In addition to the guidance and support you provide students within the classroom, there are several support departments that are available for various student needs. The administration highly encourages faculty members to develop bonds with support staff as a means for enhancing the student experience and building a collaborative work environment.
Beyond the available support services described below, Vermont State has developed a university handbook, which informs students of their rights and responsibilities. Members of the faculty, staff, and student body should all have a familiarity with this document.
Academic Support
Vermont State’s peer and professional tutors offer individual support to help tackle immediate academic challenges and help students develop the tools they’ll need to succeed long term. The university uses tutor.com, which is available to all students, but also offers face-to-face support on campus. The tutoring page on the university’s website includes the locations, hours of availability on each campus, and a tutor request form.
Disability Services
The Office of Disability Services is a vital resource from both a student support and a legal compliance perspective. As described on the university’s website, they collaborate “with the institution’s diverse community to ensure that all aspects of campus life — learning, working and living — are inclusive and accessible. The office provides the institution with resources, education, and direct services so that people with disabilities may have a greater opportunity to achieve their goals as independent and resilient learners.”
One very important service they provide is the facilitation of student accommodation requests. Given our goal of fostering an accessible and inclusive environment, collaboration between faculty members, students with disabilities, and the Office of Disability Services is essential. For this reason, gaining a familiarity with the process students must follow to request an accommodation is highly recommended.
Advising
Vermont State University’s advising team includes both faculty and staff advisors, and most students will work with both throughout their academic program. Advisors are available throughout the week, offering in-person, email, phone, and/or teleconference (i.e., Zoom) meetings and conversations. The Student Success Advising Office assigns a Student Success Advisor to all students, beginning with the Class of 2027 (students beginning in Fall 2023).
Current students with questions can access their advisors through the Vermont State Portal, or by emailing the Advising Office at Advising@VermontState.edu.
Multilingual Student Services
Vermont State University offers multilingual students the resources to be successful academically and adjust to a new language and culture. Services include tutoring, cognitive counseling, test proctoring, conversation partners, a pathway program at Castleton, and a Language and Power course.
Students and faculty can learn more on the Multilingual Student Services website and contact Dr. Mary Dinh at Mary.Dinh@VermontState.edu.
Student Life
Student Life provides guidance to students from the moment they arrive by coordinating welcome weekends and their transition into campus housing. In addition, they provide opportunities for social engagement through clubs, events, and other activities.
Services at each campus can differ to a degree, so informational pages for each learning site are accessible from the office’s primary webpage.