Chapter 185

Sec. 10a-1. (Formerly Sec. 10-322a). State system of higher education; definitions. There shall be a state system of public higher education to consist of (1) The University of Connecticut and all campuses thereof, and (2) the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities that include (A) the state universities, which shall be known collectively as the Connecticut State University System, (B) the Connecticut State Community College and all campuses thereof, and (C) Charter Oak State College. “Constituent units” as used in the general statutes means those units in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section.

(P.A. 77-573, S. 1, 30; P.A. 82-218, S. 1, 46; P.A. 89-260, S. 8, 41; P.A. 91-256, S. 45, 69; P.A. 92-126, S. 19, 48; P.A. 94-245, S. 12, 46; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; 11-70, S. 3; P.A. 14-117, S. 2; P.A. 16-15, S. 5; P.A. 25-22, S. 24.)

History: P.A. 82-218 reorganized state system of higher education, designating state colleges as Connecticut State University and including department of higher education within state system of higher education, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-322a transferred to Sec. 10a-1 in 1983; P.A. 89-260 substituted “regional technical colleges” for “state technical colleges” and the combined regional technical colleges into one constituent unit; P.A. 91-256 made a technical change; P.A. 92-126 replaced references to community colleges and technical colleges with reference to community-technical colleges; P.A. 94-245 made a technical change, effective June 2, 1994; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Department of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-70 replaced “branches” with “campuses” in Subdiv. (1); P.A. 14-117 changed “the Board for State Academic Awards” to “Charter Oak State College”, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 16-15 amended Subdiv. (2) to add reference to Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, add Subpara. (A) designator in provision re Connecticut State University System and amend same to replace “state colleges” with “state universities”, redesignated Subdiv. (3) as Subpara. (B) and amended same to add “which shall be known collectively as the regional community-technical college system, and”, redesignated Subdiv. (4) re Charter Oak State College as Subpara. (C), deleted former Subdiv. (5) re staff of Board of Regents for Higher Education and made a conforming change, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical colleges with Connecticut State Community College and campuses, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-1a. Board of Regents for Higher Education. (a) There shall be a Board of Regents for Higher Education that shall serve as the governing body for the Connecticut State Community College, the Connecticut State University System and Charter Oak State College. The board shall consist of twenty-three members who shall be distinguished leaders of the community in Connecticut. The board shall reflect the state's geographic, racial and ethnic diversity. The voting members shall not be employed by or be a member of a board of trustees for any independent institution of higher education in this state or the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut nor shall they be public officials or state employees, as such terms are defined in section 1-79, during their term of membership on the Board of Regents for Higher Education. The Governor shall appoint nine members to the board as follows: Three members for a term of two years; three members for a term of four years; and three members for a term of six years. Thereafter, the Governor shall appoint members of the board to succeed such appointees whose terms expire and each member so appointed shall hold office for a period of six years from the first day of July in the year of such member's appointment. Four members of the board shall be appointed as follows: One appointment by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be an alumnus of the regional community-technical college system or Connecticut State Community College, for a term of four years; one appointment by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a specialist in the education of children in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, for a term of three years; one appointment by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be an alumnus of the Connecticut State University System, for a term of four years; and one appointment by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be an alumnus of Charter Oak State College, for a term of three years. Thereafter, such members of the General Assembly shall appoint members of the board to succeed such appointees whose terms expire and each member so appointed shall hold office for a period of four years from the first day of July in the year of such member's appointment. The chairperson and vice-chairperson of the student advisory committee created under section 10a-3 shall serve as members of the board. The chairperson and vice-chairperson of the faculty advisory committee created under section 10a-3a shall serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members of the board for a term of two years and, in their respective roles as chairperson and vice-chairperson, may be invited to any executive session, as defined in section 1-200, of the board by the chairperson of the board. The Commissioners of Education, Economic and Community Development and Public Health, the Labor Commissioner, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, and the Chief Workforce Officer shall serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members of the board.

(b) The initial members of the Board of Regents for Higher Education may begin service immediately upon appointment without regard to section 4-19, but shall not serve past the sixth Wednesday of the next regular session of the General Assembly unless qualified in the manner provided in said section. Thereafter, all appointments shall be made with the advice and consent of the General Assembly, in the manner provided in section 4-19. Any vacancy in the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall be filled in the manner provided in section 4-19.

(c) The Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the board, who shall serve for a term of three years. The board shall elect from its members a vice-chairperson and such other officers as it deems necessary. Vacancies among any officers shall be filled within thirty days following the occurrence of such vacancy in the same manner as the original selection. Said board shall establish policies and adopt bylaws to govern its procedures and shall appoint such committees and advisory boards as may be convenient or necessary in the transaction of its business.

(P.A. 11-48, S. 211; 11-61, S. 106, 136; P.A. 13-62, S. 1; P.A. 14-208, S. 1; P.A. 15-228, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 490; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 241; P.A. 22-126, S. 2; P.A. 24-81, S. 110; P.A. 25-22, S. 25.)

History: P.A. 11-48 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-61 amended Subsec. (a) to switch specialty of appointment by minority leader of the Senate with specialty of appointment by speaker of the House of Representatives and amended Subsec. (c) to replace requirement that board establish bylaws with requirement that board establish policies and adopt bylaws, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-62 amended Subsec. (a) to add the chairperson of the faculty advisory committee as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the board; P.A. 14-208 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “nineteen” with “twenty-one” re board members, add vice-chairperson of faculty advisory committee as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the board and make technical changes, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-228 amended Subsec. (a) to permit chairperson and vice-chairperson of the faculty advisory committee to be invited to executive session, effective July 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “employed by or be elected officials of any public agency, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 1-200” with “public officials or state employees, as such terms are defined in section 1-79”, effective June 30, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Chief Workforce Officer as ex-officio, nonvoting member of Board of Regents for Higher Education and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-126 changed 21 to 22 in Subsec. (a), effective May 27, 2022; P.A. 24-81 amended Subsec. (a) by adding the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management as ex-officio, nonvoting member of Board of Regents for Higher Education and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-22 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to regional community-technical college system with Connecticut State Community College, adding a reference to Connecticut State Community College and making technical changes, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-1b. Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. Staff. Vice-chancellors. (a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall appoint a chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities shall (1) have the authority to implement the policies, directives and rules of the board and any additional responsibilities as the board may prescribe, (2) implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c and recommendations made pursuant to section 10a-11b, (3) build interdependent support among the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College, (4) balance central authority with institutional differentiation, autonomy and creativity, and (5) facilitate cooperation and synergy among the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College. The chancellor may designate an alternate to serve as a member of any commission, foundation or committee upon which the general statutes require the chancellor to serve. Such designee may vote on behalf of the chancellor. There shall be an executive staff responsible for the operation of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. The executive staff shall be under the direction of the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, who shall be the chief executive officer of the Board of Regents for Higher Education.

(b) The chancellor may employ staff as is deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, temporary assistants and consultants. The board shall establish terms and conditions of employment of the chancellor and the board's staff, prescribe their duties and fix the compensation of the chancellor and the board's professional and technical personnel.

(c) Upon recommendation of the chancellor, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall appoint two vice-chancellors. One vice-chancellor shall represent the Connecticut State University System and the other vice-chancellor shall represent the Connecticut State Community College. Each vice-chancellor shall perform such duties and responsibilities as the board and chancellor shall prescribe, so that each said constituent unit fulfills its mission. Such duties shall include, but not be limited to, oversight of academic programs, student support services and institutional support.

(d) Not later than October 1, 2017, the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities shall establish the position of outreach coordinator within the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. Such outreach coordinator shall act as a liaison between institutions within the system and businesses in the state to develop workforce education and job training opportunities including Early College Opportunity programs. Such position may be full time or part time and may be held by an individual who also holds another position within said system as part of such individual's regular duties and without additional compensation.

(P.A. 11-48, S. 212; 11-61, S. 137; P.A. 13-4, S. 1; P.A. 14-117, S. 1; P.A. 15-75, S. 2; P.A. 16-15, S. 21; P.A. 17-207, S. 6; P.A. 24-22, S. 22; P.A. 25-22, S. 26.)

History: P.A. 11-48 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-61 amended Subsec. (c) to replace appointment of “two vice presidents” with appointment of vice-president for each constituent unit with duties including oversight of academic programs, student support services and institutional support, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-4 amended Subsec. (a) to change appointing authority for president from the Governor to the Board of Regents for Higher Education, to give the president authority to implement rules of the board, and to eliminate the president's authority to administer, coordinate and supervise the activities of the board, amended Subsec. (b) to give the board authority to establish the terms and conditions of its president's employment, including compensation, and amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change, effective April 22, 2013; P.A. 14-117 amended Subsec. (c) to replace provision re appointment of vice-president for each constituent unit with provision re appointment of two vice-presidents, one to represent the Connecticut State University System and the other to represent the regional community-technical college system, and to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-75 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by adding reference to Sec. 10a-11c, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-15 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-207 added Subsec. (d) re establishment of outreach coordinator position within the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system; P.A. 24-22 replaced references to president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and vice-president with chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and vice-chancellor, respectively, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical college system with Connecticut State Community College in Subsecs. (a) and (c), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-1c. Plan for maintaining distinct missions of Connecticut State University System, Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College. Report. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall develop and implement a plan for maintaining the distinct missions of the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College and report on such plan to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and appropriations in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a not later than January first annually.

(P.A. 11-48, S. 230; P.A. 25-22, S. 27.)

History: P.A. 11-48 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical college system with Connecticut State Community College and made technical changes, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-1h. Higher Education Financial Sustainability Advisory Board. Membership. Duties. (a) There is established a Higher Education Financial Sustainability Advisory Board, which shall be part of the Legislative Department.

(b) The board shall consist of the following members:

(1) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies;

(2) The members of the higher education subcommittee of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies;

(3) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement; and

(4) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee.

(c) The chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, shall jointly serve as chairpersons of the board. Such chairpersons of the board shall schedule the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not later than September 1, 2024. The board shall meet at least quarterly thereafter. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.

(d) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies shall serve as administrative staff of the board.

(e) The board shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Meet with the administrators of each public institution of higher education and The University of Connecticut Health Center to accept and review the information set forth in subsection (f) of this section and to discuss barriers to meeting state workforce needs, developing economic growth and achieving or maintaining affordable tuition; (2) obtain from any executive department, board, commission or other agency of the state such assistance and data as necessary and available to carry out the purposes of this section; (3) upon review of the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Educational Alignment and Need, submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the General Assembly recommendations for each sustainability plan of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and the funding required pursuant to such plan; and (4) perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties described in this section.

(f) Each public institution of higher education and The University of Connecticut Health Center shall each submit to the board, upon the request of the chairpersons of the board, the following information:

(1) A detailed financial report for the current fiscal year, subsequent fiscal year and five preceding fiscal years that identifies each source of revenue, category of expense and any assumptions upon which such reports are based;

(2) If the detailed financial report for the current fiscal year or subsequent fiscal year projects a deficiency, a detailed plan that eliminates such deficiency;

(3) A summary and general ledger account code analysis of the unrestricted net position of such institution for the most recently completed fiscal year;

(4) The number of full-time and part-time students enrolled disaggregated by in-state and out-of-state;

(5) The number of vacant and filled employment positions disaggregated by bargaining unit and management confidential type with corresponding average salaries from the first payroll in October of such fiscal year;

(6) A summary of cost drivers for such institution;

(7) A summary of budget constraints affecting (A) workforce developments, economic development efforts and student quality of life, including, but not limited to, time required for degree completion, and (B) research productivity and faculty retention and recruitment; and

(8) Any other financial, operational, performance or other outcome information, metrics or data requested by the board.

