CT State Community College system reports student enrollment growth and scholarship impact

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) are poised for significant growth and improvement following a recent Board of Regents meeting on February 12, 2025. The meeting highlighted a 4.4% increase in student enrollment from fall 2023 to fall 2024, attributed to successful initiatives aimed at reducing barriers to access, particularly through the Connecticut Auto Admissions Program (CAP). This program has seen a remarkable rise in applications, with 70% of eligible students opting to apply to CSCU.

The meeting also celebrated the one-year anniversary of the consolidation of 12 community colleges into a single accredited institution, CT State, which now serves one in four undergraduate students in Connecticut. This consolidation is seen as a major step towards enhancing educational access and diversity, with ongoing efforts to expand scholarship opportunities, including the Mary Anne Hanley Award.

A key focus of the meeting was the commitment to improving student retention and graduation rates. The Board acknowledged that current retention rates, hovering around 70%, are not acceptable and emphasized the need for strategies to support students in completing their degrees on time. This includes encouraging students from community colleges to transfer to state universities, ensuring they have a clear pathway to continue their education.

The Board also discussed the restructuring of the system office to enhance efficiency and accountability, including the establishment of a new office of compliance. This initiative aims to improve transparency and support the institutions more effectively.

In addition, the meeting addressed the importance of partnerships with local businesses and organizations to create more opportunities for students, particularly in high-demand fields like healthcare. The CT Health Horizons program, a $35 million initiative, aims to diversify the healthcare workforce by providing scholarships and support for nursing and social work students.

As CSCU continues to evolve, the leadership remains committed to achieving full accreditation by 2028 and enhancing the overall educational experience for students across Connecticut. The Board's focus on accountability, transparency, and collaboration is expected to drive further improvements in the state's higher education system, ultimately benefiting students and the community at large.