Board of Trustees of Community-Technical Colleges

At a Glance

MARC S. HERZOG, Chancellor

Established - 1965

Statutory authority - CGS 10a-71 through 10a-80

System office - 61 Woodland Street,

Hartford, CT 06105

Approximate number of full-time employees - 2,088

Average number of credit students - 44,686 fall 2002

Recurring operating expenditures (in thousands of dollars) -

General Fund* $122,844

* excluding fringe benefits

CTC Operating Fund $ 88,455

Grants $ 35,559

Capital Outlay $ 17,091

Organizational structure - A system of 12 colleges governed by an appointed Board of Trustees responsible for the system’s growth and development with operations coordinated by the System Chancellor’s Office.

Mission

The mission statement implements the statutory responsibilities of Connecticut General Statutes

(CGS) 10a-72.

Statutory Responsibility

The statutory responsibility of the community colleges, as reflected in Connecticut General Statutes 10a-80, is (1) to provide programs of occupational, vocational, technical and career education designed to provide training for immediate employment, job retraining or upgrading of skills to meet individual, community and state workforce needs; (2) to provide general programs including, but not limited to, remediation, general and adult and continuing education designed to meet individual student goals; (3) to provide liberal arts and sciences and career programs for college transfer; (4) to provide community services and continuing education to respond to workforce needs or to address career, personal, instructional, cultural and public interests; (5) to provide student support services including, but not limited to, admissions, counseling, testing, placement, individualized instruction and efforts to serve students with special needs.

Public Service

In the 2002-03 academic year, the system continued to enroll nearly 50 percent of all undergraduates in public higher education. Fall 2002 headcount enrollment in credit courses totaled 44,869 a 5.2 percent increase from fall 2001. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollments reached 23,485, an 8.9 percent increase in FTE from fall 2001, and the highest FTE enrollment in the system’s history. Of these, 69.4 percent attended part-time and 30.6 percent attended full-time. The average age of students was 29, and 50.3 percent of the students in the system are age 25 or older. Women comprised 61 percent of the student population; minority enrollments represented 29.9 percent, with African-Americans and Hispanics constituting 26.4 percent of the student population. One third of the college’s enrollments were in Liberal Arts, General Studies and the College of Technology, a statewide curriculum, all of which offer the first two years of baccalaureate education for students interested in transfer. Another one third of enrollments were in non-degree courses that expand the student’s knowledge base while improving literacy, communication, and workforce skills. The remaining credit enrollments are in occupational, vocational, technical, and career-related degree and certificate programs that provide training for immediate employment, job retraining, and upgrading of skills to meet the needs of Connecticut’s workers and employers. Non-credit programs focused on skill building and personal interests saw 43,209 registrations during 2002-03. Approximately two-thirds of these non-credit registrations were related to workforce development as individuals sought career advancement, retraining or upgraded skills by continuing their educations.

Improvements/Achievements 2002-03

Academic Affairs

During 2002-2003, the Board of Trustees approved eight new Associate Degree programs, ten program options and 31 Certificates. In addition, the Board approved 12 program modifications and 29 program terminations or suspensions. New degrees were formulated in such areas as early Childhood Education, Graphic Arts, Telecommunications Technology, Computer Networking, and Medical Office Management. Innovative options to programs were added in Emergency Management Response, Radio Broadcasting, Computer Programming, Network Administration, and Drug and Alcohol Treatment.

A significant number of certificate programs were also approved to meet the need for short-term, career-oriented educational opportunities. These expanded offerings now include Web Design, Family Support and Respite Care, Community Health Outreach, Child Development, Forensics, Environmental Health and Safety and Patient Care Technician.

A 2003 report by the Department of Labor for the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission on 5,342 graduates of community college occupational credit programs reported average annual wage increases of $12,133, yielding a total increase in wages over the two years studied (1999-2001) of $64,801,426. These Connecticut residents have better skills, better access to jobs, and improved earning power, all of which serve to improve their prosperity and the prosperity of the state.

The Community Colleges continued to be the state’s largest provider of online courses though the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC). The successful partnership with the Consortium has led to the adoption of WebCt, a course management system with user support and help desk features provided by the Consortium. This Internet-based resource allows faculty at all 12 colleges to integrate instructional technology into every class. A library proxy server allows access to reference materials, databases and the resources of Connecticut’s Digital Library online for students, faculty and staff throughout the system.

