Bill H.198 proposes to amend the composition of the Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College by increasing its membership from 25 to 27 members. This change includes the addition of one voting faculty member and one staff member, both of whom will have full voting rights. The faculty member will be elected by the faculty through the Faculty Senate for a four-year term, while the staff member will be appointed through a process ensuring broad representation. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the two student trustees must include one undergraduate and one graduate student, ensuring diverse representation among the student body.

The bill also outlines a transition plan for the implementation of these changes, requiring that the new faculty and staff members be elected or appointed by July 31, 2025, with their terms beginning on August 1, 2025. The first year of service for these new members will be a partial year, concluding at the end of February 2026, followed by three full years of service. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.