The University of Vermont (UVM), officially The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, is a public research university in Burlington, Vermont. It was founded in 1791 and is the flagship institution of the six-member University of Vermont System. UVM is ranked as one of the top fifteen northeastern colleges by U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 rankings and as one of the top 100 national universities by Niche in 2019. In 2019, Forbes ranked UVM 136th on its “America’s Best Value Colleges” list.
UVM traces its roots to two men: Timothy Dwight, who became president of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut from 1795 to 1817; and Ira Allen, who owned land that would later be donated for the university when it was established in 1791. The pair met while both were serving as Congregationalist ministers at churches near each other in eastern Vermont; they shared a vision for an college that would train young men for leadership roles within their communities and churches.Allen had been educated at Yale under Dwight’s tutelage, but left before graduating due to financial difficulties; he eventually settled on a large farm overlooking Lake Champlain which he called “College Hill”. When news spread about an impending war between Great Britain and France that could spill over into North America, Allen began stockpiling supplies on his farm – including lumber used to construct two small ships which he intended to use to transport troops across Lake Champlain if necessary. Although neither man lived to see it come to fruition, their efforts laid the groundwork for what would become the University of Vermont.
In October 1801, Governor Thomas Chittenden signed an act establishing “The University of Vermont”: “Whereas Timothy Dwight…and Ira Allen…did respectively procure from different parts of this country certain sums of money amounting together with other donations…the application whereof they have recommended should be appropriated towards erecting or securing a permanent fund or funds for opening an Academy or Universities within this state…” The charter specified that “[t]he said university shall always be open but not always free” – meaning that it would accept paying students from outside Vermont as well as those from within the state who could not afford tuition. Tuition at the time was $4 per term (equivalent to $100 in 2019).
The first classes began December 5th 1801 with 12 students total: 10 Vermonters (including future governor Cornelius Paulding) and 2 out-of-staters (one from Massachusetts and one from New York). Classes were initially held at Edmund Parker’s home near Williston until Old Mill was completed – Old Mill being the first building erected specifically for classroom use on campus (it still stands today). From 1804 until 1809 construction continued on a campus centered around what is now known as Main Street; during this time President James Marsh oversaw significant growth at the fledgling university including doubling student enrollment and adding graduate programs . In 1819 UVM awarded its first degrees: 4 bachelors’ degrees and 2 masters’.
By 1830 Marsh had successfully steered UVM through some rocky financial times brought about by external factors such as declining agricultural prices; however internal strife caused him to resign abruptly late that year . His successor Heman Humphrey faced even greater challenges: primarily stemming from tensions between faculty members holding different religious beliefs . These conflicts came to ahead in May 1834 when Professor John Adams Jackson – marshal appointed by President Humphrey – attempted arrest Professor Theodore Sizer for failing appear before a court summons related his alleged involvement in rioting . This sparked a full-blown riot on campus which only ended after militia were called in from nearby Winooski . While no serious injuries occurred order was not fully restored until Sizer resigned several weeks later . Under new President Martin Townsend , who took office July 1st 1834 , measures were put into place aimed at preventing future riots such creating rules prohibiting alcohol consumption anywhere on school grounds . Despite these controversial beginnings UVM soon developed into highly respected institution known especially for strong programs medicine , law , agriculture , business administration , natural resources management .