CEWD Team

Student Success - Vermont State University

Student Success

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Supporting Your Journey

From the moment you enroll, you’ll experience a unique, personalized support system designed to help you thrive both inside and outside the classroom. That’s why all the services and resources you need are under one roof, with your Student Success Advisor (SSA) as your go-to person for support along the way.

Jump To:

Academic Support | Advising | Athletics | Career Development | Clubs & Activities | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice | Health & Wellness | International Student Services | Public Safety | Residence Life | Study Away

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Academic Support

From tutoring and study skills to disability accommodations, multilingual services, TRIO, and Americorps, you’ll get targeted support that meets you where you’re at and helps you feel confident in your academic ability.

Supporting Your Academic Goals
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Advising

With our dual-advising model, your student success and faculty advisors help you to plan your courses, graduate on-time, and make sure that you’re on the path to success both in and out of the classroom by connecting you with resources.

Expert Advising to Help You Succeed
A women's soccer game at Dave Wolk Stadium at the Vermont State Castleton campus

Athletics

Whether you’re a Spartan, Badger, Hornet, or Knight, find info about playing varsity, intramural, and club sports at VTSU.

Athletics Opportunities for All
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Career Development

Learn about careers, internships, resume writing, interview prep, networking events, grad school preparation, and more.

Career Readiness and Preparation
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Clubs & Activities

Explore over 100 student-led clubs and organizations across our campuses and learn about the VTSU Student Government model.

Student Activities and Leadership
Students sitting in a classroom looking at a laptop

Disability Services 

Find out how to request support for a disability, including academic, housing, and emotional support animal accommodations. 

Disability Support Services
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice

Learn about ways to receive support and get involved in co-creating community, friendship, representation, and belonging.  

Fostering Inclusive Communities
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Health & Wellness

Find the Health & Wellness Center on your campus for mental health, first aid, stress management, and health resources. 

Mental and Physical Health & Wellness
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International Student Services

Our team offers support on visa rules, enrollment, OPT, I-20, housing, religion, clubs, and multilingual services.

Support for International Students
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Public Safety

Public Safety staff at Vermont State provide community safety resources, parking policies and permits, emergency management, and more.

Ensuring Safe Communities for All
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Residence Life

Learn about meal plans for residential and commuter students, residence halls, dining options, facilities, and Vermont life near your campus.

Campus Life and Commuter Resources
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Study Away

Learn about studying abroad, national student exchanges, and faculty-led travel opportunities that last from ten days to a full year! 

Explore the World with Study Away

Why Vermont State Stands Out in Student Success

At Vermont State we provide holistic support in and out of the classroom through our shared advising model, because we know both are vital to your success. Unlike other universities that separate these parts of your college experience, we provide seamless support under one roof. Whether you need assistance monitoring progress toward your degree, finding a roommate, starting a snowboarding club or studying abroad, you have one place to go for everything.  

Two Advisors Assigned to You:

We provide you with not one, but two dedicated advisors to ensure you have the comprehensive support you need to succeed from day one right through to graduation. Students will receive a Student Success Advisor (SSA) for their first year at VTSU (2 semesters, 3 trimesters). SSAs will help you register for classes for your initial semester, assist with your transition to the university, proactively reach out and connect you with resources as needed, and be a point person for your questions.

You will also be assigned a Faculty Advisor to work with during the entirety of your program. Your Faculty Advisor will be an expert in your major and can help guide you through course selection and registration each semester, degree planning, the process for completing an internship or other applied learning experience, and career and graduate school options.

An Inclusive, Equitable, Welcoming Community:

At Vermont State, being successful also means being your full self. We firmly believe that embracing diversity, promoting equity, and striving for inclusivity empowers every student to reach their full potential. 

Our commitment to fostering a welcoming and accessible environment ensures that all students feel valued and respected. We actively work to break down barriers, promote equity, stand up for social justice, and celebrate diverse perspectives. 

We uphold a code of conduct designed to keep all VTSU community members safe in the classroom, dorm rooms, and facilities throughout Vermont.

Contact Us

You can reach us with general questions at StudentSuccess@VermontState.edu, or reach out to a member of our staff.