(g) The board may require a public institution of higher education to submit the information set forth in subsection (f) of this section on a disaggregated basis.

(h) There is established the Subcommittee on Educational Alignment and Need, which shall be a subcommittee of the board and consist of the (1) chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education and employment advancement, (2) Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, (3) chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, or their designees, who shall be members of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, and (4) chairperson and vice-chairperson of the faculty advisory committee to the Board of Regents for Higher Education, established pursuant to section 10a-3a, or their designees, who shall be members of the faculty advisory committee. The Subcommittee on Educational Alignment and Need shall (A) monitor the expenditures of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, (B) review each plan developed by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities for its sustainability, and (C) make recommendations to the board regarding each sustainability plan and the funding required pursuant to such plan.

(P.A. 24-81, S. 107; P.A. 25-174, S. 216.)

History: P.A. 24-81 effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-174 amended Subsec. (e) by adding new Subdiv. (3) re review of recommendations of the Subcommittee on Educational Alignment and Need and redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4) and added Subsec. (h) re establishment and duties of the Subcommittee on Educational Alignment and Need, effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-1j. Words “Board of Regents for Higher Education” substituted for “Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System”, “Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges” or “board of trustees” re either and words “the Connecticut State Community College” substituted for “regional community-technical colleges” or “regional community-technical college system”. (a) Wherever the words “board of trustees”, “Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System” or “Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges” are used to denote the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System or the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges in any public act of the 2025 session, the words “Board of Regents for Higher Education” shall be substituted in lieu thereof.

(b) Wherever the words “regional community-technical colleges” or “regional community-technical college system” are used to denote a constituent unit of the state system of higher education in any public act of the 2025 session, the words “the Connecticut State Community College” shall be substituted in lieu thereof.

(c) The Legislative Commissioners' Office shall, in codifying such public acts of the 2025 session, make such technical, grammatical and punctuation changes as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(P.A. 25-22, S. 113.)

History: P.A. 25-22 effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-3. Student advisory committee to Board of Regents for Higher Education. Membership. Duties. (a) There shall be a student advisory committee to the Board of Regents for Higher Education to assist the board in performing its statutory functions. The committee shall consist of the following student members: One member from each of the institutions within the Connecticut State University System, one member from each campus of the Connecticut State Community College and one member from Charter Oak State College. For the term commencing on July 1, 2015, the members from six of the campuses of the Connecticut State Community College and two of the institutions within the Connecticut State University System, as selected by the student members whose terms expire on or before June 30, 2015, shall serve a term of one year. For the term commencing on July 1, 2016, and every term thereafter, the members from such selected campuses and institutions shall serve a term of two years. All remaining members shall serve a term of two years. If any member ceases to be a matriculating student in good standing, either as a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student at the institution within the constituent unit system that elected such student, the membership of such student shall terminate. If the membership of any such student member terminates, the student government organization of the institution of higher education or campus that elected such member shall, not later than thirty days after the membership terminates and in such a manner as the council determines, elect a student member who shall serve for the remainder of the term.

(b) The members of the committee and alternates for such members shall be elected by the student government organization of the institution of higher education they are to represent. The alternate members of the committee may serve in the absence of the regularly elected member.

(c) The committee shall, on a rotating basis among its members and by a consensus vote of all its members, elect its own chairperson and vice-chairperson, one of whom shall be a member from the Connecticut State University System or Charter Oak State College and the other of whom shall be a member from the Connecticut State Community College, and such other officers as it deems necessary, to serve for a term of one year. The committee shall be deemed to be a public agency within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, and shall keep such records as may be appropriate.

(d) The committee, established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall meet at least biannually with the Board of Regents for Higher Education. Agendas shall be prepared for such meetings and shall be distributed by the board prior thereto and shall consist of matters recommended for inclusion by the chairperson of the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the committee. Such meetings shall be chaired by the chairperson of the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the committee members shall have the right to participate in all discussions and deliberations, but shall not have the right to vote at such meetings.

(P.A. 82-218, S. 3, 46; P.A. 83-587, S. 15, 96; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 89-260, S. 9, 41; P.A. 91-256, S. 46, 69; P.A. 92-126, S. 20, 48; P.A. 97-47, S. 30; P.A. 99-285, S. 5, 12; P.A. 11-48, S. 213; P.A. 15-248, S. 1; P.A. 25-22, S. 28.)

History: P.A. 82-218 effective March 1, 1983; P.A. 83-587 made a technical amendment to Subsec. (a), substituting “Connecticut State University” for “state colleges”; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; P.A. 89-260 in Subsec. (a) provided that for the constituent unit of the state system of higher education under the jurisdiction of the board of trustees of the community-technical colleges there shall be two members where the other constituent units each have one member; P.A. 91-256 made technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 92-126 changed the descriptions of the members representing technical or technological education; P.A. 97-47 amended Subsec. (c) by substituting “the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in Sec. 1-18a” for “chapter 3”; P.A. 99-285 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to specify that the faculty members be from the faculty senate, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 11-48 replaced advisory committee to the Board of Governors of Higher Education with student advisory committee to the Board of Regents for Higher Education and replaced former provisions with provisions re membership and duties of student advisory committee, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 15-248 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re staggered terms of student members and amended Subsec. (c) to permit chairperson and vice-chairperson to be a member representing Charter Oak State College and to change officers' terms from two years to one year, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical colleges with Connecticut State Community College or campus of the Connecticut State Community College, as applicable in Subsecs (a) and (c), and deleted “jurisdiction of the” re Connecticut State University System in Subsec. (a), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-3a. Faculty advisory committee to Board of Regents for Higher Education. Membership. Duties. (a) There shall be a faculty advisory committee to the Board of Regents for Higher Education to assist the board in performing its statutory functions. The committee shall consist of the following members: Three teaching faculty members and one administrative faculty member who provides direct student services from the Connecticut State University System, three teaching faculty members and one administrative faculty member who provides direct student services from the Connecticut State Community College and one teaching faculty member and one administrative faculty member who provides direct student services from Charter Oak State College. Such members shall serve a term of two years. If the membership of any such faculty member terminates, the constituent unit that elected such member shall, not later than thirty days after the membership terminates and in such manner as the council determines, elect a faculty member who shall serve for the remainder of the term.

(b) Not later than October 1, 2013, the members of the committee and alternates for such members shall be elected pursuant to a uniform, fair and open system-wide election by the faculty governance body of each of the constituent units they are to represent and, in the case of Charter Oak State College, by a majority vote of the Academic Council at Charter Oak State College. The alternate members of the committee may serve in the absence of the regularly elected member. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a labor union representing faculty members to participate in any election held pursuant to this subsection.

(c) The committee shall, on a rotating basis among its members, elect its own chairperson and vice-chairperson, one of whom shall be a member from the Connecticut State University System and the other of whom shall be a member from the Connecticut State Community College, and such other officers as it deems necessary, to serve for a term of two years. The committee shall be deemed to be a public agency within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, and shall keep such records as may be appropriate.

(e) Not later than January first annually, the faculty advisory committee shall report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, regarding the performance of its statutory functions and its biannual meetings with the Board of Regents for Higher Education.

(P.A. 11-48, S. 214; P.A. 12-7, S. 1; P.A. 25-22, S. 29.)

History: P.A. 11-48 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-7 amended Subsec. (a) to specify that committee shall consist of 3 teaching faculty members and 1 administrative faculty member who provides direct student services from the Connecticut State University System and the regional community-technical college system and 1 teaching faculty member and 1 such administrative faculty member from Charter Oak State College, and amended Subsec. (b) to require uniform, fair and open system-wide election not later than October 1, 2013, substitute “governance body of” for “senates representing”, add provision re majority vote of the Academic Council at Charter Oak State College and provide that nothing in section shall be construed to require a labor union representing faculty members to participate in election, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical colleges with Connecticut State Community College in Subsecs. (a) and (c) and made a technical change in Subsec. (e), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-6. Duties of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. Policy goals. Access to information. (a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall: (1) Establish policies and guidelines for the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College; (2) develop a master plan for higher education and postsecondary education at the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College consistent with the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (3) establish tuition and student fee policies for the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College; (4) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and viability of the state universities, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College in accordance with criteria established by the board; (5) merge or close institutions within the Connecticut State University System, campuses within the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College in accordance with criteria established by the board, provided (A) such recommended merger or closing shall require a two-thirds vote of the board, and (B) notice of such recommended merger or closing shall be sent to the committee having cognizance over matters relating to education and to the General Assembly; (6) review and approve mission statements for the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College and role and scope statements for the individual institutions and campuses of such constituent units; (7) review and approve any recommendations for the establishment of new academic programs submitted to the board by the state universities within the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College, and, in consultation with the affected constituent units, provide for the initiation, consolidation or termination of academic programs; (8) develop criteria to ensure acceptable quality in (A) programs at the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College, and (B) institutions within the Connecticut State University System and campuses within the Connecticut State Community College and enforce standards through licensing and accreditation; (9) prepare and present to the Governor and General Assembly, in accordance with section 10a-8, consolidated operating and capital expenditure budgets for the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College, Charter Oak State College and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities developed in accordance with the provisions of said section 10a-8; (10) review and make recommendations on plans received from the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (11) appoint advisory committees with representatives from public and independent institutions of higher education to study methods and proposals for coordinating efforts of the public institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction with The University of Connecticut and the independent institutions of higher education to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (12) evaluate (A) means of implementing the goals identified in section 10a-11c, and (B) any recommendations made by the Planning Commission for Higher Education in implementing the strategic master plan pursuant to section 10a-11b through alternative and nontraditional approaches such as external degrees and credit by examination; (13) coordinate programs and services among the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College; (14) assess opportunities for collaboration with The University of Connecticut and the independent institutions of higher education to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (15) make or enter into contracts, leases or other agreements in connection with its responsibilities under this part, provided all acquisitions of real estate by lease or otherwise shall be subject to the provisions of section 4b-23; (16) be responsible for the care and maintenance of permanent records of institutions of higher education dissolved after September 1, 1969; (17) prepare and present to the Governor and General Assembly legislative proposals affecting the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College; (18) develop and maintain a central higher education information system and establish definitions and data requirements for the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College; and (19) undertake such studies and other activities as will best serve the higher educational interests of the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College.

(b) Within the limits of authorized expenditures, the policies of the state system of higher education shall be consistent with (1) the following goals: (A) To ensure that no qualified person be denied the opportunity for higher education on the basis of age, sex, gender identity or expression, ethnic background or social, physical or economic condition, or erased criminal history record information, as defined in section 46a-80a, (B) to protect academic freedom, (C) to provide opportunities for education and training related to the economic, cultural and educational development of the state, (D) to assure the fullest possible use of available resources in public and private institutions of higher education, (E) to maintain standards of quality ensuring a position of national leadership for state institutions of higher education, (F) to apply the resources of higher education to the problems of society, and (G) to foster flexibility in the policies and institutions of higher education to enable the system to respond to changes in the economy, society, technology and student interests; and (2) the goals for higher education in the state identified in section 10a-11c. Said board shall review recent studies of the need for higher education services, with special attention to those completed pursuant to legislative action, and to meet such needs shall initiate additional programs or services through one or more of the constituent units.

(d) The board of regents shall request and receive, or be provided electronic access to, data, reports and other information from the public institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction that are necessary for the board to carry out its responsibilities pursuant to this section.

