With a push toward online learning, overcrowded lecture halls, and nationwide disillusionment with higher education, VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY (VTSU) is trying to set itself apart.

Paul Winters, one of the associate directors of admissions at Vermont State’s Randolph Campus, explains that the school emphasizes a hands-on, career-focused approach to education.

“Our goal is to get students working in the field right from day one. Almost all of our majors require some type of co-op or internship opportunity,” Paul says. “You’re going to have done the work; you’re going to have experienced it; you’re going to have seen it for yourself.”

That isn’t the only thing Paul says sets Vermont State apart.

MANY CAMPUSES, ONE UNIVERSITY

Paul explains that, previously, there were individual campuses with registered programs under the Vermont State College system. Now, all of those campuses are under the umbrella of a single university, and some of the programs have been consolidated to assist with that transition.

To meet students where they are, Vermont State now has five campuses and many learning sites across the state.

The Randolph Center Campus, right in the center of the state, is part of Vermont State’s transformation. The Randolph Campus focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, offered through flexible-learning formats. They also have business-related programs that overlap with the STEM focus.

NONTYPICAL CAREER PROGRAMS

Some of the programs focus on career paths students may never have even considered. Things like Auto and Diesel Technologies, Construction Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering with a Renewable Energy concentration.

Another example is the Veterinary Technology major. The Randolph Campus has an animal rescue clinic on campus, where students can practice with animals large and small. Many sites at the Randolph Campus are being renovated, thanks to a grant from the federal government.

One example is the manufacturing engineering center, which has been at the forefront of modern-day 3D printing and remains on the cutting edge of that engineering process today.

ONLINE AND HYBRID COURSES

Of course, students will still have to take the typical prerequisite courses, and online and hybrid courses, where classes are divided between online learning and in-person labs, are available. The hybrid model is especially convenient for students who are based at one campus but want to take courses offered at another Vermont State site.

The Architectural Engineering path is a good example of this. Students who may prefer a different type of architecture, where they consider the aesthetics of a building, might be more interested in the inner workings of the structure, like the load-bearing beams and heating system.

Those programs have had an extremely strong job outcome so far, Paul says In fact, the Randolph Campus’ Civil Engineering program has a direct career path to VTrans, Vermont’s government transportation agency. “They’re desperately looking for folks in that field, so they hire our graduates almost immediately from these programs,” Paul says. “So it’s a great pathway for students looking to jump into high-paying careers.”

TWO-AND FOUR-YEAR OPTIONS

That’s true for both the two- and four-year degree programs. Students who don’t want a full four-year certification, for instance, can do a two-year Civil Engineering certification or Ground Transportation program. Some students like to do a four-year degree with an engineering focus and get a business degree on a two-year track, so they can open up their own business down the line.

“Most of us going to college can just find our way through and we get a degree, and then we go, ‘Now what?’” Paul says. “But now, a lot more students are being very intentional about their college search and what they want to do. And I think that’s smart.”

TRY A MAJOR DAY

Vermont State is trying to find new ways to flaunt its merits. They host “Try a Major Day,” where high school students come to campus and work in a lab, or on a manufacturing project, to see what the majors are actually like and what might be a good fit for them. Potential nursing students get to see the simulation lab; the civil engineering lab has a sand cable space, and the list goes on.

“You get a flavor of what that looks like,” Paul says. “It’s just a great way for them to immerse themselves in those programs for the day, to see what might be a good fit for them later on.”

WORK WITH A SUCCESS ADVISOR

Vermont State also emphasizes its relationship between students and faculty. Class sizes are small by design, with a fourteen-to-one student-to-faculty ratio.Every student works with a Success Advisor, who promotes relationships with department heads, so students have a way to speak up if they’re struggling or if they need help with job placement after graduation.

“They’re going to help you to find that career,” Paul says. “It doesn’t just happen at graduation. They work with you through all four years to make sure you’re ready to go.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY

VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY

Randolph Campus

124 Admin Drive

PO Box 500

Randolph Center, VT

vermontstate.edu/our-locations/randolph-campus/

[email protected]