Saint Michael’s College and Lake Champlain Chamber partner to develop new regional talent pipeline – SMC Co-op

Saint Michael’s College and the Lake Champlain Chamber have partnered to pilot a two-year co-operative education program designed to enhance career pathways for students and bolster regional talent pipelines.  

SMC Co-op is an innovative, career-focused initiative that connects high-achieving third- and fourth-year students with real-world, project-based experiences in local businesses. The model is rare in the national higher education landscape. 

“This pilot reimagines the co-op experience by enabling students to earn academic credit and compensation through a professional placement while staying enrolled and engaged on campus, strengthening the integration of academic learning, community, and career development,” said Saint Michael’s College Professor Nicole Morris, LaMarche Endowed Chair of the Business Administration Department. “It ensures students do not have to choose between academic community and career readiness—they gain both, simultaneously.”

Photo By Bear Cieri

The first SMC Co-op cohort will run from September to December 2026. Students will be paid a market rate by the host business and work a minimum of 20 hours a week during their co-op. This model differs from traditional co-ops, which are full-time, 40 hours per week.

Students in the Saint Michael’s College Honors Program will be given priority in the recruitment of the initial cohort.

Saint Michael’s College and the Lake Champlain Chamber will jointly support the matching process, ensuring that students and employers are thoughtfully paired for meaningful, mutually beneficial co-op experiences. Employers, as a result, will gain access to skilled, motivated students who can support strategic initiatives and who can be mentored by their employees. And students will experience Vermont’s dynamic professional community firsthand before graduation.

“Vermont attracts thousands of out-of-state students for higher education, but we could do more to keep that talent here after graduation,” said Alex Bunten, Director of Workforce and Education at the Lake Champlain Chamber. “This program connects students with meaningful, professional experiences and helps employers build the pipeline they need to grow right here in Vermont.”

Organizations interested in hosting an SMC Co-op student can fill out this short form or reach out to project partners Nicole Morris (nsmorris@smcvt.edu) or Alex Bunten (alex@vermont.org).

About Saint Michael’s College

Saint Michael’s College, founded in 1904 on principles of social justice and leading lives of purpose and consequence, is a selective, Catholic college just outside Burlington, Vermont, one of the country’s best college towns. Located between the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, our closely connected community guarantees housing all four years and delivers an internationally respected liberal arts education, preparing students for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. Young adults here grow intellectually, socially, and morally, learning to lead with empathy and professionalism, and to be responsible for themselves, each other, and their world.

About the Lake Champlain Chamber 

The Lake Champlain Chamber believes that together, we make Vermont work. Its mission and programs are best summed up by five distinct points: seeking economic opportunity for all; celebrating business ownership and entrepreneurship; promoting a robust, diversified visitor economy; cultivating community leadership; and nurturing emerging talent. For more information about the Lake Champlain Chamber, visit lccvermont.org.

Media contacts:

• Saint Michael’s College: Elizabeth Murray, Associate Director of Communications, emurray@smcvt.edu.
• Lake Champlain Chamber: Alex Bunten, Director of Workforce and Education, alex@vermont.org.