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
CT VIEWPOINTS -- opinions from around Connecticut

The Board of Regents makes CSCU more efficient, effective

  • CT Viewpoints
  • by Gregory W. Gray
  • April 6, 2015
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

As the Board of Regents for Higher Education deals with the budget proposal the legislature is considering — leaving a gap of $48.6 million gap for the 17 Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) to fill — a Three Rivers Community College staff member wrote an op-ed letter to the CT Mirror suggesting it is time to dismantle the Board of Regents — a central office that provides critical support services to CSCU campuses that otherwise would need to be replicated at each of the campuses.

In response to the suggestion of Jon Brammer, an administrator and an adjunct instructor at Three Rivers Community College, we feel strongly that the Board of Regents should not be dismantled.

The Board of Regents has continually strived to be responsible and effective in its use of public funding, driving efficiencies in the system office, and reallocating as many dollars as possible to student services and instruction.  For example, IT management and facilities master planning functions are housed in the central office. Without these services, each and every campus would need to replicate these functions individually, at a far greater cost to students and the state.

It is also important to note that the number of central office staff has also shrunk since the 2012 reorganization of the Connecticut State University System and Connecticut Community Colleges system offices.

In 2010, 193 staff worked in the two system offices comprising 3.5 percent of the total budget of the entire systems. Today, that number is down to 159.5 positions, a reduction of 33.5 staff. As a percentage of the total system budget, these costs are down to 2.69 percent. That’s $7.9 million in annual savings.  At the same time, despite absorbing a $6 million rescission, we are now operating close to break even for the current year.

The CSCU System has taken steps to control costs, and ensure that funding from students and state appropriations is returned to students in the form of additional faculty. In fact, in the last 18 months, we have hired 176 new instructional faculty across the system.

However, this current budget crisis has presented an historic and potentially devastating cut to CSCU, so hard decisions will have to be made.  Some campuses — such as Three Rivers Community College, as Mr. Brammer mentioned — have made the decision to discontinue employment agreements based on the current state budget picture, not on performance, until there is greater clarity on the Fiscal Year 2015–16 budget.

In his letter, Mr. Brammer also mentioned a re-organization on the Three Rivers Community College campus that he claims simply adds more administration. The reality is that the proposed reorganization will save money and return faculty to the classroom full-time.

I am confident that CSCU students, faculty, staff and administration all wish we did not have to address the financial dilemma we face this year and in the next.

CSCU continues to play a critical role in the state’s future. But to succeed, it will need the resources to ensure our students have an affordable opportunity for higher education. To that end, the Board of Regents has undertaken a long-term planning effort called Transform CSCU 2020 to promote access and affordability, to increase retention and completion rates, to better manage limited state funding, and continue to identify and source the highest caliber faculty for our institutions.

Therefore, I disagree with Mr. Brammer. The Board of Regents should not be dismantled, as it continually works with its 17 institutions to become a more effective higher education system for the students we serve from all backgrounds and income levels. I firmly believe in the work of Jim Collins who wrote Good to Great. And under the leadership of the Board of Regents, that is what we as a system shall become — great.

Gregory W. Gray is president of  the Connecticut State College and Universities.

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

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
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.

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 be the primary caregiver of their young children in their early years. Not unexpectedly, Mrs. Obama was derided for making that choice, highlighting how society stands ready to indict women […]

A 71-year-old white woman has a request of the police
by Maggie Goodwin

Please officer, begin to look at every traffic stop and nonviolent police intervention as one where you will meet me, a white-haired 71-year-old retired social worker.

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.

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 be the primary caregiver of their young children in their early years. Not unexpectedly, Mrs. Obama was derided for making that choice, highlighting how society stands ready to indict women […]

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 numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

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 like to wake up in new skin?”

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 the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

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 and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

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