Show Support for SB 749

The 4Cs has been tracking SB 749, An Act Requiring Legislative Approval for the Merger or Closing of Institutions within the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, all legislative session. If passed, this bill would require legislative approval for any community college mergers or closings. President Ojakian has advocated against the bill. However, the 4Cs thinks it […]

March 7 Appropriations Hearing on Higher Education Budget

Legislative Report on Community Colleges and Collective Bargaining

As you may have heard, the 2018 legislative session ended at midnight. Democrats and Republicans were able to put forth a bipartisan $20.86 billion budget that was approved and is now on the Governor’s desk. The Senate passed the budget 36-0 and the House passed it 142-8. Community Colleges The Community Colleges are facing a $6 million […]

Call Your Legislators: Community College Funding and Anti-Union Amendments

Early this morning we became aware that Republicans in the House and Senate are holding any potential budget deal hostage for legislation that would end portions of Connecticut’s collective bargaining laws and weaken others. (Click here to read this morning’s CT Mirror story.)  There is a fair deal available that would protect healthcare for seniors, and protect […]

Call Your Legislators Today!

As you heard last week, NEASC did not approve the CSCU plan to consolidate the community colleges. While many of you breathed a sigh of relief, others may be more fearful after President Ojakian threatened to close campuses if funding cannot be secured for the system. Regardless of how you felt about Students First, it […]

Remaining Days of the Legislative Session Gives Lawmakers Another Opportunity to Attack Collective Bargaining

As our academic semester comes to a close, so is the legislative session. It is a busy time for legislators as they try to finish a state budget and pass legislation. During these chaotic last few days of the session, it is common for legislators to try to attach an amendment to the legislation, hoping […]

Consolidation – Call Your Legislators TODAY

As you heard last week, NEASC did not approve the CSCU plan to consolidate the community colleges. While many of you breathed a sigh of relief, others may be more fearful after President Ojakian threatened to close campuses if funding cannot be secured for the system. Regardless of how you felt about Students First, it […]

Public Higher Education Lobby Day, April 11

The 4Cs, CSU-AAUP, and UConn-AAUP will be hosting a legislative breakfast and lobby day on Wednesday, April 11 from 9:30am-noon. We invite you to join us at 9:30am in the 2nd Floor Atrium of the Legislative Office Building. Following the breakfast, we plan to have meetings with legislators from areas surrounding our colleges as well as […]

Thrive Together Petition

Communities with more college graduates are thriving communities. They have lower rates of poverty, less reliance on public benefits, overall physically healthier populations, and higher incomes. Please show your support and sign our Thrive Together Connecticut petition to urge our lawmakers to increase funding for public higher education. An investment in public higher education is an investment in […]

Higher Ed Forum on Community College Consolidation

On Tuesday, January 30, the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly held a forum on the proposed Community College Consolidation, known as “Students First.” The forum can be watched on demand from CT-N here. CSCU President, Mark Ojakian, was questioned by legislators for nearly two hours about the proposed consolidation. President […]