  • Staff

Sara Kinerson

She/Her

AVP of Advising & Career Development

Jamia Danzy, a black woman with long braided hair tied into a half-up and half-down style is wearing a light colored shirt and rectangular glasses, smiling at the camera while standing outside.
  • Staff

Jamia Danzy

She/Her

Dean of Students/Interim VP of Student Success

Woman with dark brown hair smiles at the camera with a tan background.
  • Staff

Jennifer-Kristina Jones

She/Her

Assistant Vice President of Academic Support and Educational Opportunity Programs

  • Faculty
  • Staff

Deanna Tyson

Assistant Vice President, Athletics and Fitness

A man with short black hair wearing a blue suit smiling at the camera.
  • Staff

Paul Suk-Hyun Yoon

He/Him

Chief Culture and Compliance Officer, Title IX and Protected Rights Coordinator

  • Staff

Jessica Duncan

She/Her

Director of Career Development & Innovation

Gerry Volpe Smiles at the camera with the Castleton Campus mural.
  • Staff

Gerry Volpe

He/Him

Director of Disability Services

A woman with long brown hair and round glasses smiling at the camera.
  • Staff

Jackie Eddy

She/Her

Director of Health and Wellness

  • Staff

Michael Robilotto

He/Him

Associate Dean of Students

  • Staff

Michael A Palagonia

He/Him

Associate Director of Public Safety

Vermont State University
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Go further with Vermont State University.

New Students
Transfer Students
Graduate Students
Online Students
Continuing Education

Small State.
Wildly Ambitious.

Every bit as unique, welcoming, and exceptional as the state we call home.

Vermont State University provides high-quality, flexible, and affordable education that combines experiential and classroom education on campuses across the Green Mountains and beyond. That’s the State of Possibility.

Request Information
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Innovative Academics

Choose your path with Vermont State University’s 105+ rigorous and rewarding academic programs, in areas like applied technology, engineering, science, healthcare, education, business, psychology, computer science, and the arts.

Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, July 1, 2023.

View Academic Programs

Two female students wearing navy blue scrubs with VTSU Nursing patches on them walk on a path through campus.
Three students wearing rock climbing gear in the woods being instructed by professor Ben Mirkin, who is pointing upward.
Two male veterinary technology students examining a beagle.
A student with their back to the camera sitting at an audio mixing board in the VTSU Lyndon recording studio

We Are Vermont State

We’re a vast community as complex, agile, and inspiring as the state we call home. From furniture-making to fractal geometry and football, there’s nowhere your education can’t take you with Vermont State University. 

About Vermont State
Three students in the Clinical Mental Health program sit at a table during class while their professor is standing and gesturing while he speaks.
A female student with respiration measuring equipment on sitting on an exercise bike while two other students take measurements.
A woman wearing graduation regalia holding up her VTSU Diploma and grinning
Two students sitting together in wooden chairs chatting in the sunshine.
A VTSU Castleton football player running with the ball as an opponent tries to intercept.

Across the
Green Mountains
and Beyond

With campuses in Castleton, Johnson, Lyndon, Randolph Center, and Williston, and learning sites across the state, Vermont State’s reach is wide. Cross-campus collaborations and hybrid and online options connect our students to a network of learning opportunities where they are and where they want to be.

Explore Our Locations
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Driven by Data

Vermont State University has the programs, small class sizes, and strong experiential learning partnerships that foster measurable student success. The numbers speak for themselves.

100+Academic Programs

1:14Faculty-Student Ratio

More than80%Awarded Financial Aid

View Academic Programs
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Our Athletics

Student-athletes at Vermont State University build skills on and off the field and the court. With varsity sports programs offered across four campuses, there’s a way to play, compete, or cheer on your fellow students.

Athletics by Campus
A group of VTSU Lyndon baseball players cheering and celebrating on the field
A young woman wearing a helmet running bases during a softball game
A basketball player dribbling the ball past an opponent
A young woman holding a volleyball in one hand as she prepares to serve it during a game
A young man kicking a soccer ball during a game
A women's basketball player mid dribble looking down at the court
A baseball player sliding on his knees and reaching toward a base while another player stands next to him
A young man in hockey gear skating on the ice
Two women playing soccer
A VTSU Lyndon baseball player rounding a base and grinning with his arm outstretched
A women's basketball player on the court in the middle of a game
Two football players about to collide in the field
A young woman hitting a ball down the field during a field hockey game
Three VTSU Lyndon baseball players high five on the field
A young woman swinging at a tennis ball during a match

Meet Our Students

"Since coming to VTSU, I’ve felt like this place is an incredible gem tucked away that people don’t know about. Seeing firsthand how relevant this work is and how it impacts the state of Vermont is really cool.”

Sophia Rivera
Manufacturing Engineering

Learn about Sophia Rivera

"I had a really great experience. The network the clinical mental health community offers is truly special. We had a really cool cohort, and we stuck together through the program and got close on a professional and personal level.”

Ryan Nest
Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Learn about Ryan Nest

“VTSU makes it possible to have a true college experience in an affordable, flexible way that still allows you to work. I’ve made so many incredible friends, and I’m deeply grateful to my professors and the program. I truly couldn’t be more proud to be an alum.”

Sophia Parker
Nursing

Learn about Sophia Parker

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