Greetings:
Last week the Vermont State Colleges issued a press release about the start of a conversation with several of us at NECI. The purpose of the conversation is to consider the possibility of some kind of affiliation of NECI with the state college system.
The announcement came after a series of meetings during the past few months. It makes clear that the next steps still are only exploratory. At the same time, the announcement would not have been made if both parties did not think that an affiliation is a worthy idea.
While I cannot speak for the Vermont State Colleges, here are a few possible payoffs for NECI.
- The school would become part of a system that could provide the educational support, financial oversight and administrative management needed for its perpetuation.
- A natural symbiosis of educational efforts is possible that, in addition to NECI’s programs and institutional concerns for sustainability and nutrition, could include a farm at the Vermont Technical College for the agricultural students and a hospitality program at Johnson State College.
- NECI students would have the ability to enroll in courses at the five Vermont State Colleges.
- NECI courses might be offered to students at the Vermont State Colleges via Interactive Television on a space-available basis.
- Because the Vermont State Colleges are accredited by the regional accreditation commission, NEASC, the transfer of credits to other institutions would be less of an issue. (Federal regulations prohibit discrimination against students who have attended schools accredited by national accreditors but it still happens.)
I am sure that other judgments about a possible affiliation will surface. As members of the NECI community, I hope that you take the opportunity to offer your opinions about this very important proposal. Your ideas matter.
Meanwhile, all of us at the school send our best wishes.
Sincerely,
Fran Voigt
