State of Connecticut

HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, ROOM 1800 HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1591 PHONE: (860) 240-0280 / FAX: (860) 240-8833

SENATOR WILL HASKELL CO-CHAIR

August 20, 2020

President Ojakian, President Connecticut State Colleges and University System 61 Woodland Street Hartford, CT 06105

President Ojakian, On Thursday August 13, 2020 the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee held a listening session where we heard concerns from faculty and staff about the reopening of campuses for the fall semester.

We appreciate the time and effort that you have put forth in creating your campus reopening plans. While not comprehensive, the list that follows comprises many of the suggestions we heard during the hearing:

• Taking temperatures of all persons entering campus buildings, residential and academic • Increased testing for faculty, staff and all students, including at the Community Colleges • Pooling testing to reduce costs (UConn model) • Increased options for faculty and staff to work and teach virtually without the need to share private medical information • Increased flexibility in how professors teach their classes • Increased flexibility in teaching platforms and use of technology • Increased IT support for virtual learning platforms

We respectfully request that you consider implementing these suggestions to help keep students, faculty and staff safe after reopening our public college campuses. To assist with the implementation of these recommendations, we request that you seek additional CARES Act funding through the Governor's office. We look forward to hearing from you with implementation plans. If you choose not to implement any of these ideas, we would appreciate hearing the rationale for your decision.

Thank you,

Gary Turco Will Haskell House Vice-Chair Senate Co-Chair State Representative, 27th District State Senator, 26th District

Tony Hwang Senate Ranking Member House Ranking Member State Senator, 28th District State Representative, 59th District

Gregory Haddad Jason Doucette State Representative, 54th District State Representative, 13th District

James Maroney State Senator, 14th District State Representative, 104th District

Derek Slap Brian Smith State Senator, 5th District State Representative, 48th District

Charlie Stallworth Robert Sanchez State Representative, 126th District State Representative, 25th District

Mary Mushinsky Harry Aurora State Representative, 85th District State Representative, 151st District

Mae Flexer State Senator, 29th District