(P.A. 77-573, S. 6, 30; P.A. 79-418; P.A. 82-218, S. 6, 46; P.A. 83-533, S. 53, 54; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 91-174, S. 1, 16; 91-230, S. 10, 17; 91-256, S. 10, 69; P.A. 92-126, S. 5, 48; 92-154, S. 9, 23; P.A. 99-285, S. 3, 12; P.A. 04-257, S. 13; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; 11-55, S. 10; 11-70, S. 4; P.A. 12-129, S. 7; P.A. 13-118, S. 4; 13-247, S. 184; P.A. 14-117, S. 3; P.A. 15-75, S. 3; P.A. 21-32, S. 25; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 268; P.A. 22-16, S. 5; P.A. 25-22, S. 30.)

History: P.A. 79-418 amended Subsec. (d) to make provisions applicable to eligible employees regardless of employment date, provisions previously applicable to eligible employees “employed on or after October 1, 1975”; P.A. 82-218 repealed authority of board of higher education in Subsec. (a) and delineated powers and duties of board of governors and repealed Subsec. (c) which contained elements of a master plan for higher education, reflecting reorganization of state system of higher education, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-323e transferred to Sec. 10a-6 in 1983; P.A. 83-533 repealed former Subsec. (c) which had permitted board to authorize participation in an alternate retirement program by unclassified employees of state system of higher education and higher education department staff; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; P.A. 91-174 amended Subsec. (a) by adding the language in Subdivs. (15) and (18) pertaining to independent institutions; P.A. 91-230 deleted Subsec. (a)(11) re responsibility for reviewing and approving capital expenditure requests from the constituent units before submission to the state bond commission, renumbered remaining Subdivs. and in newly renumbered Subdiv. (11) changed “approve” to “make recommendations on”; P.A. 91-256 in Subsec. (a)(12) changed “approve” to “make recommendations on”; P.A. 92-126 and P.A. 92-154 both amended Subsec. (a)(6) to remove the authority of the general assembly to accept or reject a recommended merger or closing; P.A. 99-285 added Subsec. (d) re electronic access, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 04-257 made a technical change in Subsec. (d), effective June 14, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-55 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to prohibit discrimination on basis of gender identity or expression; P.A. 11-70 replaced “branches” with “campuses” in Subsec. (a)(7) (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a)(10), a reference to repealed Sec. 10a-9 was deleted editorially by the Revisors); P.A. 12-129 amended Subsec. (a) by limiting authority of Board of Regents for Higher Education to merge or close institutions in Subdiv. (6) and to review and approve mission statements in Subdiv. (7) to the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and the Board for State Academic Awards, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-118 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “constituent unit boards of trustees” with “state colleges within the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical colleges and the Board for State Academic Awards” in Subdiv. (8), add new Subdiv. (19) re reporting all new programs and program changes to the Office of Higher Education and redesignate existing Subdiv. (19) as Subdiv. (20), effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (a) to delete former Subdiv. (4) re establishing state-wide student financial aid policies and redesignate existing Subdivs. (5) to (19) as Subdivs. (4) to (18), effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-117 amended Subsec. (a) to change “the Board for State Academic Awards” to “Charter Oak State College”, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-75 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to state-wide policies and public higher education, adding references to the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College, adding provisions re goals identified in Sec. 10a-11c and deleting provision in Subdiv. (7) re notification of proposed termination of academic program, amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions re goals as new Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) re goals identified in Sec. 10a-11c, amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “constituent units of the state system of higher education that is” with “public institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction that are”, and made conforming and technical changes, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 21-32 amended Subsec. (b)(1)(A) to prohibit discrimination on basis of erased criminal history record information, effective January 1, 2023; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a)(19) by adding “until June 30, 2024,”, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-16 amended Subsec. (a)(9) by adding “and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 25-22 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing references to regional community-technical colleges with Connecticut State Community College or campus of Connecticut State Community College, as applicable, deleting former Subdiv. (19) re reporting new programs and program changes to the Office of Higher Education until June 30, 2024, and redesignating existing Subdiv. (20) as Subdiv. (19), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-8. (Formerly Sec. 10-323f). Budget preparation. Development of program or formula-based budgeting system. Allocation of appropriations. Allotment reductions. Transfer of funds. (a) The provisions of sections 4-77 and 4-78 shall not apply to the constituent units of the state system of higher education, and for the purposes of said sections only, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall be deemed the budgeted agency for the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College, Charter Oak State College and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall develop a formula or program-based budgeting system to be used by each institution and campus of the Connecticut State Community College in preparing operating budgets. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall prepare a single budget request itemized by the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College, Charter Oak State College and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities using the formula or program-based budgeting system and shall submit such budget request displaying all operating funds to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management in accordance with sections 4-77 and 4-78, subject to procedures developed by the Board of Regents for Higher Education and approved by said secretary. The budget request shall set forth, in the form prescribed by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, a proposed expenditure plan which shall include: (1) The total amount requested for such appropriation account; (2) the amount to be appropriated from the General Fund; and (3) the amount to be paid from the tuition revenues of the Connecticut State Community College, the Connecticut State University System and Charter Oak State College. After review and comment by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the proposed expenditure plans shall be incorporated into the single public higher education budget request including recommendations, if any, by said board. Any tuition increase proposed by the Connecticut State Community College, the Connecticut State University System and Charter Oak State College for the fiscal year to which the budget request relates shall be included in the single public higher education budget request submitted by the Board of Regents for Higher Education for such fiscal year, provided if the General Assembly does not appropriate the amount requested by any such system or college, such system or college may increase tuition and fees by an amount greater than that included in the budget request in response to which the appropriation was made. The General Assembly shall make appropriations directly to the constituent units. Allotment reductions made pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 4-85 shall be applied by the Board of Regents for Higher Education among the appropriations to the constituent units and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities without regard to the limitations on reductions provided in said section, except that said limitations shall apply to the total of the amounts appropriated. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall apply such reductions after consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. Any reductions of more than five per cent of the appropriations of any constituent units shall be submitted to the appropriations committee which shall, within thirty days, approve or reject such reduction.

(b) The Board of Regents for Higher Education may transfer to or from any specific appropriation of a constituent unit a sum or sums totaling up to fifty thousand dollars or ten per cent of any such specific appropriation, whichever is less, in any fiscal year without the consent of the Finance Advisory Committee. Any such transfer shall be reported to the Finance Advisory Committee within thirty days of such transfer and such report shall be a record of said committee.

(P.A. 77-573, S. 7, 30; P.A. 80-213; P.A. 81-468, S. 3, 11; P.A. 82-218, S. 27, 46; P.A. 83-380, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; 84-365, S. 5, 12; P.A. 89-260, S. 10, 41; P.A. 91-256, S. 11, 69; P.A. 92-126, S. 21, 48; P.A. 95-230, S. 26, 45; P.A. 96-244, S. 44, 63; P.A. 10-32, S. 31; P.A. 11-48, S. 215; 11-70, S. 5; P.A. 12-156, S. 11; P.A. 14-117, S. 4; P.A. 22-16, S. 2; P.A. 25-22, S. 31.)

History: P.A. 80-213 amended Subsec. (c) to make $10,000, rather than $5,000 the key amount in provisions re transferred funds; P.A. 81-468 required submission of budget request to secretary of the office of policy and management, replacing obsolete reference to director of the budget and added provision detailing contents of expenditure plan and budget request; P.A. 82-218 reorganized state system of higher education, replacing board of higher education with board of governors and adding provisions in Subsec. (b) re budget request and appropriations procedures, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-323f transferred to Sec. 10a-8 in 1983; P.A. 83-380 amended Subsec. (c) to increase amounts allowed to be transferred to or from any specific appropriation of a constituent unit from $10,000 to $50,000 or 10% of any such specific appropriation, whichever is less; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; P.A. 84-365 deleted Subsec. (a) re preparation of single public higher education budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1984, and amended new Subsec. (a), formerly (b), to require the boards of trustees of the regional community colleges, the state technical colleges, Connecticut State University and The University of Connecticut to prepare a proposed expenditure plan to be incorporated into the single public higher education budget request, relettering remaining Subsecs. as necessary; P.A. 89-260 in Subsec. (a) substituted the board of trustees of the community-technical colleges for the boards of trustees of the regional community colleges and the state technical colleges and substituted “regional technical colleges” for “state technical colleges”; P.A. 91-256 deleted requirement that the expenditure plans be approved by the board of governors and substituted provision for comment and recommendations by the board and made technical changes; P.A. 92-126 replaced references to community colleges and technical colleges with reference to community-technical colleges; P.A. 95-230 amended Subsec. (a) to add proviso if appropriation by the General Assembly is not the amount requested, the board of trustees may increase tuition and fees by a greater amount than that included in the budget request, effective June 7, 1995; P.A. 96-244 amended Subsec. (a) to apply to all boards of trustees the provision concerning the authority to increase tuition and fees when the General Assembly does not appropriate the amount requested by the board and made a technical change, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 10-32 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective May 10, 2010; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “Board of Governors of Higher Education” with “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, remove references to The University of Connecticut, make conforming changes and increase from 10 days to 30 days the deadline by which appropriations committee shall act on a reduction of more than 5% of the appropriations of any constituent unit, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-70 made technical changes in Subsec. (a); P.A. 12-156 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “colleges” with “college system”, and replacing “board of trustees” with “system”, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 14-117 amended Subsec. (a) to change “the Board for State Academic Awards” to “Charter Oak State College”, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 22-16 amended Subsec. (a) by adding the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities as a separate budget item and making technical changes and amended Subsec. (b) by changing the “boards of trustees of each of the constituent units” to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 25-22 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing references to regional community-technical college system with Connecticut State Community College and adding reference to campus of the Connecticut State Community College, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-8f. Board of Regents for Higher Education: Management and fiscal accountability policies. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall adopt or update the management and fiscal accountability policies applicable to each constituent unit and institution of higher education governed by said board and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. Such policies shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

(1) The use of purchasing cards pursuant to subsection (c) of section 4-98 that includes, but is not limited to, the (A) permitted and restricted uses of purchasing cards, (B) provision of uniform training to each cardholder on such permitted and restricted uses and required record-keeping, and a signed acknowledgment of receiving such training, (C) requirement for a secondary review and sign-off on any exceptions to the spending limits on purchasing cards, (D) provision of uniform training to each supervisor to regularly monitor the use of purchasing cards, (E) use of purchasing cards by persons in executive positions for food and entertainment costs, and (F) establishment and enforcement of accountability measures to address any purchasing card misuse, including, but not limited to, written acknowledgment of such misuse, an agreement to remedy such misuse and the revocation of purchasing cards when necessary.

(2) The use of state vehicles that includes, but is not limited to, the (A) establishment of rules on the use of state vehicles and related record-keeping, (B) treatment of state vehicle use for compensation and tax purposes, and (C) establishment and enforcement of accountability measures to address any state vehicle misuse and noncompliance with such policy.

(3) Residency requirements for certain executive positions, including, but not limited to, the chancellor, vice-chancellors, president, vice-presidents and other equivalent positions. Any employment contract negotiated on and after July 1, 2025, for the chancellor of the Connecticut State College and Universities shall include a requirement to maintain such chancellor's primary residence in the state.

(4) The development and provision of uniform training to all executives, administrators and staff at each such constituent unit, institution of higher education and central office regarding the business functions and compliance practices relevant to such position.

(P.A. 25-71, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 25-71 effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-8g. Board of Regents for Higher Education: Compliance officer. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall appoint a compliance officer. The duties of such officer shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) conducting audits on a regular basis of the records and expenditures at each constituent unit and institution of higher education governed by said board and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities to measure, as often as deemed necessary by such officer, (A) compliance with applicable laws and regulations and policies adopted by said board, (B) reliability of financial reporting and record-keeping, (C) effectiveness and efficiency of operations, and (D) assessing the adequacy and uniformity of internal controls and compliance practices at each such institution and the central office; (2) reporting to said board on the findings of such audit and assessment and making recommendations for improvement; and (3) performing the audit required pursuant to subsection (r) of section 1-84.

