BOR Congratulates Charter Oak State College on 45th Anniversary

The Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) today unanimously passed a resolution recognizing and congratulating Charter Oak State College (COSC) on the 45^th anniversary of its first graduating class.

“While other states and institutions are just now beginning to recognize the need to provide quality higher education opportunities for working adults, Charter Oak State College has been helping busy people complete their degrees for 45 years,” Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) President Mark Ojakian said. “Charter Oak is an important part of the CSCU system, and it is one of our many affordable, accessible options.”

“Forty-five years ago the state of Connecticut created an adult serving college recognizing that adults bring learning from work, community activities and earlier education experiences that can be assessed for college credit,” said COSC President Ed Klonoski.  “This approach has helped over 16,000 working adults move to degree attainment faster and at dramatically lower costs.  Today, we continue this tradition of offering an affordable alternative for working adults seeking to complete their college degree.”

In 1973, the Connecticut General Assembly established COSC to help busy adults complete their higher education coursework. On December 27, 1974, the first four individuals graduated from COSC.

“Charter Oak has enabled so many individuals, myself included, to receive a quality education here in Connecticut,” said Chairman Matt Fleury, who is a COSC alumnus. “I applaud their ongoing commitment to giving students of all ages and backgrounds flexibility as they work toward degree completion.”

“Congratulations to Charter Oak State College on 45 years of innovation in higher education,” said BOR Vice Chair Merle Harris, who served as COSC president from 1990 to 2008. “Our goal as an institution has always been to provide top quality education to accommodate the schedules of working people, and it continues to do just that to this day.”

“We’re proud to accept this distinction on behalf of our students, faculty, administration and staff, as well as our Student & Alumni Associations and the Charter Oak State College Foundation,” President Klonoski added. “This moment is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of the adult students we serve every day, 80% of whom are Connecticut residents.  Our students are parents, homeowners, taxpayers, neighbors and co-workers for whom degree completion was only a dream until they discovered Charter Oak State College” 

Founded in 1973, Charter Oak State College (www.CharterOak.edu) is Connecticut’s public online college, offering associate and bachelor’s degree programs in high-demand fields including Health Information Management, Nursing, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education and Business Administration.  The College offers a Master of Science in Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership. 

Charter Oak is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and governed by Connecticut’s Board of Regents for Higher Education.

The text of the resolution can be found below.

WHEREAS,           Charter Oak State College was established in 1973 to assist adults in completing their college degrees by the Connecticut General Assembly, with the first graduation taking place in 1974; and

WHEREAS,           While other states and universities have just recently begun to recognize the need to provide flexible, affordable educational options for adults with busy lives, Charter Oak State College is celebrating 45 years of the highest-quality, most accessible degree completion programs dedicated to accommodating those with busy schedules; and

WHEREAS,           Today, Charter Oak State College is Connecticut’s online state college, offering degree completion programs in high-demand fields including business, health care, early childhood education, public safety, and cyber security; and

WHEREAS,           Thanks in large part to the leadership of former Presidents Bernard Shea, Merle W. Harris, and current President Ed Klonoski and the dedicated faculty and staff members that have served the institution with distinction over the years, Charter Oak State College now has more than 16,000 alumni; and

WHEREAS,           Charter Oak State College is a critical member of the CSCU system and an important component of Connecticut’s strategy to meet the state’s workforce needs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED,          The Board of Regents for Higher Education recognizes and congratulates Charter Oak State College, and its faculty, staff, students, and alumni on 45 years of providing quality, affordable educational opportunities to Connecticut residents.