H.198 is a bill that seeks to amend the composition of the Board of Trustees for the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College by increasing its membership from 25 to 27 members. The bill proposes the addition of one voting faculty member, elected by the faculty through the Faculty Senate, and one staff member, appointed through a process that ensures broad representation. Additionally, the bill stipulates that among the two student trustees, one must be a full-time undergraduate student and the other a full-time graduate student, thereby ensuring representation from both levels of student enrollment.

The bill includes provisions for the transition to this new structure, requiring that the new faculty and staff members be elected or appointed by July 31, 2025, with their terms beginning on August 1, 2025, and lasting for a partial year until the end of February 2026. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The changes aim to enhance the governance of the University by incorporating diverse perspectives from faculty, staff, and students into the decision-making process of the Board of Trustees.