If the University of Connecticut can afford to pay more in administration costs than almost any other university, surely it can afford to reduce graduate student fees to a level comparable with peer universities. Graduate students at UConn want a fair contract, including a fee reduction, so they can afford the local cost of living and continue to provide the university with the quality education and research we’ve all come to expect.
University of Connecticut
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut pension reform: Step one
How will it be possible to reform the state’s pension system when the people who are supposed to be representing the public share in all the benefits they confer on the unions? A first step would be to freeze benefits for all participants in the plans who are not covered by union contracts, and offer them 401k-type defined contribution plans for future service.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Basketball is enough. UConn should de-emphasize football, sharpen academic focus
A lifelong UConn Husky basketball fan and taxpayer argues that the since the University of Connecticut’s major football aspirations don’t seem to be panning out, it might make better sense to back down, rejoin the Big East and direct the financial savings toward strengthening the academic programs.
Posted inNews
Op-Ed: Connecticut should try performance-based funding for colleges
Two weeks ago, statewide newspapers reported the governor’s proposed budget for public post-secondary education is nearly $50 to $80 million less than needed to support the operations at the University of Connecticut System and the Connecticut State College and University System.
Posted inEducation
UConn, unsatisfied with its alumni association, engineers a change
Updated at 7:30 p.m. Monday
Under pressure from University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst, the school’s alumni association board has voted to dissolve its relationship with UConn and is considering how to pass on its functions and distribute its $9.2 million in assets.
Posted inEducation
Contracting watchdog concedes it has limited oversight of UConn
Members of the watchdog board that oversees state contracting are not convinced they have the authority to investigate most complaints made against the University of Connecticut.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Esty wins on STEM bill
WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday easily approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, that would promote the teaching of science, technology, engineering, or STEM, disciplines in the nation’s schools.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
A storm rages over CT’s stormwater
Managing the water that flows into the thousands upon thousands of storm drains around the state — an otherwise standard municipal function — has become something close to a standoff between the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a battalion of those municipalities.
Posted inEducation, Politics
UConn president says cuts could mean layoffs, eliminating programs
University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst told state legislators Tuesday that she could be forced to lay off staff, seek concessions from her unionized workforce and make drastic cuts in programs if state funding is cut by $10.6 million, as the governor recommends.
Posted inEducation
Higher education cut, local school aid flat in Malloy budget
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget proposal cuts support for the state’s public colleges and universities, provides level funding for state aid to school districts, offers financial aid to undocumented students, and would fund four new charter schools.
Posted inEducation
Legislators concerned by UConn president’s raise
Leaders of the legislature’s Higher Education Committee have concerns with the sizable pay boost the president of the state’s flagship public university will receive over the next four years.
Posted inEducation
Herbst gets a big raise and three added years as UConn president
The governing board of the University of Connecticut voted to extend the contract of Susan Herbst as president Monday and give her a raise that would bring her annual compensation to $831,070 by 2019.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Expert has idea that could lessen federal taxes for CT taxpayers
Connecticut’s low- and middle-income households could pay tens of millions of dollars less in federal taxes each year while state officials simultaneously gain access to a wealth of new economic data. But for that to happen, according to one of the state’s leading economists, Connecticut officials first take a fiscal leap of faith – and repeal arguably the state’s most popular tax break.
Posted inNews
Obama makes travel to Cuba easier for CT academics, others
WASHINGTON – President Obama’s move to ease the longstanding U.S. embargo on Cuba, including travel restrictions to the island, does not mean Connecticut residents can pack their bags for a new travel destination in the Caribbean. But it does make it easier to go for those who want to visit Cuba for an officially sanctioned reason.
Posted inNews
Op-Ed: UConn needs to demand ‘respect’ among students, not ‘civility’
In reaction to a recent incident of fraternity hate speech, University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst has called for “civility” in the community. But civility is no substitute for taking a hard look at fraternity culture and developing plans to address its failings.