Community College of Vermont presents workforce, affordability and corrections programs to House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

On Jan. 30, 2025, the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development heard an overview of the Community College of Vermont’s operations, affordability programs and employer-linked workforce initiatives from CCV President Joyce Judy and Tiffany Walker, CCV’s senior director of workforce.

Judy said CCV serves roughly 10,000 Vermonters a year, operates 12 physical locations plus a large online program, and deliberately keeps class sizes small "between 10 and 20 students" to increase individualized support. “We are the open end of a funnel,” Judy said, describing CCV’s role as providing entry and continuing education to Vermonters from high-school age through retirement.

The presentation emphasized why CCV’s programs matter to the state’s economy. Judy told the committee that CCV’s students are primarily Vermont residents — "96% of the 10,000 Vermonters that we serve are Vermonters" — and that expanding access to postsecondary training is central to retaining workers for local employers.

Tiffany Walker described employer-driven training pilots and credentials designed to connect learners directly to jobs. Walker said a Career Pathways Entry program, funded by a Northern Borders Regional Commission grant, paired early employer experiences with college-credit courses. She reported that the program’s first 2024 cohort included…