Rep. Ackert Works to Protect Community Colleges

HARTFORD— State Representative Tim Ackert (R-Coventry) along with his fellow lawmakers introduced a strike-amendment today to mitigate campus closings that have been threatened by the Board of Regents for Higher Education since the recent rejection of the community college merger plan by a regional oversight commission.

“I have been a proud supporter of both our Community Colleges and State Colleges for more than a decade. From 2007 until 2010, I had the privilege of being appointed by former Governor M. Jodi Rell to serve as a Community Colleges Trustee,” Rep. Ackert said. “Our current legislation does not permit the legislature to weigh in on the closing of a college so I believe that the legislative body should have some say in whether or not a campus closes because of the residual impact it has on those thousands of students who attend the school, but potentially hundreds of other jobs.”

The community college consolidation plan—put together by Mark Ojakian, President of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities—would merge all 12 state community colleges into one accredited body, decrease over 200 positions and cut over $23 million by 2022.

It was rejected in April by the New England Association of Schools and College’s Higher Education Commission. After that decision, officials said that colleges will have to review tuition rates, and look into closing one or two campuses.

The 2018 Legislative Session adjourns tonight at midnight.