Vermont Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski yesterday issued an $84 million higher education, scholarship, and workforce development package that “stabilizes our higher education system.”
This package is in addition to the $93 million year-over-year investment in the state college system. It creates additional workforce development training programs, and adds funding to scholarship programs. It utilizes an unspecified combination of state and federal funding, a spokesperson for Krowinski said. Highlights of the proposal include:
University of Vermont ($7.2 million):
- $2,000,000 one-time for the Office of Engagement. This office, begun last year, helps build business and government partnerships with UVM.
- $2,200,000 one-time to hold room and board level funded
- $3,000,000 for COVID-19 research
Vermont Student Assistance Corporation ($8.1 million):
- $500,000 one-time for Advancement Grants for three years
- $300,000 one-time for Aspiration Grants for three years
- $1,900,000 one-time for 802 Opportunity Scholarship for three years
Vermont State Colleges ($66.5 million):
- $5,000,000 added to base for increase support
- $20,000,000 for transition costs over four years
- $20,500,000 workforce development initiative targeted at critically needed occupations over three to four years
- $21,000,000 one-time to address operating costs
Primary Care Physician and Nursing Scholarship Programs – $2,000,000 to 3,000,000 spent over two to three years.