State of the University

As you might expect, the University has spent most of 2020 navigating the twists and turns of the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges that the pandemic has brought forth have certainly strengthened our resolve, pushed us to rethink the ways we deliver courses and services, and brought us closer as a community. After careful consideration, we moved nearly all of our fall courses online and gave our students the option to live on campus or take their courses remotely from home. Given our students’ differing feelings about living on campus, they were best served by having a choice for their living arrangements. This also positioned the University with greater flexibility as the future circumstances of the pandemic change. While there are no perfect decisions, all of our choices are made with the best interest of our students at heart.

Here are some things that may look a little different than you are used to this fall:

Academics In the spring, our professors worked rigorously to move their courses online in a single week. They are offering an even better learning experience this fall, given more planning time. Students are receiving their relationship-based education remotely. In fact, many of our professors are teaching remotely, but still on campus to be available in person or remotely for students in need. The University also hired Molly Marcy ’20 for its new videographer position, which helps professors supplement their course content with video.

Services Students on campus and off have access to the offices, services, and resources the campus provides. Students can access such services as the Academic Support Center, Wellness Center, and Career Services in-person and through video conferencing or telephone. Our one-on-one campus relationships remain intact, no matter where students are located. The Admissions Office is operating in much of the same way. Through some creative thinking, they can now offer both in-person tours (following safety guidelines) and virtual admissions events. Despite the challenges COVID-19 presents, our Admissions Office hasn’t missed a beat in recruiting new Spartans!

Campus Life Perhaps most visibly impacted is our campus experience. In fall 2020, about 300 students are living in the residence halls, down from more than 1,000 in a typical year. While our residential population is much smaller, it’s critical that we provide opportunities to bring people together for meaningful campus experiences. Clubs are active, events are underway, and Soundings will be delivered both in person and online. We recognize that our students, faculty, and staff have a shared responsibility to keep our community safe, and all of this is done under strict face-covering and social-distancing guidelines.

While there have been many changes and challenges, our students, faculty, and staff have also experienced many recent successes to celebrate. Here are a few of note: • Noelle Cave ’20 became the first female in Vermont history to enlist as a 19D Cavalry Scout. The Army views Calvary

Scouts as its eyes and ears. She serves at A Troop 1-172

Mountain Cavalry in Newport, Vermont. • Carley Patch ’20 became the first Castleton University student to join the Boston Crusaders, a world-class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. • Castleton Spartan, the University’s student-run newspaper, was awarded second place for Best Newspaper at a fouryear institution with less than 5,000 undergraduate students enrolled by the College Media Association at its

Spring National College Media Convention in New York

City. • The University has gained millions of dollars in grant support, including a $2.25 million Title III grant from the

U.S. Department of Education and a $1.7 million grant for

TRIO Support Services.