New England compact outlines tools to help Vermont colleges amid enrollment declines

Representatives of the New England Board of Higher Education briefed the Vermont House Education Committee on May 8 about regional programs intended to expand student access and support institutions facing enrollment declines.

Michael, of the New England Board of Higher Education, described the compact’s history and mission and said, "I would say that our work really concentrates in 3 primary areas," naming convening and leadership engagement, program work and policy/research. He described a longstanding interstate tuition-exchange program and said the compact’s tuition-break work has produced about "$3,000,000" in estimated savings for Vermont residents who pursue programs out of state.

The compact also supports policy research, labor-market analysis and initiatives such as a "learn and earn" challenge to expand paid internships and employer partnerships. Michael outlined a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement vehicle that helps Vermont institutions deliver online programs across state lines; he said 13 Vermont institutions participate and the arrangement reaches about 3,200 out-of-state students.

Sarah Kaczynski, director of transfer initiatives and director of the New England Prison Education Collaborative at the compact, described a Vermont transfer-guarantee program that currently includes five receiving institutions. "We have just over 290 students that enrolled during the first year," she said, referring to students who used the guarantee to transfer to participating four-year institutions. NEBHE collects de-identified student-level data annually and said it will publish second-year figures after the next data collection.

Committee members asked how compact programs address the "demographic cliff" and declining enrollment highlighted in national coverage. Michael said NEBHE works with institutions on strategic partnerships, alliances and models to reach adult and nontraditional learners, pointing to a prior regional survey of adult learners the compact can share with states.

The compact offered to convene briefings for Vermont legislators, invited committee members to participate in NEBHE advisory meetings, and said its fall board meeting will be held in Woodstock, Vermont. The committee did not take formal action on any item during the session; presenters provided materials and links for follow-up.

The committee is scheduled to meet next on Tuesday; NEBHE representatives said they are available for additional briefings and to provide data or technical assistance.