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Budget & Engineering Programs Focus of Board of
Governors Meeting
HARTFORD, Oct. 12 - Action on a proposed $1.5 billion
operating budget for Connecticut’s public higher education system as well as on four
new programs in the high-demand fields of engineering and technology management will
highlight the next meeting of the Board of Governors for Higher Education to take place Wednesday,
October 18 at St. Joseph College in West Hartford.
The proposed budget, an 11 percent increase over current expenditures, contains funds
for current services and expansion items for fiscal years 2001-2003 for the University of
Connecticut and its Health Center, Connecticut State University, the Community Colleges,
Charter Oak State College and the Department of Higher Education. Board action on the
operating budget as well as on $242 million worth of capital requests is required before
both packages are sent to Governor Rowland and the General Assembly for action next year.
The operating budget features $17.7 million in new funds requested by the Department of
Higher Education to support four major initiatives:
- A Performance-Linked Investment Fund ($11.2 million) to support enhancements at
public colleges and universities tied to the achievement of specific goals.
- A GEAR UP Futures Fund ($4 million) to match federal support and attract private
dollars for college financial aid for needy youngsters served by the Department’s
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) project in
Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven.
- An Asset Protection Program ($2 million) to keep new campus buildings in prime
condition.
- Alternate Route to Certification Expansion
($500,000) to address school
administrator and teacher shortages.
These items are in addition to a $6.2 million increase requested by the Department to
fully fund Connecticut’s largest student aid programs as required by statutory
formula.
The Board’s Finance and Administration Committee will consider the budget
proposals at 10:30 am. The new engineering and technology management programs, proposed by
the University of Connecticut, will be taken up earlier, at 9:30 am., by the Board’s
Academic Affairs and Planning Committee. Final action on all items is scheduled for Noon
by the full Board. All meetings will take place in the Crystal Room in St. Joseph’s
Mercy Hall. The college is located at 1678 Asylum Avenue in West Hartford.
Contact: Connie Fraser
(860)947-1801
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