(P.A. 25-71, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 25-71 effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-9d. Energy-savings performance contract process. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Energy-savings measure”, “cost effective”, “operation and maintenance cost savings”, “qualified energy service provider”, “utility cost savings”, “standardized energy-savings performance contract process”, “investment-grade energy audit” and “energy-savings performance contract” each have the same meaning as provided in section 16a-37x.

(2) “Constituent unit” has the same meaning as provided in section 10a-1.

(3) “Chief executive officer” has the same meaning as provided in section 10a-151b.

(b) A chief executive officer may enter into an energy-savings performance contract pursuant to an energy-savings performance contract process established by such chief executive officer's constituent unit pursuant to section 16a-37x, provided (1) such process includes standard procedures for entering into an energy-savings performance contract and standard energy-savings performance contract documents, including, but not limited to, requests for qualifications, requests for proposals, investment-grade audit contracts, energy-savings performance contracts, including the form of the project savings guarantee, and project financing agreements, and (2) such contract is entered into in accordance with the policies adopted by the governing board of such constituent unit pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10a-151b.

(c) The energy-savings performance contract process established by a constituent unit shall include requests for qualifications or requests for proposals as follows:

(1) The constituent unit shall issue a request for qualifications from companies that can offer energy-savings performance contract services to create a list of qualified energy service providers.

(2) When reviewing requests for qualifications for inclusion on the list of qualified energy service providers, the constituent unit shall consider a company's experience with (A) design, engineering, installation, maintenance and repairs associated with energy-savings performance contracts; (B) conversions to a different energy or fuel source, associated with a comprehensive energy efficiency retrofit; (C) post-installation project monitoring, data collection and reporting of savings; (D) overall project management and qualifications; (E) accessing long-term financing; (F) financial stability; (G) projects of similar size and scope; (H) in-state projects and Connecticut-based subcontractors; (I) United States Department of Energy programs; (J) professional certifications; and (K) other factors determined by the constituent unit to be relevant and appropriate.

(3) Before entering into an energy-savings performance contract pursuant to this section, a constituent unit shall issue a request for proposals from three or more qualified energy service providers. A constituent unit may award the energy-savings performance contract to the qualified energy service provider that best meets the needs of the constituent unit, which need not be the lowest cost provided. A cost effective feasibility analysis shall be prepared in response to the request for proposals.

(4) The cost effective feasibility analysis included in the response to the request for proposals shall serve as the selection document for purposes of selecting a qualified energy service provider to engage in final contract negotiations. Factors to be included in selecting among the qualified energy service providers shall include, but not be limited to, (A) contract terms, (B) comprehensiveness of the proposal, (C) financial stability of the qualified energy service provider, (D) comprehensiveness of cost savings measures, (E) experience and quality of technical approach, and (F) overall benefits to the constituent unit.

(d) The qualified energy service provider selected as a result of the request for proposals set forth in subsection (c) of this section shall prepare an investment-grade audit, which, upon acceptance, shall be part of the final energy-savings performance contract entered into by the constituent unit. Such investment-grade energy audit shall include estimates of the amounts by which utility cost savings and operation and maintenance cost savings would increase and estimates of all costs of such utility cost savings measures or energy-savings measures, including, but not limited to, (1) itemized costs of design, (2) engineering, (3) equipment, (4) materials, (5) installation, (6) maintenance, (7) repairs, and (8) debt service. The qualified energy service provider and the constituent unit shall agree on the cost of the investment-grade audit before it is conducted.

(e) The policies adopted by the governing board of the constituent unit pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10a-151b may require that the cost savings projected by the qualified provider be reviewed by a professional engineer licensed in this state who has a minimum of three years' experience in energy calculation and review, is not an officer or employee of a qualified provider for the contract under review and is not otherwise associated with the contract. In conducting the review, the engineer shall focus primarily on the proposed improvements from an engineering perspective, the methodology and calculations related to cost savings, increases in revenue and, if applicable, efficiency or accuracy of metering equipment. An engineer who reviews a contract shall maintain the confidentiality of any proprietary information the engineer acquires while reviewing the contract.

(f) A guaranteed energy-savings performance contract may provide for financing, including tax exempt financing, by a third party. The contract for third-party financing may be separate from the energy-savings performance contract. A constituent unit may use designated funds, bonds, lease purchase agreements or master lease for any energy-savings performance contracts, provided its use is consistent with the purpose of the appropriation.

(g) Each energy-savings performance contract entered into pursuant to this section shall provide that all payments between parties, except obligations on termination of the contract before its expiration, shall be made over time and the objective of such energy-savings performance contracts is implementation of cost savings measures and energy and operational cost savings.

(h) An energy-savings performance contract entered into pursuant to this section, and payments provided thereunder, may extend beyond the fiscal year in which the energy-savings performance contract became effective, subject to appropriation of moneys, if required by law, for costs incurred in future fiscal years. The energy-savings performance contract may extend for a term not to exceed thirty years. The allowable length of the contract may also reflect the useful life of the cost savings measures. An energy-savings performance contract may provide for payments over a period not to exceed deadlines specified in the energy-savings performance contract from the date of the final installation of the cost savings measures.

(i) The energy-savings performance contract entered into pursuant to this section may provide that reconciliation of the amounts owed under the energy-savings performance contract shall occur in a period beyond one year with final reconciliation occurring within the term of the energy-savings performance contract. Such energy-savings performance contract shall include contingency provisions in the event that actual savings do not meet predicted savings.

(j) The energy-savings performance contract entered into pursuant to this section shall require the qualified energy service provider to provide to the constituent unit an annual reconciliation of the guaranteed energy cost savings. If the reconciliation reveals a shortfall in annual energy cost savings, the qualified energy service provider shall make payment to the constituent unit in the amount of the shortfall. If the reconciliation reveals an excess in annual energy cost savings, the excess savings shall remain with the constituent unit, and shall not be used to cover potential energy cost savings shortages in subsequent years or actual energy cost savings shortages in previous contract years.

(k) During the term of each energy performance contract entered into pursuant to this section, the qualified energy service provider shall monitor the reductions in energy consumption and cost savings attributable to the cost savings measures installed pursuant to the energy-savings performance contract and shall, not less than annually, prepare and provide a report to the constituent unit documenting the performance of the cost savings measures to the constituent unit. The report shall adhere to the most current version of the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol.

(l) The qualified energy service provider and constituent unit may agree to modify savings calculations based on any of the following:

(1) Subsequent material change to the baseline energy consumption identified at the beginning of the energy-savings performance contract;

(2) Changes in the number of days in the utility billing cycle;

(3) Changes in the total square footage of the building;

(4) Changes in the operational schedule of the facility;

(5) Changes in facility temperature;

(6) Material change in the weather;

(7) Material changes in the amount of equipment or lighting used at the facility; or

(8) Any other change which reasonably would be expected to modify energy use or energy costs.

(m) A constituent unit may direct savings realized under the energy-savings performance contract to contract payment and other required expenses and may, when practicable, reinvest savings beyond that required for contract payment and other required expenses into additional energy-savings measures.

(n) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a constituent unit to use the standardized energy-savings performance contract process established pursuant to section 16a-37x to enter into an energy-savings performance contract if such constituent unit establishes its own energy-savings performance contract process.

(P.A. 25-168, S. 142.)

History: P.A. 25-168 effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-11b. Higher education strategic master plan. Planning Commission for Higher Education established. Members. Duties. Goals and benchmarks. Reports. Standing subcommittees and advisory committees. (a) There is established a Planning Commission for Higher Education to develop and ensure the implementation of a higher education strategic master plan in Connecticut.

(1) The commission shall consist of the following voting members: (A) The chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, the president of The University of Connecticut, or their designees from the Board of Regents for Higher Education and Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut, respectively; (B) the provost of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the provost of The University of Connecticut; (C) the chairperson of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, and the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut, or the chairs' designees; (D) the president, provost or chair of the board of a large independent institution of higher education in the state, to be selected by the president pro tempore of the Senate; (E) the president, provost or chair of the board of a small independent institution of higher education in the state, to be selected by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (F) a representative from a private career school, to be selected by the Commissioner of Higher Education; (G) a teaching faculty representative from the Connecticut State University System, to be selected by the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; (H) a teaching faculty representative from the Connecticut State Community College, to be selected by the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; (I) a teaching faculty representative from The University of Connecticut, to be selected by the president of The University of Connecticut; (J) a teaching faculty representative from a private career school in the state, to be selected by the Commissioner of Higher Education; (K) one member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a representative of a large manufacturing employer in the state; (L) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a large financial or insurance services employer in the state; (M) one member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of an information technology or digital media employer in the state; (N) one member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of a small business employer in the state; (O) one member appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a health care employer in the state; (P) one member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a small business employer in the state; and (Q) the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement. The commission membership shall, where feasible, reflect the state's geographic, racial and ethnic diversity.

(2) The following persons shall serve as ex-officio nonvoting members on the commission: (A) The Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Labor Commissioner, or their designees; (B) a representative of an association of the state's independent institutions of higher education, appointed by the Governor; (C) a member of the State Board of Education, as designated by the chairperson of the state board; (D) the superintendent of the technical high school system, or the superintendent's designee; (E) the chief executive officer of Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, or the chief executive officer's designee; (F) the Commissioner of Higher Education; (G) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee; and (H) the Chief Workforce Officer.

(3) All initial appointments to the commission shall be made not later than June 1, 2024. The Governor, president pro tempore of the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint a chairperson from among the commission's voting members. Such chairpersons shall jointly schedule the first meeting of the commission, which shall be held not later than July 1, 2024. Any vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority. The term of each appointed member of the commission shall be three years from the date of appointment, except a member shall continue to serve until such member's successor is appointed. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The commission members shall serve without compensation.

(4) The commission may (A) seek the advice and participation of any person, organization or state or federal agency it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, (B) within available appropriations, retain consultants to assist in carrying out its duties, and (C) receive funds from any public or private sources to carry out its activities.

(5) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement shall serve as the administrative staff of the commission.

(b) The commission shall revise and update the higher education strategic master plan adopted in 2015. Such revised strategic master plan shall:

(1) Examine the impact of demographic, workforce and education trends on higher education in the state;

(2) (A) Assess progress toward the numerical goals established for the years 2020 and 2025 under the strategic master plan adopted in 2015 and revise or establish numerical goals for the years 2026 and 2030 to (i) increase the number of people earning a bachelor's degree, associate degree or certificate, (ii) increase the number of people successfully completing coursework at the community college level and the number of people entering the state's workforce, and (iii) eliminate the postsecondary achievement gap between minority students and the general student population, and (B) include specific strategies for meeting such goals, as well as strategies for meeting the goals pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10a-6 and section 10a-11c;

(3) Examine and recommend changes to funding policies, practices and accountability in order to (A) align policies and practices with the goals set forth in subsection (b) of section 10a-6 and section 10a-11c; (B) determine how the constituent units shall annually report to the General Assembly and the public in a transparent and thorough manner regarding each constituent unit's expenditures, staffing and state support, including the state appropriation, personnel expenses, personnel fringe benefits, capital improvement bonds and financial aid to students; and (C) improve coordination of appropriation, tuition and financial aid and seek ways to maximize funding through federal and private grants to accomplish state goals; and

(4) Recommend ways in which each constituent unit of the state system of higher education and independent institution of higher education in the state can, in a manner consistent with such institution's mission, expand such institution's role in advancing the state's economic growth.

