Press Releases
MALLOY ADMINISTRATION, CHAIRMAN WILLIS ANNOUNCE HIGHER ED CONSOLIDATION AGREEMENT
(HARTFORD, CT) - Mark Ojakian, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and Higher Education Chairman Roberta B. Willis announced an agreement concerning Governor Dannel P. Malloy's proposal to consolidate the state's community colleges, the Connecticut State University system and Charter Oak College to flatten administration and direct more money to students and classroom instruction. The deal had been in the works since last week, and details were finalized last night.
"These conversations had been ongoing and I'm pleased that we were able to tie up loose ends and formalize this proposal on behalf of our state's students who choose to attend our community colleges, regional universities and Charter Oak," said Ojakian. "In the end, it's the students who win - by flattening out administration costs and overhead, we can direct more money to our students and classroom instruction. In addition, this proposal will help make these schools more functional to those who attend them."
"In addition to Chairman Willis, Senate Higher Education Chairman Beth Bye deserves to be commended for her steadfast support of this proposal," Ojakian said. "Senator Bye has been a leader in this area, and I appreciate her willingness and enthusiasm to be a part of such a fundamental change to the way in which we operate our higher education system."
"My concerns from the beginning have been the need to maintain the distinctiveness and uniqueness of mission of the colleges, particularly the community colleges," Rep. Willis said. "They serve a critical and defined need in our communities, one that must be maintained even as we seek efficiencies and savings. I have been assured that these concerns will be met through this plan. The commitment to a strategic plan is important. The Advisory Commission will have an ongoing and permanent role, needed for us to be able to adjust to changing needs in Connecticut and responsive to student needs and workforce development needs in the state that our higher education system can address.
"We all agree on the need for change and improvement. Additional items still need to be worked out - more specifics on structure, for example. For me, though, this is a leap of faith worth taking. In the end, we can improve student learning, help close the achievement gap, prepare students for 21st Century jobs our state will need to move us forward, and make higher education more efficient and effective."
The agreement's main points include the following:
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The creation of a Board of Regents for the four CSU colleges, the community-technical colleges and Charter Oak effective July 1, 2011.
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The creation of an Advisory Commission to the Board of Regents which will be charged with, among other things, working with the Board to create and implement a strategic plan for higher education that will include the University of Connecticut.
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The Constituent Units - the community colleges, regional universities and Charter Oak - will remain separate with distinct missions. Each unit will have a lead individual designated by the Board of Regents.
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For Immediate Release: April 27, 2011
Contact: Mark Ojakian
Deputy Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management
860-550-5822
860-550-5822
Doug Whiting
Communications Director of the House Democrats Office
203-400-2127
203-400-2127
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