Vt. Tech Schedules
Political Forum

The future of Vermont’s system of higher education will be the focus of a regional candidate’s forum next Thursday, Oct. 5 at Vermont Technical College.

The two-hour public forum runs from 6-8 p.m. and will be held in Morey Lounge.

"The college is pleased to sponsor this forum to provide the public with a way to learn how candidates stand on important issues," said VTC President Ty Handy.

"Demographic profiles of Vermont paint an alarming picture of future sharp declines in our younger population. As our youth move out of the state to go to college or pursue job opportunities, Vermont is losing its future workforce—a workforce that will be needed to maintain our economic vitality and forward progress.

"Part of the solution to this emerging crisis will be found in how the state supports and manages its system of higher education."

Candidates who will participate in the local forum are: Orange County Senate candidates Mark MacDonald (D) and Stephen Webster (R); Orange/Addison House candidates Jim Hutchinson (D) and David Atkinson (R); and Windsor-Rutland-2 House candidates Sandy Haas (D) and Neal Fox (R).

President Ty Handy will moderate the forum and begin the session with a broad overview of Vermont and its system of higher education.

The Questions

Following the overview, the candidates will each respond to six questions related to future demographics, the economy, and higher ed. General questions posed by President Handy will be:

• To what extent are the demographic changes forecasted for Vermont over the next decade deserving of legislative attention and where does finding a solution to the forecasted challenges fall in consideration of other state challenges you feel deserve attention?

• To what extent are public higher education and a college education a responsibility of the state and to what extent are they a responsibility of the individual student?

• Is Vermont appropriately balanced? If not, how would you seek to achieve balance?

• Much is being made of the "Brain Drain Effect" in Vermont, and the demographics profile of the state certainly indicates such an event is occurring. What can you do to stem the "Brain Drain" and keep our bright youth in Vermont? 

• Is it reasonable for public officials to decry the "Brain Drain" as a critical concern for Vermont on the one hand, and yet on the other hand, support the current practice of allowing 25% of the state’s tax money to flow to out-of-state economies through VSAC grants? Which of the two is most important to Vermont’s future?

• The colleges of the VSC enroll 53% of all Vermonters enrolled in Vermont public and private colleges, yet VSC institutions receive fewer dollars per student today than were received 20 years ago and the national average of state funding per student is approaching twice that of the VSC. How important is increased funding for the VSC and, if it is important, how will you help secure that funding?

The participating candidates were given the questions in advance. The final 90 minutes of the forum will be open to the audience for candidate questions.

"The response from the candidates has been very positive," said Handy. "This forum is filling a need for public events that allow local residents to get to know each candidate’s views on the issues.

"One community role for Vermont Tech is to help promote the exchange of information and ideas on today’s issues. I am pleased that we were able to organize this forum."

The forum will of course be free and open to the public.