(c) In updating the higher education strategic master plan, the commission shall review the plan developed pursuant to section 10a-6. In addition, the commission may consider the following: (1) Establishing incentives for institutional performance and productivity; (2) increasing financial aid, especially in workforce shortage areas and for minority and first-generation students; (3) expanding dual credit and career pathway opportunities in high schools and aligning such opportunities with institutions of higher education; (4) promoting partnerships with the business community and institutions of higher education to expand work-based learning opportunities for students and retraining and development opportunities for employees; (5) establishing collaborative partnerships between public high schools, community organizations and institutions of higher education to expand college access for underserved and first-generation students; (6) assessing and promoting programs in high school to assist high school students seeking a college track or alternative pathways for post-secondary education, such as vocational and technical opportunities; (7) developing policies to promote and measure retention and graduation rates of students, including graduation rates for students who have transferred among two or more constituent units or public institutions of higher education; (8) developing policies to promote transfer and articulation programs and the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program state wide; (9) addressing the educational needs of minority, underserved and first-generation students and nontraditional students, including, but not limited to, part-time students, incumbent workers, adult learners, former inmates and immigrants, in order to increase enrollment and retention in institutions of higher education; (10) addressing the affordability of tuition at institutions of higher education and the issue of increased student indebtedness; and (11) developing policies to award credits for prior learning and experience.

(d) Not later than September 1, 2025, the commission shall submit a preliminary report on the development of the update of the higher education strategic master plan and, not later than December 1, 2025, the commission shall submit the higher education strategic master plan, including specific goals and benchmarks for the years ending 2026 and 2030, together with any recommendations for appropriate legislation and funding to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement, education, commerce, labor and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.

(e) Not later than January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement, education, commerce, labor and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, in accordance with section 11-4a, on the implementation of the plan and progress made toward achieving the goals specified in the plan. The commission may periodically suggest changes to the goals as necessary.

(f) For purposes of implementing the higher education strategic master plan pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the commission shall establish two standing subcommittees and may establish any working groups necessary to supplement the work of the subcommittees or work. The chairpersons of the commission shall jointly appoint the members of the standing subcommittees and working groups, and may appoint members to such standing subcommittees and working groups who are not members of the commission.

(1) One standing subcommittee shall focus on data, metrics and accountability, and build upon the work of the Preschool through 20 and Workforce Information Network in its measures and data. Such measures shall be used to assess the progress of each public institution of higher education toward meeting the commission's goals. The subcommittee shall collaborate with the Labor Department to (A) produce periodic reports, capable of being sorted by student age, on the employment status, job retention and earnings of students enrolled in academic and noncredit vocational courses and programs, both prior to enrollment and after completion of such courses and programs, who leave the constituent units upon graduation or otherwise, and (B) develop an annual affordability index for public higher education that is based on state-wide median family income. The subcommittee shall submit annual reports to the commission and the constituent units.

(2) One standing subcommittee shall focus on the higher education strategic master plan, analyzing the plans submitted since 2014 and making recommendations to the commission on key areas. The commission may recommend key areas of focus each year and require the standing subcommittee to report to the commission on such key areas.

(g) The commission may appoint advisory committees with representatives from public and independent institutions of higher education to study methods and proposals for coordinating efforts of the public institutions of higher education and the independent institutions of higher education to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c.

(h) The commission may review its goals and plans and determine how best to align its work with the work of the Higher Education Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee, established pursuant to section 32-39t.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-3, S. 41; P.A. 08-116, S. 2; P.A. 11-48, S. 90, 285; 11-70, S. 11; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 54; P.A. 13-240, S. 11; 13-261, S. 8; P.A. 14-65, S. 13; P.A. 15-75, S. 6; P.A. 16-15, S. 23; P.A. 17-229, S. 2; P.A. 18-103, S. 6; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 197; P.A. 22-123, S. 30; P.A. 23-204, S. 64, 86; P.A. 24-22, S. 23; 24-81, S. 135; 24-125, S. 1; 24-149, S. 19; P.A. 25-22, S. 32.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-3 effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 08-116 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a)(1)(C), (a)(2)(A) and (d)(6), effective May 27, 2008; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by deleting former Subpara. (D) re director of the Office of Workforce Competitiveness and redesignating existing Subparas. (E) and (F) as Subparas. (D) and (E), effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Commissioner of Higher Education” and “Department of Higher Education” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” and “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-70 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “Blue Ribbon Commission” with “Planning Commission for Higher Education” and require commission to ensure implementation of strategic master plan, amended Subsec. (b) to add reference to Sec. 10a-6(a)(2), delete language re overall goals for higher education, incorporate existing Subsec. (c)(1), (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (1), (3) and (4) and add new Subdiv. (2) and provisions in Subdiv. (3) to require establishment of numerical goals for 2015 and 2020 and examination and recommendation of changes re funding policies, practices and accountability, deleted former Subsec. (c)(2), (3) and (6), redesignated existing Subsecs. (d) to (f) as Subsecs. (c) to (e), amended Subsec. (c) to remove reference to New England 2020 report and require commission to consider developing policies to promote and measure graduation rates for students who have transferred among two or more constituent units or public institutions of higher education, amended Subsec. (d) to require submission of preliminary report on development of strategic master plan not later than January 1, 2012, and submission of plan not later than October 1, 2012, and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (e) to require annual submission of report to Governor beginning on October 1, 2014, and to joint standing committees beginning on January 1, 2014, and to permit commission to periodically suggest changes to goals as necessary, and deleted former Subsec. (g) re termination of commission, effective July 8, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(2)(A); P.A. 13-240 amended Subsec. (d) to change “January 1, 2012” to “June 1, 2014”, “October 1, 2012” to “September 1, 2014”, “2015” to “2020” and “2020” to “2025” and amended Subsec. (e) to change “2014” to “2016”, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-261 amended Subsec. (a)(1)(G) to change number of Governor's appointments from 4 to 5, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-65 amended Subsec. (e) by changing date for report to Governor and General Assembly from October 1 to January 1, deleting requirement that Board of Regents for Higher Education prepare the report and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-75 added Subsec. (f) re working groups, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-15 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by replacing “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-229 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by replacing provisions re commission membership with provisions re same, amended Subsec. (a)(2) by deleting reference to president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities in Subpara. (A), replacing provision re chairpersons of boards of trustees and chief executive officers of each constituent unit with provision re president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges in Subpara. (B), replacing provision re chairperson of board and president of Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges with provision re member of State Board of Education in Subpara. (C), redesignating existing Subparas. (D) and (E) as Subparas. (G) and (H), and adding new Subparas. (D) to (F) re superintendent of technical high school system, chief executive officer of Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated and director of Office of Higher Education, respectively, amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding provision re Governor to appoint chairperson, replacing provision re commission to elect chairperson with provision re commissioner to elect vice-chairperson, deleting provision re necessary expenses incurred in performance of duties, and adding provision re commission to be within Office of Higher Education, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to Sec. 10a-6(a)(2), adding “and 2025” in Subdiv. (2)(A), and replacing reference to Sec. 10a-6(a)(2) with Sec. 10a-6(b) and adding “and section 10a-11c” in Subdiv. (2)(B), and replacing provision re evaluation of use of strategic and performance-based incentive funding with reference to Sec. 10a-11c in Subdiv. (3), amended Subsec. (c) by adding new Subdiv. (8) re developing policies to promote Transfer and Articulation program and Guaranteed Admission program, and redesignating existing Subdivs. (8) and (9) as Subdivs. (9) and (10), amended Subsec. (f) by replacing “2016” with “2018” and replacing provision re establishing or consulting with working groups, commissions or task forces with provision re establishment of and appointments to two standing subcommittees and any working groups, adding Subdivs. (1) and (2) re focus of standing subcommittee, added Subsec. (g) re appointment of advisory committees, added Subsec. (h) re commission review of goals and plans, and made technical and conforming changes throughout, effective January 1, 2018; P.A. 18-103 replaced “director” with “executive director” in Subsec. (a)(2)(F), effective July 1, 2018; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (f)(1) by deleting reference to Higher Education Coordinating Council, effective June 23, 2021; P.A. 22-123 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by changing “private occupational school” to “private career school”, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 23-204 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by replacing “vice president” with “provost”, changing appointing authority from president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges to president pro tempore of the Senate for large independent institutions of higher education in Subpara. (D) and to the speaker of the House of Representatives for small independent institutions of higher education in Subpara. (E) and changing appointing authority from Education Commissioner to executive director of the Office of Higher Education for private career school representatives in Subparas. (F) and (J), amended Subsec. (a)(2) by replacing the president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Institutions of Higher Education with a representative from an association of independent colleges, appointed by the Governor, in Subpara. (B) and adding the Chief Workforce Officer in Subpara. (I), amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding “voting” re appointment of a chairperson, amended Subsec. (b) by requiring revision and update of the 2015 plan, assessment of progress for goals established in 2015 and establishment of new goals for 2025 and 2030 and adding “to accomplish state goals” in Subdiv. (3)(C), amended Subsec. (c) by changing “developing” to “updating”, removing reference to plan developed pursuant to Sec. 10a-11, adding “first generation” to Subdiv. (2), changing “implementing mandatory college preparatory curricula” to “expanding dual credit and career pathway opportunities” in Subdiv. (3), replacing reference to workforce retraining through bridge programs with reference to expansion of work-based learning and retraining opportunities in Subdiv. (4), adding community organizations and expansion of college access for first-generation and underserved students in Subdiv. (5), changing “implementing” to “assessing and promoting” in Subdiv. (6), changing “Guaranteed Admission program” to “Connecticut Automatic Admissions program” in Subdiv. (8), adding underserved and first-generation students in Subdiv. (9) and adding Subdiv. (11) re development of policies to award credits for prior learning, amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “June 1, 2014” and “September 1, 2014” with “September 1, 2024” and “December 1, 2024”, respectively, and adding “2030” and amended Subsec. (e) by replacing “2016” with “2026”, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 24-22 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by replacing “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities” with “chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities” and by making a technical change, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 24-81 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing executive director of the Office of Higher Education with Commissioner of Higher Education, effective May 30, 2024; P.A. 24-125 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding Subpara. (Q) re addition of chairpersons and ranking members of higher education committee as voting members, amended Subsec. (a)(2) by deleting former Subpara. (G) re chairpersons and ranking members of the higher education committee as ex-officio nonvoting members and redesignating existing Subparas. (H) and (I) as Subparas. (G) and (H), amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding provisions re deadline of June 1, 2024, for appointments, appointees of president of the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives as cochairpersons, continued service until successor appointed and majority constitutes a quorum, deleting provisions re election of vice-chairperson, designating existing provisions re seeking advice and participation of any person as Subdiv. (4) and re administrative staff of commission as Subdiv. (5) and moving commission from within Office of Higher Education to being staffed by administrative staff of the higher education committee, amended Subsec. (b)(2) by replacing “2025 and 2030” with “2026 and 2030”, amended Subsec. (d) by replacing September 1, 2024, with September 1, 2025, replacing December 1, 2024, with December 1, 2025, and replacing “2025 and 2030” with “2026 and 2030”, amended Subsec. (e) by replacing January 1, 2026, with January 1, 2027, amended Subsec. (f) by removing a reference to a vice-chairperson and made technical changes throughout, effective June 5, 2024; P.A. 24-149 amended Subsec. (h) by deleting “Higher Education Innovation and Entrepreneurship Working Group and the” and reference to Sec. 32-39s and making technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-22 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by replacing reference to regional community-technical colleges with Connecticut State Community College and making a technical change, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-11e. Planning Commission for Higher Education Fund. The Office of Higher Education may solicit and accept for use any gift of money or property made by will or otherwise, and any grant of money, services or property from the federal government, the state or any political subdivision thereof or any private source for the purpose of administering the Planning Commission of Higher Education. Such funds shall be deposited in an account to be known as the “Planning Commission for Higher Education Fund”, which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account.