Facilities Planning

In 2002-03 the completion or commencement of numerous facilities projects that were part of the Rowland Administration’s community college capital investment plan. Capital Community College opened its new consolidated campus in downtown Hartford campus for September 2002 classes, while the new Art, Sciences, and Technology building at Manchester Community College opened for Spring 2003 classes. Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted, occupied renovated student services space in Founders Hall and completed the construction of a new Learning Resource Center while designing their new Art, Science and Technology building. Naugatuck Valley Community College completed the design of a new Technology Center at its Waterbury campus; construction continued on Norwalk Community College’s Center for Information Technology with fall 2003 classes to begin there. Three Rivers Community College consolidation plans continued with the selection of an architect and the commencement of the Environmental Impact Evaluation. Quinebaug Valley selected an architect and began the design of their first new building since the campus opened.

Partnerships with State Agencies and with Business and Industry

The colleges continued to serve as the primary provider of in-service training for state agencies through the Department of Administrative Services. Cooperative ventures with the Department of Economic and Community Development and their Business Assistance Teams included the colleges in efforts to expand business investment in Connecticut. An Employer Services Team from the Department of Economic and Community Development, Department of Labor, Office of Workforce Competitiveness, Workforce Development Boards, and the Community Colleges met and developed a draft Employer Services Guide. The guide was developed to provide information about training service, skilled workers, labor market trends, and a host of other services provided by these state agencies to Connecticut employers.

Labor Relations and Employee Relations

Faced with severe reductions in the next biennial budgets, the Board succeeded in negotiating wage concession agreements with two of its three professional unions. Faculty members, counselors and librarians in the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges and administrators represented by AFSCME, Local 2480 agreed to forego negotiated increases in 2003-04 as well as increases in funding of other contractually financed activities. The 2003-04 increases will be implemented in 2004-05; 2004-05 negotiated increases will be implemented in 2005-06 and the contract terms will be extended through fiscal year 2007, with a wage reopener in the final year. In consideration for these agreements, the Board agreed to give employees previously noticed for layoff first consideration for appointment to positions that may be refilled as a result of the Early Retirement Incentive Program, and to refrain from economic layoffs for the period of the agreement.

Data and Information Management

Implementation of additional modules and functionality within the colleges’ integrated Management Information System, “Banner,” continued to provide for administrative efficiencies and service enhancements for students. Online self-service tools are now available for student admissions, advising, registration, financial aid, and faculty services.

In support of the Information Technology needs of the 12 colleges, ongoing upgrades and enhancements of the IT infrastructure were put in place including a major hardware/ software upgrade/conversion to Unix, wide area network (WAN) enhancements, and an initial implementation/planning for VOIP communications.

The Community Colleges have been working very closely with the Core-CT Project to meet the implementation schedule and project requirements including integration with the colleges’ information systems.  New capabilities will be provided for by Core-CT in human resources and finance.

Information Reported as Required by State Statute

On-going efforts to advance equity, eliminate discriminatory barriers, and ensure a diverse workforce were advanced by:

· The Minority Fellowship Program, an initiative sponsored jointly by the Board of Trustees and a coalition of professional staff unions, enriches each college’s community by attracting minority graduate students who serve as teaching and administrative fellows, mentors, and role models for system students.

· Diversity Training, completed during 2001-02 for the entire system, utilized a train-the-trainer approach that continues delivery of training throughout the system.

Names, Locations, and Presidents of the 12 Community Colleges

Asnuntuck CC, Enfield – Martha McLeod

Capital CC, Hartford – Ira H. Rubenzahl

Gateway CC, New Haven – Dorsey Kendrick

Housatonic CC, Bridgeport – Janis Hadley

Manchester CC, Manchester – Jonathan M. Daube

Middlesex CC, Middletown – Wilfredo Nieves

Naugatuck Valley CC, Waterbury – Richard L. Sanders

Northwestern CT CC, Winsted – R. Eileen Baccus

Norwalk CC, Norwalk – William H. Schwab

Quinebaug Valley CC, Danielson - Dianne Williams

Three Rivers CC, Norwich - Grace S. Jones

Tunxis CC, Farmington – Cathryn L. Addy

Members of the Board of Trustees as of June 30, 2002 : Lawrence J. Zollo, Waterbury, chairperson; Murali Atluru, North Haven; Louise S. Berry, Vice Chair, Danielson; Reverend David L. Cannon, Preston, Ari Disraelli, Stamford; Maj. General (Ret.) David Gay, Manchester; William R. Johnson, Glastonbury; Andi Jackson-Ali, West Hartford; Jules Lang, Norwalk; Raymond Rivard, Middlebury; Hector Rodriguez, Bridgeport, Naugatuck; Marie M. Spivey, Secretary, Hartford, Virginia D. Zawoy, Clinton.