CSCU and Hartford HealthCare Announce Collaboration Supporting the Clinical Education of Students and Professional Development of Employees

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system and Hartford HealthCare announced a collaboration agreement committed to providing clinical instruction for CSCU students to finish their degree or certificate programs and contributing to the professional development of Hartford HealthCare employees to reskill or upskill.

On November 13, the leadership of both institutions gathered in Hartford to sign a new academic collaboration agreement that will facilitate the growth and development of a skilled healthcare workforce in Connecticut, while enhancing high- quality healthcare in the state.

Through the collaboration, CSCU undergraduate and graduate students in healthcare programs can complete their required clinical and fieldwork placement at Hartford HealthCare facilities, while Hartford HealthCare employees can enroll in more than 300 affordable healthcare courses and programs — some that require accreditation — throughout the CSCU system. Courses range from nursing, paramedics, EMT training to radiology, pharmacy and surgical technician programs, among others.

“We are grateful to Harford HealthCare for this important collaboration that provides our students with hands-on clinical experience in a healthcare setting,” said CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng. “This relationship is critical to building a skilled workforce in Connecticut by providing students the field work they need, and Hartford HealthCare employees continued professional development.”

CSCU students will be able complete their clinical placements in one of 11 Hartford HealthCare facilities statewide that include acute care hospitals and behavioral health facilities. Hartford HealthCare offers students access to clinical training with a strong commitment to the education of its future workforce.

“Hartford HealthCare and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities are joining forces to transform lives through education,” said Jeffrey A. Flaks, President and CEO, Hartford HealthCare. “By cementing this collaboration, we will work together to bring education to those who may have thought it was out of reach. And education doesn’t end when someone graduates or holds a certificate. This collaboration is a commitment to life-long learning. Students will open the doors to the future by training in world-class facilities gaining the skills needed to grow their careers – so that the next generation of healthcare professionals is born right here in Connecticut. This will undoubtedly enhance the future delivery of healthcare across our state, which is among the highest rated state in the nation for quality and safety, ensuring we remain the best at getting better.”

Hartford HealthCare employees will be able to enroll in CSCU’s healthcare certificate and degree programs through online, in-person, and hybrid courses at the 12 CT State Community College campuses and five CT State secondary sites, four state universities and Charter Oak State College. Employees will receive tuition assistance from Hartford HealthCare.

"The Collaboration Agreement between Hartford HealthCare and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities signifies a powerful alliance aimed at fostering innovation, advancing healthcare education, and ultimately improving the health and well-being of our communities,” said Rocco Orlando, MD, SVP and Chief Academic Officer, Hartford HealthCare. “Through this agreement, we are cultivating a highly-skilled workforce that will redefine the future of healthcare.”

Rai Kathuria, CSCU Provost & Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, said this collaboration enables Hartford HealthCare employees to attend CSCU with many options ranging from accelerated programs to online courses. “CSCU is an academic powerhouse offering numerous affordable programs and courses Hartford HealthCare employees,” said Kathuria. “We are pleased to provide this opportunity to contribute to their professional development.”

Other partnerships between CSCU and Hartford HealthCare include a new Bachelor of Science in nursing degree program at Eastern Connecticut State University aimed at increasing the number of healthcare professionals in the region. The partnership includes the construction of a simulation facility at Windham Hospital that will include rooms that replicate clinical settings and will feature state-of-the-art mannequins capable of simulating a variety of clinical scenarios.

CT State Capital Campus recently launched a partnership with Hartford HealthCare in response to the need for more paramedics and emergency medical technicians. Through CT State’s Health Careers Department, students can earn EMT and paramedic studies certificates and degrees with hands-on training and clinical experience in the field.