(P.A. 17-229, S. 3; P.A. 25-110, S. 29.)

History: P.A. 17-229 effective January 1, 2018; P.A. 25-110 deleted reference to General Fund and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-11l. Five-year capital plan for Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system and description of efforts to increase enrollment. On or before January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, a five-year capital plan for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system and a description of the efforts undertaken in the prior year to increase enrollment in such system.

(P.A. 25-174, S. 133.)

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Sec. 10a-19c. Nursing incentive program. (a) There is established a Connecticut nursing incentive program administered by the Board of Regents for Higher Education.

(b) The board shall provide financial assistance to up to four campuses of the Connecticut State Community College that enter into partnerships with hospitals, as defined in section 19a-490, or other health care institutions, as defined in said section 19a-490, to secure nonstate funding to increase the number of faculty members at such campuses that are qualified to teach or train students to become registered nurses.

(c) A campus of the Connecticut State Community College seeking such assistance shall submit to the Board of Regents for Higher Education its nursing faculty expansion plan, together with a commitment agreement signed by its hospital or health care institution partner or partners and information on the amount of nonstate funding secured by the partnership. Assistance provided by the board to a campus (1) may be provided for up to two years in accordance with this subsection, and (2) shall not exceed (A) seventy-five thousand dollars per year, or (B) the annual amount of nonstate funding secured by the partnership, whichever is less. In determining whether to provide assistance pursuant to this section for a second year, the board shall consider the success of the nursing faculty expansion plan, as measured by factors including, but not limited to, the number of persons teaching or providing training to nursing students pursuant to the nursing faculty expansion program and the number of students graduating from nursing programs.

(P.A. 04-253, S. 1; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 25-22, S. 33.)

History: P.A. 04-253 effective June 14, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Department of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical college with campus of the Connecticut State Community College in Subsecs. (b) and (c) and deleted Subsec. (d) re use of 2 per cent of appropriations for program administration for fiscal years ending June 30, 2005, and June 30, 2006, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-19m. Student loan reimbursement program. (a) On or before January 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Higher Education shall establish, within available appropriations, a program to reimburse certain persons for student loan payments. The Office of Higher Education may approve the participation of any person in the student loan reimbursement program who (1) (A) attended a public or independent institution of higher education in the state and graduated with a degree, (B) holds an occupational or professional license or certification issued pursuant to title 20, (C) is granted a hardship waiver by the commissioner, pursuant to a waiver application submitted by such person in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, or (D) was enrolled in the practical nurse education program at Stone Academy during the period commencing November 1, 2021, and ending February 28, 2023, and such person (i) did not complete such program, (ii) has not participated in a (I) teach-out, as defined in section 10a-22m, or (II) proctored comprehensive predictor examination administered by an institution of higher education identified by the Office of Higher Education, and (iii) submits evidence that (I) such person filed a closed school loan discharge application not later than six months prior to applying for the student loan reimbursement program, and (II) such person's student loan was not discharged as a result of such application; (2) is a resident of the state, as defined in section 12-701, and has been a resident of the state for not less than five years, as determined by the commissioner; (3) has (A) a federal adjusted gross income of not more than one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars and files a return under the federal income tax as an unmarried individual or a married individual filing separately, or (B) a federal adjusted gross income of not more than one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars and files a return under the federal income tax as a head of household, a married individual filing jointly or a surviving spouse, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time; and (4) has a student loan.

(b) Persons who qualify under subsection (a) of this section may apply to the Office of Higher Education to participate in the student loan reimbursement program at such time and in such manner as the commissioner of said office prescribes. The commissioner shall post on said office's Internet web site the (1) qualifications for a hardship waiver described in subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of said subsection, and (2) forms required to apply for the student loan reimbursement program and a hardship waiver. The application for the student loan reimbursement program shall include, but not be limited to, an option for a person to disclose such person's demographic information.

(c) (1) The Commissioner of Higher Education shall award grants to persons approved to participate in the student loan reimbursement program on a first-come, first-served basis, provided such person meets the requirements of this subsection.

(2) (A) Each participant in the program shall complete not less than fifty volunteer hours for each year of participation in the student loan reimbursement program. Volunteer hours shall be completed by volunteering for (i) a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, (ii) a municipal government in the state, or (iii) the armed forces of the United States. Volunteer hours shall be unpaid, except hours for military service may be paid, and volunteer hours may be applied for two years after completing such hours. For purposes of this section, “volunteer hours” shall include, but need not be limited to, (I) with respect to nonprofit organizations, service on the board of directors of a nonprofit organization or volunteering for a religious organization, (II) volunteering as a firefighter or emergency medical services personnel, as defined in section 19a-175, for a nonprofit organization or a municipal government, (III) military service, and (IV) hours of unpaid work completed as a student for any certificate or degree program that requires the completion of such hours as a part of such program. A participant may combine the volunteer hours for one or more organizations to fulfill the requirement of this subdivision.

(B) The Commissioner of Higher Education shall grant a hardship waiver for volunteer hours (i) for each participant who applies for such hardship waiver and has a medical condition or disability that prevents such participant from completing volunteer hours pursuant to the written determination of such participant's treating health care provider, and (ii) automatically for each participant who was approved for the program pursuant to subparagraph (D) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section.

(3) Each participant in the program shall annually submit to the Office of Higher Education, in the manner prescribed by the commissioner, (A) a statement from a student loan servicer that includes the amounts for the outstanding loan balance for such student loan and the total of the year-to-date payments made on such student loan, (B) a form documenting the number of volunteer hours completed by such participant that is (i) signed by such participant's supervisor or other employee of the nonprofit organization or municipal government for which such participant volunteered, and (ii) notarized, provided a participant may submit other documentation, as prescribed by the office, to show completion of military service or unpaid student work hours, and (C) for volunteer hours at a nonprofit organization, including, but not limited to, a religious organization, evidence of current certification from the Internal Revenue Service that such nonprofit organization is exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time.

(4) The Office of Higher Education shall reimburse each program participant who meets the requirements of this section for student loan payments paid by such participant during the preceding calendar year, but in an amount of not more than five thousand dollars, annually, provided no person shall participate in the student loan reimbursement program for more than four years or receive more than twenty thousand dollars in aggregate reimbursement for student loan payments.

(d) The Office of Higher Education may use up to two and one-half per cent of the funds appropriated for purposes of this section, annually, for program administration, promotion and recruitment activities.

(e) Not later than July 1, 2026, and each January and July thereafter, the Commissioner of Higher Education shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies on the operation and effectiveness of the program and any recommendations to expand the program.

(P.A. 23-204, S. 174; P.A. 24-81, S. 22, 91, 136; P.A. 25-174, S. 214.)

History: P.A. 23-204 effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 24-81 replaced references to executive director of the Office of Higher Education with Commissioner of Higher Education, effective May 30, 2024, and amended Subsec. (a) by including an associate degree in Subdiv. (1)(A), deleting former Subdiv. (1)(B) re person who leaves in good academic standing, redesignating existing Subdiv. (1)(C) as Subdiv. (1)(B), adding new Subdiv. (1)(C) re granting a hardship waiver, adding “as determined by the executive director” in Subdiv. (2) and making technical changes, amended Subsec. (b) by requiring posting of qualifications for a hardship waiver and application forms and allowing for inclusion of demographic information and amended Subsec. (c) by adding requirement for nonprofit organization be registered with Department of Consumer Protection or municipal government in Subdiv. (2) and replacing requirement to submit receipts of payment with Subparas. (A) and (B) re submission of student loan statements and documentation of volunteer hours, respectively, in Subdiv. (3), effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-174 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding Subpara. (D) re qualifications of a person enrolled in the practical nurse education program at Stone Academy, amended Subsec. (a)(3) by changing “Connecticut” to “federal”, amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical change, amended Subsec. (c)(2) by designating existing provisions as Subpara. (A), making technical changes, replacing reference to registration with Department of Consumer Protection with reference to exemption from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, adding Subpara. (A)(iii) re volunteer hours for the armed forces, redefining “volunteer hours” and adding Subpara. (B) re hardship waiver for volunteer hours, amended Subsec. (c)(3) by allowing other documentation for completion of military service or student work hours and adding Subpara. (C) re certification of exemption from taxation and amended Subsec. (c)(4) by adding “paid by such participant during the preceding calendar year, but in”, effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-20. (Formerly Sec. 10-327e). Jurisdiction over professional staffs of the state system of higher education. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute or special act to the contrary, the selection, appointment, assignment of duties, amount of compensation, sick leave, vacation, leaves of absence, termination of service, rank and status of the individual members of the respective professional staffs of the system of higher education shall be under the sole jurisdiction of the respective governing boards within available funds. Each constituent board shall annually submit to the Commissioner of Administrative Services a list of the positions which it has included within the professional staff.

(P.A. 77-573, S. 14, 30; 77-614, S. 67, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 82-218, S. 41, 46; P.A. 83-587, S. 16, 96; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 88-136, S. 18, 37; P.A. 89-260, S. 11, 41; P.A. 91-256, S. 47, 69; P.A. 11-48, S. 280; P.A. 25-22, S. 34.)

History: P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner of administrative services for personnel policy board; P.A. 82-218 reorganized system of higher education adding provisions re development of personnel guidelines for the central office staffs, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-327e transferred to Sec. 10a-20 in 1983; P.A. 83-587 substituted “Connecticut State University” for “state colleges”; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; P.A. 88-136 deleted obsolete requirement that the board of governors submit personnel guidelines to the general assembly no later than January 15, 1984; P.A. 89-260 substituted the board of trustees of the community-technical colleges for the boards of trustees of the regional community colleges and state technical colleges; P.A. 91-256 made a technical change; P.A. 11-48 deleted provisions re development of personnel guidelines and establishment of compensation and classification schedules, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to board of trustees with governing boards, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-20a. Endowed Chair Investment Fund. (a) The Office of Higher Education may establish and administer a fund to be known as the Endowed Chair Investment Fund. Within the limits of funds available, the office may approve an application, submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, for the establishment of an endowed chair and deposit state funds for such endowed chair to an account within said fund in an amount not less than five hundred thousand dollars.

(b) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut and the Board of Regents for Higher Education may submit an application for the establishment of an endowed chair to be supported by a grant of not less than five hundred thousand and not more than one million dollars from the Endowed Chair Investment Fund and a matching nonstate contribution. Applications for endowed chairs shall be accepted on October first and April first in each year in which funds are available. To apply for the state grant, the board shall notify the office that it has raised a matching nonstate contribution and that it is eligible for a grant of state funds to establish an endowed chair in a specific academic discipline. The board shall submit for the office's review and approval evidence that the chair will be established in a center of excellence, as defined in subsection (b) of section 10a-25h.

(c) Following approval of an application for an endowed chair by the office, the governing board of the institution at which such endowed chair is established shall select candidates to fill such endowed chair and shall develop a budget for expenditures associated with such endowed chair.

(d) Any state funds deposited by the office to the Endowed Chair Investment Fund shall be invested by the State Treasurer, except a duly established foundation of The University of Connecticut or the Connecticut State University System, as appropriate, may request the office to transfer any state funds relating to an approved application for an endowed chair to such duly established foundation for the purpose of investing such state funds in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f) of this section.

