On Sept. 11, UVM President Marlene Tromp announced the leadership of a Strategic Planning Committee in hopes of strengthening a vision for UVM’s future.
Katharine Shepherd, dean of the College of Education and Social Services, was named chair of the committee on Sept. 9. Other leaders named for the committee included Ian Davis of Enterprise Technology Services and Vicki Gilwee, executive assistant to the dean of the Larner College of Medicine.
“The idea is to really hear from the community and get the wisdom and insights of our community so we can develop the best strategic plan for UVM,” Tromp said.
At her prior universities, Tromp oversaw the implementation of a Strategic Planning Committee and understood the real benefits it could have on a university.
Specifically, while working at Arizona State University, strategic plans led to an increase in donor philanthropy, research awards and graduation rate, according to Tromp.
“There were lots of good people who [wanted] good things to happen, but there wasn’t a plan to get there,” Tromp said.
The planning committee is composed of 30 people, all from varying sectors of the UVM community and 3 or 4 from outside UVM, according to Shepherd. The committee is intended to be broad, so as not to hear from only one demographic at UVM.
Every other Friday, the committee will convene to discuss its findings on the issues being focused on at the listening sessions.
As time progresses, they will collect and analyze data from the student body and beyond, allowing them to formulate a plan that truly represents all of UVM. The committee will host listening sessions so that those not on the committee can weigh in with opinions, according to Shepherd.
The committee will use the information and issues brought up at the listening sessions to decide which issues in the UVM community need the most focus.
“If you want to get involved in creating a future for UVM, and what you hope that future looks like, I think it starts with attending those sessions,” said junior Kennedy Connors, SGA president and Strategic Planning Committee member.
By design, the committee is intended to be representative of everyone at UVM. This will allow all members of the committee to gather information on a wide range of issues, according to Shepherd.
“Our job is to gather those perspectives and try to represent those as best we can and work those into the plan,” Shepherd said.
After listening to a variety of perspectives on the issues facing UVM, committee members will begin data analysis in order to formulate and achieve the plan. Shepherd explained that she hopes the plan will be finalized and voted on by the Board of Trustees in February 2026.
“I’m really excited about the work they are doing to really help us imagine a great future for UVM and to make an even better impact on our students, on our state and on the future,” Tromp said.
