Apr 2022


From the President


Dear CSCU Community,

From national awards, to NASA Quadcopter Challenge recognition, to federal funding for our advanced manufacturing centers, to efforts to support Ukraine, our students and colleagues are doing amazing work every day. 
 
Please take a moment to read this month’s roundup, and if you have stories of your own you would like to see featured in future editions, please reach out to cscu-newsletter@ct.edu.

Sincerely,
Terrence Cheng
President, CSCU
 

In the News

TCC Student Selected as National 2022 DREAM Scholar 

Tunxis Community College student Diego Horisberger of West Hartford has been chosen as one of eight national 2022 DREAM Scholars by Achieving the Dream (ATD). Horisberger is an arts studies student who will participate in ATD's virtual 2022 DREAM Student Scholars program. 

 

WCSU’S ‘Election Connection’ Wins National BEA Radio Newscast Award 

“Election Connection,” Western Connecticut State University’s live news and election coverage production, won first place nationally in the competitive Broadcast Education Association’s collegiate Festival of Media Arts. The award is in the Radio Newscast category for “Election Connection’s” November 2021 live election coverage. 

 

NVCC Students Awarded NASA Community College Quadcopter Challenge Grant 

Naugatuck Valley Community College students Jonathan Escobar, Albert Lagerman, Anthony Lane, and James Petkin were awarded the NASA Community College Quadcopter challenge grant and are building a drone quadcopter for the flight challenge in April. 

 

SAVE THE DATE: Bioscience Careers Forum, April 8, 9:30 a.m.- 2p.m., a Virtual Event 

Faculty, staff and students are invited to the virtual “Bioscience Careers Forum CONNECTICUT: Shaping the Future of Healthcare: The Role of Innovation in Rapid Technology Development” on Friday, April 8, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. hosted by Southern Connecticut State University, The Jackson Laboratories, BioPath, and CSCU. The keynote speaker is Patti Compton, Pfizer vice president, head of Statistical Programming and Analysis.  

 

GEAR UP CT and WINGS For Growth Collaboration Kick Off Event

The GEAR UP CT (GU CT) launched a new pilot mentoring initiative that kicked off at Platt High School in Meriden to identify what metrics and results are needed to improve attendance, grades and reduce negative behavior with female students. GU CT collaborated with WINGS for Growth (Women’s Initiative to Nurture Growth and Success) to provide virtual mentoring to student mentees (pictured) who were named as “proteges.”

 

HCC Awarded $1M to Support its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center

Housatonic Community College CEO Dwayne Smith, administrators, educators, staff, and students joined Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) in announcing that HCC was awarded $1 million in federal funding to support the college's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center.
 

CSCU President Cheng Joins Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration 

CSCU President Terrence Cheng announced that CSCU’s 17 institutions are officially joining the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a coalition of over 500 college and university presidents and chancellors promoting federal, state, and local policies in support of immigrant, international, and refugee students. 

SCSU and HCC Announce New Partnership 

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) and Housatonic Community College (HCC) announced a new partnership that will allow HCC students to earn a SCSU Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Studies without leaving the HCC campus.  

Amazon Partners with CCC and UConn to Fully Fund Tuition for Local Hourly Employees in Connecticut 

Amazon announced it is expanding the career advancement opportunities it offers by partnering with more than 140 national and local universities – including Capital Community College and UConn - to provide fully-funded college tuition. 

CCSU Student Musicians Show Support for People of Ukraine 

As a show of support for the people of Ukraine, Central Connecticut State University student musicians learned and performed the national anthem of the Ukraine and shared some thoughts. 

 

CSCU Military Friendly Schools 

Central Connecticut State University; and Asnuntuck, Manchester, Middlesex, and Three Rivers Community Colleges earned the 2022-23 Military Friendly® School designation by VIQTORY. MxCC earned gold status distinction; MCC and TRCC were awarded silver level distinction; and CCSU was awarded bronze distinction. 

 

The Donald R. Welter Library at TRCC Presents Diversity 365 Gallery Exhibition

The Donald R. Welter Library at Three Rivers Community College is presenting “Exhibition #1” in the new Diversity 365 Gallery and featuring two-dimensional work from 12 faculty members representing eight colleges in the CSCU system. All work explores the themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The exhibition will run through April 12, 2022, and can be viewed in person Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.  and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

NCCC Opens Peer 2Peer Mentoring Program Space 

The Peer2Peer Mentoring Program at Northwestern Connecticut Community College held  
an open house for its new dedicated space in Founders Hall for the program that provides mentoring to first year students. 

 

Eastern 'Habitaters' Build Housing in North Carolina 

Twelve members of Eastern Connecticut State University’s student chapter of Habitat for Humanity and advisor Peter Bachiochi recently traveled to New Bern, NC, to help build houses with the Habitat for Humanity of Craven County. 
 

MCC Announces Excellence in Service and Teaching Awards 

Manchester Community College bestowed its annual Excellence in Service Award on Clayton Church, information technology technician, and the Excellence in Teaching Award to Burcin Calafiore, assistant professor of business. 

 

GCC Foundation Receives $250,000 Gift to Enhance Wellness Center

The Gateway Community College (GCC) Foundation received a $250,000 gift from the Amour Propre Fund, Inc. to be used to enhance services in GCC's Counseling & Wellness Center, which was renamed the “Amour Propre Fund / LindyLee Gold Center for Counseling and Wellness.

 

NCC Staff Featured on Podcast About NCC’s Support During Ukrainian Crisis 

Mario Haimindra, Norwalk Community College (NCC) marketing and public relations associate, and Pracilya Titus, Guided Pathways advisor and chair of the Committee for Diversity & Inclusion, were featured on  ”Peer & Simple,” a National Council for Marketing and Public Relations podcast, about how NCC has responded to the war in Ukraine and programs created to support students 

 

MxCC Moves Vet Tech Labs to New Pieper Location 

Middlesex Community College veterinary technology program labs moved last fall to the renovated Pieper Veterinary location on Berlin Street in Middletown, featuring a new, multipurpose room for course lectures and live animal and/or clinical work. 

 

SCSU President Honored with National Mentoring Award

The American Council on Education (ACE) awarded Joe Bertolino, president of Southern Connecticut State University, with the 2022 ACE Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award for his role as a mentor in the success of ACE Fellows Program participants. He is pictured with  with Sherri Hughes, ACE assistant vice president for Community Strategy and Engagement (left); and ACE President Ted Mitchell (right).

 

BOR Sets 2022-23 Tuition Rates for State Universities and Charter Oak State College

The Board of Regents voted to set tuition and fee rates at the state universities and Charter Oak State College for the 2022-23 academic year. State universities are proposing an increase of $24 per credit or $291 per semester for full-time undergraduate students for tuition and mandatory fees beginning in the fall of 2022. Tuition will remain flat at Charter Oak for the third consecutive year, and the college’s graduation fee has been eliminated.

 

Board of Regents Sets 2022-23 Community College Tuition Rates

The Board of Regents voted to set tuition and fees for the state’s 12 community colleges for the 2022-23 academic year. Under the approved structure, tuition and mandatory fees will increase by $224 per year, or $112 per semester, for full-time students who pay out of pocket.

 
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