The Senate approved an academic plan that will be presented to the Board of Regents on Nov. 15. and voted to postpone discussions of splitting or merging departments.
Dean Robert Wolff proposed a merger of the Journalism and Communication departments. No guidelines from an ad hoc committee could be referenced to move forward with this discussion of merging or dividing departments. The Senate voted to ask the Central Connecticut State University administration to postpone the meeting until further notice.
President Zulma Toro and Provost Kostelis presented an academic plan that optimizes climate change studies, developing a math lab and other new programs needed.
According to the presentation, a forensic lab will be established with the Connecticut Law Enforcement and Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Kostelis said generating more revenue would go to develop new programs and ensure that they align with workforce needs, and the likelihood of a math lab will be explored. Kostelis said there will be accommodations for students studying climate change.
“With respect to the undergraduate and graduate, interdisciplinary climate studies,” Kostelis said. “That did come up in two different schools, and there are examples across the board that would be able to be utilized and utilize some existing expertise and faculty as well as courses.”
Kostelis said the importance of careful discussions and considerations for student success is emphasized. Kostelis said this semester’s late start courses were tested, and it was a success. With this, Kostelis said CCSU plans to continue to assess the method of how classes are being offered, whether that be online, in-person, or hybrid, and offer enough courses to create flexibility that will accommodate CCSU students.
According to the presentation, from fall 2022 to fall 2023, CCSU experienced a 2.6 percent increase in enrollment. The presentation also highlights an enrollment increase of 2.6 percent and a gradual increase in retention rate, returning full-time students, by 78.6 percent.
During the presentation, Toro said CCSU is near capacity for student residents.
There is a significant reserve increase from June 2022 to June 2026, as presented, mainly due to unused state funding. According to the presentation, some money has been set aside for minor renovations and maintenance, using funds from the operation bar, as no funding was received from the state for preferred maintenance or upgrades. Accessing money from reserves requires authorization from the board.
