UVM Launches Ask UVM Student Help Center

The student-staffed resource center helps University of Vermont students find campus help, after a survey found many did not know where to turn.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Financial Aid

UVM Launches Ask UVM Student Help Center

The University of Vermont launched Ask UVM, a student-staffed resource center on the third floor of the Davis Center, in fall 2026. The center answers student questions or refers them to the appropriate campus office.

Why it matters

A survey conducted over six weeks last year found approximately 15% of students did not know how to access help when they needed it. Ask UVM was established to close that gap by offering a single, approachable entry point for questions.

Ask UVM is staffed by five UVM professionals and 10 student employees called CAT Guides, who have assisted over 200 students, answered about 150 questions, and opened 60 to 70 referrals to 30 advising offices. The report does not indicate whether these figures have changed since the center opened or how usage compares with other campus resources.

The players

University of Vermont

A public research university in Burlington, Vermont, which operates Ask UVM as a campus resource for students.

Student Government Association

The elected student governing body at the University of Vermont, which co-hosted the Students Trick UVM Treats event with Ask UVM.

The details

Students drop in at the Davis Center with questions, and CAT Guides either answer them directly or submit a referral through Navigate360 when they cannot. The appropriate office then contacts the student, and the center has raised its visibility through tabling, giveaways, stickers and a whiteboard poll.

Last year: a six-week survey found approximately 15% of students did not know how to access help.
Fall 2026: the University of Vermont launched Ask UVM.
Oct. 29 and 30, 2026: Ask UVM and the Student Government Association held the Students Trick UVM Treats event.

Seasonal Patterns

Ask UVM's launch comes as campus resource navigation becomes a recurring concern for students moving through the federal aid and enrollment timeline described by the FAFSA process. The center's focus on housing selection, course registration and finals aligns with the academic calendar that shapes when students most often need help.

Students who have questions about campus services can visit Ask UVM on the third floor of the Davis Center for an answer or a referral to the right office. Students navigating housing selection, course registration or finals may find the center useful during those periods.

The takeaway

Campus resources only help when students know where to find them, and a student-staffed help desk can lower the barrier to asking for support. Students facing a question about services can start by stopping by the Davis Center rather than searching through multiple offices.