Vermont State University asks board to recommend four new endowments to full board; committee approves recommendation

Vermont State University presented four proposed new endowments and a proposed change to the criteria for an existing Richardson award to the finance and facilities committee on Feb. 10.

President Berg told trustees the proposals include new endowed funds for the Brown Scholarship, Melinda faculty federation scholarship, Streator Scholarship and an anonymous "Linden Promise" (described in materials). He also described a donor‑initiated change to the Richardson award so the prize, historically restricted to Castleton faculty, would be available to faculty across VTSU. Berg said the changes reflect the university's fundraising shift to support VTSU systemwide.

Committee members reviewed donor letters and the proposed terms included in the meeting packet. With no substantive questions outstanding, the committee voted unanimously to recommend all four endowments and the Richardson revision for action by the full board at its next regular meeting.

The committee recorded the motion and returned the recommendation to the full board for final approval. The committee did not change award criteria beyond the donor‑requested expansion of eligibility for the Richardson award; the exact scholarship award sizes, eligibility details and donor names are described in the packet materials provided to trustees.