with a formal launch of search-firm work in late July or early August. Historically, semifinalist interviews took place in January, finalists were brought to campus in March, and a recommendation to the board occurred in late March or early April with an April announcement; staff said they intend to adapt that rhythm to fit the 2026 calendar so an appointment could be effective July 1, 2026.

- Consent agenda and packets: Several trustees urged use of a consent agenda to streamline the lengthy June agenda (which includes EPSO committee policy proposals, tuition and fee requests for CCV and VTSU, a modest banking and investment resolution, and the FY26 budget). Trustee Megan Clover said, “I think the use of the consent agenda is advisable.”

- Direction to staff: The committee instructed staff (Kayla and Kelly) to circulate a refined calendar and a notice about the June meeting later that day, to gather trustees’ preferences for a Saturday in mid-June vs. a fully virtual session, to prepare a consent agenda where appropriate, and to add the needed October committee meetings to the packet that will go to the full board in roughly 10 days.

Discussion highlights and concerns

Trustees debated how many board meetings to schedule in early 2026 versus fewer meetings and more special meetings as needed. One trustee cautioned about “front-loading” board meetings in the first four months of the year; staff said prescheduling several meetings helps volunteers plan around the presidential search workload. Trustees also emphasized the value of some in-person meetings for relationship-building even as they acknowledged travel burdens and family obligations.

On the virtual/in-person question, Sharon said, “We can certainly pivot to virtual. It’s up to you as to whether that’s what your preference is,” and reminded the committee that state rules require an in-person location be offered for public participation even when the board meets virtually.

Formal actions and outcomes

- The committee approved the minutes of the April meeting. - The committee voted to adjourn at the end of the session.

No formal vote was taken at this meeting to adopt the 2026 calendar; staff were directed to revise and return a refined calendar for board approval. No final decisions were made about the June annual meeting date; staff were instructed to poll trustees and publicize the chosen date and format.

Next steps

Staff will circulate an updated 2026 calendar and a June meeting notice to trustees later the same day. The refined calendar, with added October audit and EPSO committee meetings and adjustments to in-person dates, will be included in the packet to the full board at the next meeting in roughly 10 days. The committee indicated it wants the search RFP work to start over the summer, with the timeline adapted so a new president could assume office July 1, 2026.

The executive committee adjourned after giving staff these directions.