our role in certification

When a new institution of higher education wants to open a campus in Vermont, or when a campus chartered elsewhere wants to run a program in Vermont, they must apply to the Vermont Agency of Education to begin the application process to gain approval to offer credits or degrees.  In the case of degree-granting approval, once they have submitted all required materials, the Agency contacts VHEC to conduct a Certification Review.  Our role is to provide an expert perspective on the readiness of this campus to operate successfully and according to the Vermont State Rules.  We provide a recommendation only; the State Board of Education makes all final decisions on certification approval. 

VHEC has provided this service to the State of Vermont for decades, and takes pride in our statutory responsibility to ensure that any student who enrolls in Higher Education in Vermont is being served fairly and appropriately.

VHEC Certification Review Committees are made up of higher education professionals from around the state who bring expert knowledge and experience to the process.  

VHEC's CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE

The Certification Committee of the VHEC Board of Directors oversees the certification review process and makes final recommendations to the Agency of Education.  This Committee is elected annually and is made up of College Presidents who serve on VHEC's Board.  

current certification committee members

• Wendy Koenig,  University of Vermont (Chair)

• Sophia Howlett, President of the School for International Training (Chair)

• Laura Walker, President of Bennington College

• Dave Lloyd, Center for Cartoon Studies