Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

College system adopts $1.1 billion budget, other policies, following missteps

  • by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
  • June 21, 2013
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

The Board of Regents for Higher Education has unanimously approved a $1.1 billion spending plan for the state’s largest public college system –a 6.5 percent increase from this year.   

But officials said that even with this increase, the adopted budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 relies on more cuts and does little to relieve the budget cuts the struggling community colleges have incurred in recent years.

“The [funding] model that exists today is not sustainable,” said Regent Michael E. Pollard before the unanimous vote this week.

Several college presidents and officials told the regents that costs outside their control are increasing too rapidly, and revenue from enrollment growth can no longer be depended on as the state’s population shrinks.

Almost all — 95 percent — of the increased spending is budgeted for the rising costs of staff and their health care, pension and other benefits. The college system next fiscal year must give all of the unionized staff a 5 percent pay raise because of a contract negotiated by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Administrative staff are slated to get a 3 percent increase.

That mandatory pay increases are estimated to cost the college system $10 million to $12 million in the coming fiscal year. State funding for the system is projected to increase by $12.3 million next fiscal year.

The budget is designed to reverse the trend of relying heavily on part-time, less experienced teaching staff. The plan calls for hiring 57 new full-time staff (faculty members and other staff) and cuts the number of part-time lecturers and graduate assistant positions at the community colleges by 64.

Community college presidents last week said the new budget will require closing libraries on the weekends at some campuses, scaling back tutoring help, and increasing class sizes.

“You hear what’s going on at these schools and I think from our standpoint, it’s not an acceptable situation,” Gary Holloway, the chair of the system’s Finance Committee, said Thursday.

“You are right. It’s not acceptable,” Regent Naomi Cohen responded.

The budget for the nearly 100,000-student college system — which also includes the four Connecticut State Universities — is premised on maintaining the same level of enrollment as this year. With enrollment from in-state students down 3 percent at the universities this year, the system plans on enrolling more students from out of state.

The budget also allows “for limited use of reserves.” Information on how many additional out-of-state students will be admitted was not available this week, nor how much reserve money will be needed. 

Reimbursement policy changes

The board also Thursday approved changes to how college presidents are compensated for work-related expenses.

The presidents of the community college and online state college collectively have been receiving $160,000 a year to cover unanticipated college-related expenses. No documentation or receipts were required to receive this money and a lump sum payment was provided to the leaders each year.

The new policy requires the community college presidents to obtain “satisfactory documentation” of their expenses. Each president is elligible to receive up to $12,205 a year. 

There will be no change in policy for the  presidents of the state univerisities — whose unvounchered reimbursement ranges from $25,000 to $30,000. However, the effectiveness of the use of the funds will be included in the president’s annual evaluations, which the system has said are not public.

The change is in response to heat from legislators about how the previous college system president spent his block grant. Legislators sidelined a bill that would have required receipts for reimbursements after college officials promised to change their policy themselves.

The board also approved a pay-scale for administrative positions. If the next president seeks to award raises that put staffers outside the median pay for their position, then the governing board will need to approve the raise.

This was in response to a unilateral move last year by the former president who granted raises to 21 central office staff without board approval. That led to his resignation.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Democrats want CT to spend $180 million more on municipal aid. What does that mean for your town?
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

Legislative Democrats recommend that the state spend $180 million or 7.4% more more in municipal aid next fiscal year.

Legislature presents its own budget plan, and the stage is set for debate
by Keith M. Phaneuf

Democrats on the Appropriations Committee and Gov. Ned Lamont are headed for a showdown over the next two-year state budget.

CT Democrats to propose beefed-up spending plan
by Keith M. Phaneuf

The Appropriations Committee will propose a two-year state spending plan Wednesday that bolsters municipal aid, higher education and social services.

One step Connecticut can take to address our maternal mortality crisis
by Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD

Uncertainty. Fear. Worry. These are just a few of the thoughts and emotions that run through the minds of almost every expecting parent. And for many expecting Black parents, those feelings can be more acute. That’s because for far too many, having a child is a life and death struggle.

Connecticut lawmakers on aid in dying: two decades of delay, deferral, obstruction
by Paul Bluestein, MD

Very soon, members of the Connecticut House and Senate will be voting on HB6425, - the Medical Aid in Dying bill. More than 20 years ago, Oregon implemented its Death with Dignity Act. Since then, Washington, Vermont, California, Montana, Colorado, Maine, Washington DC, Hawaii and most recently New Mexico have passed legislation authorizing medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. But not Connecticut.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion One step Connecticut can take to address our maternal mortality crisis
by Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD

Uncertainty. Fear. Worry. These are just a few of the thoughts and emotions that run through the minds of almost every expecting parent. And for many expecting Black parents, those feelings can be more acute. That’s because for far too many, having a child is a life and death struggle.

Opinion Connecticut lawmakers on aid in dying: two decades of delay, deferral, obstruction
by Paul Bluestein, MD

Very soon, members of the Connecticut House and Senate will be voting on HB6425, - the Medical Aid in Dying bill. More than 20 years ago, Oregon implemented its Death with Dignity Act. Since then, Washington, Vermont, California, Montana, Colorado, Maine, Washington DC, Hawaii and most recently New Mexico have passed legislation authorizing medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. But not Connecticut.

Opinion The intersection of race, class and gender in America’s childcare system: The class edition
by Georgia Goldburn

When Michelle Obama declared that she wanted to become “Mom in Chief,” she spoke to a sentiment shared by many women, i.e. the desire to […]

Opinion A progressive income tax to re-align Connecticut’s moral compass
by Ezra Kaprov

Redistribution of wealth and property is a fundamental and missing pillar of the hope for multi-racial democracy in the United States.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s […]

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is […]

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO