Department of Higher Education

Budget Summary BOARD OF REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

AGENCY PURPOSE WWW.CTDHE.ORG The Department of Higher Education, working with the Board of Connecticut Higher Education Enrollment by Sector Governors for Higher Education, serves as the state policy-making Fiscal Year 2010 and coordinating authority for higher education. Its mission is to increase lifelong access to, and success in, higher Independent, UCONN, 15% education to serve the needs of the state, its employers and its 36% citizens. To support this mission, the department manages the strategic framework for defining system priorities, facilitating CSU, 19% collaboration across institutions and among state policymakers, and promoting institutional quality as well as student access and success.

CTC, 29%

The Connecticut State University System, the Regional Community-Technical Colleges, and Charter Oak State College are recommended for consolidation with the Department of Higher Education in the Governor’s budget as part of his proposal to restructure state government. The combined agency is named the Board of Regents for Higher Education.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS  The public system of higher education in Connecticut consists of colleges and universities. Over the last decade, enrollment has 18 degree-granting institutions organized into four constituent increased 21 percent and degrees have increased 23 percent, units: the University of Connecticut, its five regional branch which means more students are not only starting but campuses and health center; the Connecticut State University completing their educations than ever before. System consisting of four regional state universities; the  Today's higher education system is clearly a more accessible Connecticut Community-Technical College System consisting of environment for today’s students. Seventy-eight percent of twelve community colleges; and Charter Oak State College, the Connecticut’s 38,419 public high school graduates in 2008 have state's only external degree-granting institution. A separate chosen to pursue higher education at 2- and 4-year institutions board of trustees governs each of these four constituent units and, of those, nearly 59 percent stayed in Connecticut where and each unit receives its own appropriation. Twenty-eight the college experience is more attractive than ever. independent colleges and universities, the U.S. Coast Guard  As a result of the $22 million increase to state-supported Academy and more than seventy private occupational schools student financial aid, the number of award recipients increased also serve Connecticut. by 37 percent from 2007 to 2009. Over the ten year period  In the fall of 2009, 191,134 students were enrolled in ending in 2009, funding nearly doubled, recipients increased by Connecticut’s public and independent institutions of higher 62 percent and the average award grew from $1,815 to $2,148. education. This total is the highest ever with the highest one- This funding is instrumental to continued access to higher year increase and the twelfth consecutive year of growth. At education in this difficult economy. the same time, 38,047 degrees were conferred by Connecticut’s

Education B - 1 Department of Higher Education Budget Summary

State Financial Aid Recipients

35,000

30,000 29,421 28,450 28,072

25,000 21,512 21,468 21,685 21,499 19,930 19,910 20,000 19,224 17,791

15,000

10,000 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Department of Higher Education B - 2 Education