(e) Any interest income earned on state funds invested by the State Treasurer pursuant to subsection (d) of this section shall be deposited to the Endowed Chair Investment Fund and, following establishment of an endowed chair under this section shall be allocated annually, upon request, to The University of Connecticut or to the Connecticut State University System, as appropriate, to support the endowed chair. Nonstate matching contributions shall be held by a duly established foundation of The University of Connecticut or the Connecticut State University System and the interest on such contributions shall be used to support the endowed chair.

(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, The University of Connecticut or the Connecticut State University System may request, and the office shall transfer, any state funds deposited in the Endowed Chair Investment Fund to a duly established foundation of The University of Connecticut or the Connecticut State University System, as appropriate, for an endowed chair established under this section. Such duly established foundation shall invest such state funds, and any interest income earned on such state funds shall be used to support the endowed chair. Such duly established foundation shall (1) account for such state funds separately from the nonstate matching contributions, (2) hold such state funds as a permanently restricted asset for the endowed chair, and (3) manage such state funds in accordance with the Connecticut Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA), pursuant to sections 45a-535 to 45a-535i, inclusive, and in a manner consistent with such foundation's investment and expenditure policies. No interest income earned from the state funds in any fiscal year shall be used to support the endowed chair when, at the close of the fiscal year, the market value of such state funds is less than the principal value. At the close of the fiscal year, such duly established foundation shall restore the original amount of state funds deposited in the Endowed Chair Investment Fund to a duly established foundation of The University of Connecticut or the Connecticut State University System, as appropriate, at the beginning of the next fiscal year.

(g) The boards shall submit annual reports, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the office and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education concerning the management of the endowed chair. For a duly established foundation administering an endowed chair in a manner described in subsection (e) of this section, such report shall include, but not be limited to, the expenditures of the endowed chair. For a duly established foundation administering an endowed chair in a manner described in subsection (f) of this section, such report shall include, but not be limited to, (1) expenditures, (2) the balance of state funds in each of the two previous fiscal years, (3) the balance of nonstate matching contributions in each of the two previous fiscal years, and (4) the amount of interest income earned for the state funds and nonstate matching contributions for the previous fiscal year.

(P.A. 85-565, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-38, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-256, S. 48, 69; P.A. 94-245, S. 6, 46; P.A. 97-293, S. 15, 26; P.A. 00-187, S. 24, 75; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 12-156, S. 20; P.A. 17-63, S. 7; P.A. 25-22, S. 35.)

History: P.A. 88-38 deleted requirement in Subsec. (b) that funds be invested through the short term investment fund; P.A. 91-256 made technical changes; P.A. 94-245 amended Subsec. (e) to allow for allocation of interest income “upon request” rather than “annually”; P.A. 97-293 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute “funds available” for “appropriations” and amended Subsec. (c) to change “a grant of five hundred thousand” to “a grant of not less than five hundred thousand and not more than seven hundred fifty thousand”, effective July 8, 1997; P.A. 00-187 increased the maximum amount in Subsec. (c) from $750,000 to $1,000,000, effective July 1, 2000; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-156 replaced references to Board of Regents for Higher Education with references to Office of Higher Education, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 17-63 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re approval of application, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing provision re investment of state funds by State Treasurer with provisions re application for establishment of endowed chair, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing provisions re application for establishment of endowed chair with provisions re application approval, selection of candidates to fill endowed chair and development of budget for expenditures, amended Subsec. (d) by replacing provisions re approval of state funding, selection of candidates to fill endowed chair and development of budget for expenditures with provisions re investment of state funds by State Treasurer, amended Subsec. (e) by adding provision re investment of state funds by State Treasurer and, adding “annually” re allocation, amended Subsec. (f) by replacing provision re annual reports concerning expenditures with provisions re transfer and investment of state funds, added Subsec. (g) re annual reports, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System with Board of Regents for Higher Education in Subsec. (b) and replaced reference to board of trustees with governing board or board, as applicable, in Subsecs. (b), (c) and (g), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-22c. (Formerly Sec. 10-7c). When certificate to operate shall not be authorized or may be denied. Requirements for issuance of certificate. Seizure of letter of credit. Notice of decision. (a) No certificate to operate a private career school shall be authorized by the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, if (1) any principal, officer, member or director of the applicant school has acted in a similar capacity for a private career school which has had its authorization revoked pursuant to section 10a-22f; (2) the applicant school does not have a net worth consisting of sufficient liquid assets or other evidence of fiscal soundness to operate for the period of time for which authorization is sought; (3) the applicant school or any of its agents engages in advertising, sales, collection, credit or other practices which are false, deceptive, misleading or unfair; (4) the applicant school has any policy which discourages or prohibits the filing of inquiries or complaints regarding the school's operation with the commissioner; (5) the applicant school fails to satisfactorily meet the criteria set forth in subsection (g) of section 10a-22b, or, on and after the effective date of regulations adopted pursuant to section 10a-22k, the criteria set forth in such regulations; (6) a private career school that has previously closed fails to follow the procedures for school closure under section 10a-22m; or (7) the applicant school does not have a director located at the school and at each of its branches in this state.

(b) The commissioner may deny a certificate of authorization if the person who owns or intends to operate a private career school has been convicted in this state, or any other state, of larceny in violation of section 53a-122 or 53a-123; identity theft in violation of section 53a-129b or 53a-129c; forgery in violation of section 53a-138 or 53a-139; or has a criminal record in this state, or any other state, that the commissioner reasonably believes renders the person unsuitable to own and operate a private career school. A refusal of a certificate of authorization under this subsection shall be made in accordance with the provisions of sections 46a-79 to 46a-81, inclusive.

(c) No certificate to operate a private career school shall be issued by the commissioner pursuant to section 10a-22d until such private career school seeking authorization files with the commissioner certificates indicating that the buildings and premises for such school meet all applicable state and local fire and zoning requirements. Such certificates shall be attested to by the fire marshal and zoning enforcement officer within the municipality in which such school is located.

(d) No certificate to operate a new private career school shall be issued by the commissioner pursuant to section 10a-22d until such private career school seeking authorization files with the commissioner an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a bank with its main office or branch located within this state in the penal amount of forty thousand dollars guaranteeing the payments required of the school to the private career school student protection account in accordance with the provisions of section 10a-22u, except that, any letter of credit issued on and after the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to section 10a-22k, shall be in a penal amount specified in such regulations. The letter of credit shall be payable to the private career school student protection account in the event that such school fails to make payments to the account as provided in subsection (a) of section 10a-22u or in the event the state takes action to reimburse the account for a tuition refund paid to a student pursuant to the provisions of section 10a-22v, provided the amount of the letter of credit to be paid into the private career school student protection account shall not exceed the amounts owed to the account. In the event a private career school fails to close in accordance with the provisions of section 10a-22m, the commissioner may seize the letter of credit, which shall be made payable to the private career school protection account.

(e) No certificate to operate a private career school shall be renewed by the commissioner pursuant to section 10a-22d if such private career school seeking authorization has not enrolled any students continually during the previous two calendar years. Upon the expiration of such private career school's authorization, such private career school shall follow the procedures for school closure set forth in section 10a-22m.

(f) The commissioner shall notify the applicant private career school, by certified mail, return receipt requested of the decision to grant or deny a certificate of authorization not later than sixty days after receiving the written report of the evaluation team appointed pursuant to subsection (e) of section 10a-22b.

(P.A. 79-380, S. 3; P.A. 83-150, S. 1, 4; 83-194, S. 1, 2; 83-501, S. 3, 12; P.A. 93-294, S. 3, 17; P.A. 05-60, S. 1; P.A. 06-150, S. 3; P.A. 09-99, S. 2; P.A. 12-156, S. 24; P.A. 16-155, S. 6; P.A. 22-123, S. 13; P.A. 24-81, S. 139; P.A. 25-99, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 83-194 added Subsec. (c) requiring new private occupational schools to file an irrevocable letter of credit in the penal amount of $10,000 (Revisor's note: The name “Default Assurance Fund” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Private Occupational School Student Protection Fund” by authority of P.A. 83-150); P.A. 83-501 amended Subsec. (a) adding provision that authorization to operate will be withheld if school has any policy which discourages or prohibits the filing of inquiries or complaints regarding the school's operation; P.A. 93-294 made changes necessitated by the transfer of authority for the authorization of the schools from the department of education to the department of higher education and amended Subsec. (c) to change the provision for the excusing of the letter of credit based on five years from the date of the letter of credit to five years from the date of initial approval and to remove obsolete language, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 10-7c transferred to Sec. 10a-22c in 1995; (Revisor's note: In 1997 references in Subsec. (c) to the “Private Occupational School Student Protection Fund” were replaced editorially by the Revisors with “private occupational school protection account” to conform section with Sec. 10a-22u); P.A. 05-60 amended Subsec. (c) to raise penal amount from $10,000 to $20,000 and to increase the dollar amount and time period required to excuse the letter of credit from $10,000 to $20,000 and from five to eight years, respectively, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-150 amended Subsec. (a) to include “member” in Subdiv. (1) and to add Subdivs. (5) and (6) re criteria for denial of certificate of authorization, added new Subsec. (b) re criteria for denial of certificate of authority based on criminal record, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d) and amended subsection to eliminate provision re release of letter of credit upon payment by school of $20,000 into private occupational school student protection account and to require verification of evidence of fiscal soundness prior to release, added Subsec. (e) re notification of decision to grant or deny certificate of authority and made conforming and technical changes throughout section; P.A. 09-99 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (7) re director located at school and each branch, amended Subsec. (d) by requiring letter of credit to be issued by an in-state bank, increasing amount of the letter of credit from $20,000 to $40,000 and extending from 8 to 12 the number of years after which the letter of credit is released, and made conforming changes, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 12-156 replaced references to commissioner with references to executive director, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 16-155 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re seizure of letter of credit when school fails to close in accordance with statutory provisions, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 22-123 amended Subsec. (a) to allow criteria for application approval to be set forth in regulations, amended Subsec. (d) to allow the penal amount of a letter of credit to be specified in regulations and to remove the requirement for release of a letter of credit after 12 years, made a conforming change in Subsec. (e) and changed “private occupational school” to “private career school” throughout, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 24-81 replaced references to executive director of the Office of Higher Education with Commissioner of Higher Education, effective May 30, 2024; P.A. 25-99 added new Subsec. (e) re prohibition on renewal of authorization if no enrolled students during previous 2 years and redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f), effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-22d. (Formerly Sec. 10-7d). Authorization: Conditions for renewal, fees, probation, extension. (a) After the initial year of approval and for the next three years of operation as a private career school, renewal of the certificate of authorization shall be required annually.

(b) Following the fourth year of continuous authorization, a renewal of the certificate of authorization, if granted, shall be for a period not to exceed five years and may be subject to an evaluation pursuant to subsection (e) of section 10a-22b, provided no private career school shall operate for more than five additional years from the date of any renewal without the completion of an evaluation pursuant to subsection (e) of section 10a-22b.

(c) Renewal of the certificate of authorization shall be granted only upon (1) payment of a nonrefundable renewal fee to the Office of Higher Education in the amount of two hundred dollars for the private career school and two hundred dollars for each branch of a private career school, except that, any renewal fees paid on and after the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to section 10a-22k, shall be in the amount specified in such regulations, (2) submission of any reports or audits, as prescribed by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, concerning the fiscal condition of the private career school or its continuing eligibility to participate in federal student financial aid programs, (3) the filing with the commissioner of a complete application for a renewed certificate of authorization not less than one hundred twenty days prior to the termination date of the most recent certificate of authorization, and (4) a determination that the private career school meets all the conditions of its recent authorization, including, but not limited to, at the discretion of the commissioner, evidence that such school is current on its financial obligations and has adequate financial resources to serve its current students, and the filing of documentation with the commissioner that the private career school has a passing financial ratio score as required by 34 CFR 668, as amended from time to time.

