Vermont State Colleges chancellor asks for targeted funding as enrollment and workforce needs shift

The chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System told the House Education Committee on Feb. 4 that the system is seeing modest enrollment growth, strong licensure outcomes in nursing and a shift toward online and workforce-focused programs that will shape the FY27 budget request.

The presentation said 83% of students are Vermont residents and that the system’s nursing students take the NCLEX in Vermont at rates above 90 percent; first-attempt pass rates were described as "nearly a 100% for some students" and generally "in the high nineties." Enrollment rose about 1.4% last fall, and the chancellor said distance-education enrollments increased roughly 10% as more older, working students pursue flexible, fully remote study options. "We want to ensure that Vermont and Vermonters have access to high quality higher education regardless of their income or their location," the chancellor said.

On workforce training, the chancellor highlighted the Career Pathway Entry Program (referred to in the presentation as…