After last week’s fun trivia contest, we have some serious news to share about a new health condition the University is focusing on with students. It’s a little-known health condition, but it is reaching epidemic levels here on campus.
Read the news story from the University to find out more.
And be to watch the video, so you can prepare and prevent your own injuries in the future.
All month long we’ve been sharing our UVM knowledge with you. We’ve covered some serious topics – budget, governance, controversial news.
Now it’s time for the fun stuff. Today’s UVM Trivia features 10 fun facts you may or may not know about our alma mater.
The top fives scores (or fastest times, if there’s a tie) will win sweet UVM swag from the bookstore. We have sweatshirts, shirts, coffee mugs and books up for grabs!
We’ll announce the winners next Friday.
Good luck!
Derrick & Ryan
We’re never ones to shy away from controversy, so here are four on-going news stories involving UVM that have stirred up a lot of emotions.
You may have missed them, particularly if you don’t live in Burlington. But, they each involve important conversations that will shape UVM for years to come.
As always, let us know if you have comments or questions at afterword@uvm.edu.
1. Taxing Fraternity and Sorority Houses
Photo credit: James Buck, Seven Days
This topic has come up for many years, but in 2014 the Vermont Legislature passed a new law repealing the property tax exemption for the 10 fraternity and sorority houses starting in 2017.
Here’s the latest on the topic:
2. Building a New UVM Sports and Events Center in South Burlington
At the end of February, the City of South Burlington held a press conference about the possibility of a building brand-new multi-purpose events center in collaboration with UVM.
What does that mean? It means a new facility for our basketball and hockey teams and more fitness facilities for all students, since Gutterson and Patrick would be re-purposed.
Of course, it’s not that easy. There are big, huge questions to be answered first and lots of conversations to be had before anything happens.
Here’s the scoop on this story:
3. Construction on Campus
This one is a hot topic on campus and off-campus. Here’s a quick list of all the construction current and upcoming projects.
There’s construction everywhere and it certainly disrupts the daily schedules of thousands of students — but, there’s a lot of promise in all those trucks and cranes.
4. How UVM serves Vermonters
This is a perpetual topic of conversation on campus, in the community, and Vermont politics. And it’s filled with gray-areas, messy politics, and tons of statistics that tell a variety of stories.
Here are a few sides to the story.
1. What is the UVM Foundation?
Yep, most alums don’t know who we are…we’ve learned to hold back our tears. But, in reality, everyone knows what we do, they just might not connect the name.
We have two clear purposes: (1) connect and engage with alumni and (2) raise money for UVM.
That’s it.
When you get invited to events — that’s us. When you become an admissions or career volunteer — that’s us. When you get an email asking you to make a gift to your favorite club on campus — that’s us. When you get Afterword emails — that’s us.
2. Is the alumni association the same as the Foundation?
Yep, the Alumni Association and the Foundation are one-in-the-same. We all work together to engage alumni and fundraise for a multitude of projects across campus.
3. Why should I care?
To be perfectly honest, this is the most difficult question we get asked. We know you don’t think about UVM every day and we know you can stay connected to your UVM friends without us.
But, we still want to be relevant to you (and not a bother), so here are a few important reasons you should keep us in mind from time to time:
Any questions?
Do you have questions about UVM or the UVM Foundation? Is there anything you’d like us to clarify? We’re knee deep in the work we do and we don’t know what we don’t know. So feel free to ask us anything.
You can submit any questions, concerns, comments here.
This month we’re going to pepper you with some tidbits of information you should know as an alum of UVM. The 5 things below are important because UVM is your place and you should know how it operates, inside and out.
1. President Tom Sullivan and the Board of Trustees are in charge.
They run this place, advocate for UVM locally and nationally, and make decisions big and small.
Find out more about President Sullivan here and here. Also, his wife, Leslie Black Sullivan, is a UVM alum just like you (and, yes, they have a super-cute dog)
The Board of Trustees is almost evenly divided between State legislators and non-legislators (mostly alumni) and there are two student trustees as well.
Check out who serves on the Board of Trustees here and find out what they discussed at their most recent meeting in February here.
2. It’s easy to find out how UVM spends money.
OK, definitely not the most glamorous thing we’ve ever told you, but it’s important! UVM has a big budget and it’s important for you to know how it gets spent.
In fact, how UVM spends its money is one of the most common discussion topics we have with fellow alumni. Everyone has an opinion, but we’ve realized that not everyone has dug into the details.
Well, you can. Because UVM is a public institution, the all the budget information is available at the click of a button.
3. UVM makes a huge impact on Vermont (and vice versa)
You might not have realized it as a student, but UVM is a huge economic driver for the State of Vermont. Alumni like you contribute to every job sector in Vermont and the spending of UVM and its alumni represents a huge portion of our economy.
In fact, last year the direct and indirect economic impact of UVM on Vermont was over $1 billion dollars.
With more than 31,000 alumni live in Vermont, so it is also home for many of us. Vermont an amazing place to live and work and UVM wouldn’t be UVM without this spectacular state.
4. Your professors are rock stars.
In addition to being teachers and mentors, your faculty members are also rock-star researchers. They are tackling huge world problems, thinking through some of the toughest moral quandaries, and changing the world with their ideas.
Don’t believe us? Check out these recent publications to see what a big impact faculty members are making every day.
5. Alumni have driven the future of UVM for more than 200 years.
Without engaged alumni, there would be no UVM. Every generation of alumni has contributed something different as this place has evolved.
Many have volunteered countless hours to serving on boards and committees. Many have mentored students and hired fellow alumni in all types of professions.
Many have come back as professors or staff members. Many have given gifts in support of programs, scholarships, and new buildings.
If you want to check out a list of some fellow alumni who have been honored for their achievements, check out Alumni Achievement Award winners here.
And that’s what makes this community special.
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