Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
The 17 Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (ConnSCU) provide affordable, innovative and rigorous programs that permit students to achieve their personal and career goals, as well as contribute to the economic growth of Connecticut. The ConnSCU System encompasses four state universities – Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic and Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven – as well as 12 community colleges and the online institution Charter Oak State College.
Until the state’s higher education reorganization of 2011, Western was a member of the former Connecticut State Unviersity System that also encompassed Central, Eastern and Southern Connecticut state universities. With origins in normal schools for teacher education founded in the 19th and early 20th centuries, these institutions evolved into diversified state universities whose graduates have pursued careers in the professions, business, education, public service, the arts and other fields. Graduates of Western and other state universities contribute to all aspects of Connecticut economic, social and cultural life.
In April 2011, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Connecticut legislature unveiled a plan to consolidate the management of higher education. Specifically, they created a Board of Regents for Higher Education which replaced the governance structures for the Connecticut State University System (CSUS), the Connecticut Community Colleges, Charter Oak State College and the Board of Governors for Higher Education. The transition from the CSUS Board of Trustees to the Board of Regents occurred between July 1 and December 31, 2011.
Governance of the CSCU System is the responsibility of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, which comprises 20 appointments: nine by the governor (including the selection of one of his appointees as the chair), four by legislative leaders, two student representatives, and five ex-officio, non-voting members (commissioners of the departments of Economic and Community Development, Public Health, Education and Labor and the chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee).
CSCU leadership team works with the campus leaders, faculty and staff to help increase the educational attainment of Connecticut’s adult population. All 17 college and university presidents report directly to the Board of Regents president, who reports to the Board of Regents for Higher Education. CSCU senior staff provide additional support and guidance for both the board and member institutions.
Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education
Matt Fleury, Hartford, Chair, Ridgefield
Yvette Meléndez, Vice Chair, Hartford
Richard J. Balducci, Deep River
Aviva D. Budd, Stamford
Naomi K. Cohen, Bloomfield
Lawrence J. DeNardis, Hamden
Merle W. Harris, West Hartford
David R. Jimenez, West Simsbury
William J. McGurk, Somers
Holly M. Palmer, Bristol
JoAnn H. Price, Avon
Elease E. Wright, Hartford
Joseph Young, Manchester
Stephen Adair (ex-officio), Chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the Board of Regents
Barbara E. Richard (ex-officio), Vice Chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the Board of Regents
Scott D. Jackson (ex-officio), Commissioner of the Department of Labor
Raul Pino (ex-officio), Acting Commissioner of Public Health
Catherine H. Smith (ex-officio), Commissioner of Department of Economic and Community Development
Dianna R. Wentzell (ex-officio), Commissioner of the Department of Education
CSCU Leadership
Mark E. Ojakian, President of the Board of Regents
Jane Gates, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Elsa Núñez, Vice President for State Universities
David L. Levinson, Vice President for Community Colleges
Sean Bradbury, Director of Government Relations
Erin Fitzgerald, Associate Director for Board Affairs
William J. Gammell, Director of Research & System Effectiveness
Michael Kozlowski, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Maribel La Luz, Director of Communications
Alice Pritchard, Chief of Staff
Erika H. Steiner, Chief Financial Officer
Joe Tolisano, Chief Information Officer
Ernestine Y. Weaver, Counsel
Steven Weinberger, Vice President for Human Resources
Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education
39 Woodland Street • Hartford, Connecticut 06105