(d) If the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, determines, at any time during a school's authorization period, that such school is out of compliance with the conditions of authorization under sections 10a-22a to 10a-22o, inclusive, and any applicable regulations of Connecticut state agencies, the school may be placed on probation for a period not to exceed one year. If, after the period of one year of probationary status, the school remains out of compliance with the conditions of authorization, the commissioner may revoke such school's certificate of authorization to operate as a private career school pursuant to section 10a-22f. During the school's period of probation, the school shall post its probationary certificate of authorization in public view. The Office of Higher Education may publish the school's probationary certificate of authorization status.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10a-22a to 10a-22o, inclusive, the commissioner may authorize the extension of the most recent certificate of authorization for a period not to exceed ninety days for good cause shown, provided such extension shall not change the date of the original certificate's issuance or the date for each renewal.

(f) After the first year of authorization, each private career school shall pay a nonrefundable annual fee to the private career school student protection account in the amount of two hundred dollars for the private career school and two hundred dollars for each branch of a private career school, except that, any annual fee paid on and after the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to section 10a-22k, shall be in the amount specified in such regulations. The annual fee shall be due and payable for each year after the first year of authorization that the private career school and any branch of a private career school is authorized by the commissioner to offer career instruction. Such annual fee shall be in addition to any renewal fee assessed under this section.

(g) Each private career school shall keep financial records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. An annual financial statement detailing the financial status of the school shall be prepared by school management and reviewed or audited, or, for a nonaccredited school annually receiving less than fifty thousand dollars in tuition revenue, compiled, by a licensed certified public accountant or licensed public accountant in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A copy of such financial statement shall be filed with the commissioner on or before the last day of the fourth month following the end of the school's fiscal year, except in the case of a nationally accredited school recognized by the United States Department of Education, in which case such financial statement shall be due on or before the last day of the sixth month following the end of the school's fiscal year. Only audited financial statements shall be accepted from a nationally accredited school. Upon a nonaccredited school's written request, the commissioner may authorize, for good cause shown, a filing extension for a period not to exceed sixty days. No filing extensions shall be granted to a nationally accredited school.

(h) The failure of any private career school to submit an application to the Office of Higher Education for the renewal of a certificate of authorization on or before the date on which it is due may result in the loss of authorization under section 10a-22f. The commissioner of said office may deny the renewal of such certificate of authorization if there exists a failure to file such renewal application by the date on which it is due, or the end of any period of extension authorized pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.

(P.A. 79-380, S. 4; P.A. 83-501, S. 4, 12; P.A. 86-48, S. 1, 5 P.A. 88-360, S. 2, 63; P.A. 91-295, S. 2, 7; P.A. 93-294, S. 4, 17; P.A. 06-150, S. 4; P.A. 09-99, S. 3; P.A. 11-48, S. 235; P.A. 12-156, S. 56; P.A. 16-155, S. 3, 4; P.A. 17-139, S. 4; P.A. 21-45, S. 2, 3; P.A. 22-123, S. 14; P.A. 24-81, S. 140; P.A. 25-99, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 83-501 replaced former section which provided that after initial authorization, renewal was required every three years with provision that would require annual authorization for a period of three years after which renewal will be for a period of three years; P.A. 86-48 added Subsec. (a) and Subdiv. (1) designations and requirement for payment of additional fees for extension or branch schools in Subsec. (a), added Subsec. (a)(2) re time limit for filing of an application for a renewal certificate and added Subsec. (b) re extension of certificate; P.A. 88-360 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that an extension shall not change the date of the original certificate's issuance or the date for each renewal; P.A. 91-295 in Subsec. (a) deleted requirement for an evaluation at the time of each renewal and added provision that no school operate for more than three additional years from the date of any renewal without an evaluation; P.A. 93-294 made changes necessitated by the transfer of authority for the authorization of schools from the department of education to the department of higher education, amended Subsec. (a) to provide for a five-year renewal instead of a three-year renewal, to add Subdiv. (2) re federal reports and audits and renumbered the existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3) and added the exception clause on probationary authorization, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 10-7d transferred to Sec. 10a-22d in 1995; P.A. 06-150 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for annual renewal of authorization after initial year of operation and next three years and to designate parts of subsection as new Subsecs. (b) and (c), amended said Subsec. (c) to increase annual fee from $100 to $200, require additional fee of $200 for each branch school, require submission of all reports or audits re fiscal condition of school, delete provisions re failure to renew authorization and issuance of probationary authorization and add Subdiv. (4) re criteria for renewal of authorization, added Subsec. (d) re probation and revocation of certificate of authorization, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (e) and made conforming and technical changes throughout section; P.A. 09-99 amended Subsec. (a) by inserting “renewal of the certificate of”, made conforming changes in Subsec. (b), amended Subsec. (c) by rephrasing provisions re payment of fees for renewal of certificate of authorization in Subdiv. (1), inserting “as prescribed by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee” in Subdiv. (2) and requiring school to have passing financial ratio score, and added Subsec. (f) re payment of annual fee to student protection account and Subsec. (g) re maintenance of financial records, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) to replace references to Board of Governors of Higher Education and Department of Higher Education with references to Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education and references to Commissioner of Higher Education with references to executive director, effective July 1, 2011 (Revisor's note: In Subsecs. (e), (f) and (g), “commissioner” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “executive director” to conform with changes made by P.A. 11-48, S. 232); pursuant to P.A. 12-156, “Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Office of Higher Education” in Subsecs. (c) and (d), effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 16-155 amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision re evidence that school is current on rent or mortgage obligations and making technical changes, and amended Subsec. (g) by adding provision re nonaccredited school offering instruction in barbering or hairdressing and annually enrolling fewer than 10 students to file a compiled financial statement, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-139 amended Subsec. (g) by deleting “offering instruction in barbering or hairdressing and” re nonaccredited school, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 21-45 amended Subsec. (g) by replacing “enrolling fewer than ten students” with “receiving less than fifty thousand dollars in tuition revenue” and added Subsec. (h) re failure to submit application for renewal of certificate of authorization, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-123 amended Subsec. (b) to change references to Secs. 10a-22b(f) and 10a-22b(g) to Sec. 10a-22b(e), amended Subsec. (c) to allow renewal fees to be specified in regulations and to require schools to have adequate financial resources to serve current students, amended Subsec. (f) to allow the amount of annual fees to be specified in regulations and changed “private occupational school” to “private career school” throughout, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 24-81 replaced references to executive director of the Office of Higher Education with Commissioner of Higher Education, effective May 30, 2024; P.A. 25-99 changed 60 days to 90 days re certificate extension in Subsec. (e), effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-22q. (Formerly Sec. 10-7r). Private career school student benefit account. After each annual determination of the balance of the private career school student protection account required by section 10a-22w, if the balance of the account is more than two million five hundred thousand dollars, the State Treasurer shall transfer to a separate, nonlapsing account, to be known as the “private career school student benefit account”, three-fourths of the annually accrued interest of said student protection account.

(P.A. 85-607, S. 1; P.A. 86-312, S. 14, 21; P.A. 87-434, S. 4, 5; P.A. 90-198, S. 3, 5; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 127; P.A. 22-123, S. 25; P.A. 25-110, S. 30.)

History: P.A. 86-312 changed student benefit “fund” from a special fund to a separate nonlapsing “account” within the general fund; P.A. 87-434 provided that the treasurer transfer funds out of protection fund if the balance in the fund is more than 5% of the annual net tuition income rather than $1,000,000 or more and that no transfers shall cause the balance of the fund to fall below 5% of the annual net tuition income rather than $1,000,000; P.A. 90-198 provided that the treasurer transfer funds out of the protection fund if the balance in the fund is more than 6% of the annual net tuition income rather than 5% and that no transfers shall cause the balance of the fund to fall below 6% of the annual net tuition income rather than 5%; Sec. 10-7r transferred to Sec. 10a-22q in 1995 (Revisor's note: In 1995 the word “School” was added editorially by the Revisors after “Private Occupational” for consistency with Sec. 10a-22u which creates the fund and in 1997 references to “Private Occupational School Student Protection Fund” were replaced editorially by the Revisors with “private occupational school student protection account” to conform section with Sec. 10a-22u); May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 added a provision requiring transfer of a portion of the interest in the protection account if the balance in said account exceeds $2,500,000 and deleted former provisions re maintenance of a balance in the protection account equal to 6% of annual net tuition income, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 22-123 changed “private occupational school” to “private career school”, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 25-110 deleted reference to General Fund and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2025.

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PART Ia

HIGH TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

Sec. 10a-25h. Higher education centers of excellence. (a) In order to develop and further encourage excellence in public higher education, the governing boards of the constituent units of the state system of higher education, not including Charter Oak State College, are hereby authorized to establish and administer centers to be known as Connecticut higher education centers of excellence. Appropriations to these centers shall be used for the development or enhancement of essential support for academic, research, or public service centers of excellence which have gained or may gain regional and national prominence or for libraries or equipment for present enhancement to existing programs deemed to have potential for excellence with such enhancement.

(b) For the purposes of this section, a center of excellence is defined as a distinctive or potentially distinctive instructional, research or public service program at an institution of a constituent unit of the state system of higher education.

(c) Priority of funding for centers of excellence shall be for those programs which receive matching support, in the form of in-kind or actual funds, from business, industry or federal government sources.

(P.A. 84-368, S. 1, 5; P.A. 86-283, S. 1; P.A. 14-117, S. 9; P.A. 25-22, S. 36.)

History: Editorial substitution of the word “of” for the word “for” in board of governors' title was made to conform with provisions of P.A. 84-241, S. 2; P.A. 86-283 substituted the boards of trustees of the constituent units for the board of governors of higher education and substituted centers of excellence for fund for excellence in Subsec. (a); P.A. 14-117 amended Subsec. (a) to change “the Board for State Academic Awards” to “Charter Oak State College”, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to boards of trustees with governing boards in Subsec. (a), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-25j. Identification of centers of excellence; evaluation of program. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall, in consultation with representatives of the governing board of the constituent units, including faculty, develop guidelines for identifying centers of excellence. Initial proposals for funding centers of excellence shall originate within the constituent units, from faculty, staff or administration. The proposals shall be reviewed and approved by the governing board of the constituent unit to ensure that they conform to institutional priorities. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall select a committee, including faculty and staff representatives from constituent units, to review proposals and make recommendations to the board. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall: (1) Consider and select proposals; (2) request as part of its consolidated budget, pursuant to section 10a-6, appropriations to support centers of excellence recommended for funding pursuant to this section; and (3) provide for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the centers of excellence in meeting the goals established in subsection (a) of section 10a-25h.

(P.A. 84-368, S. 3, 5; P.A. 86-283, S. 3; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 25-22, S. 37.)

History: Editorial addition of the phrase “of higher education” in references to board of governors was made to conform with provisions of P.A. 84-241, S. 2; P.A. 86-283 substituted the requirement that the board of governors of higher education contract with the constituent units with the requirement that it request appropriations to support centers of excellence and substituted “centers of” for “fund for” excellence; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to board of trustees with governing board, effective June 9, 2025.

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PART II

TUITION CHARGES

Sec. 10a-26. (Formerly Sec. 10-329b). Status of students for purposes of tuition charges. (a) For the purposes of this section, sections 10a-77, 10a-99 and 10a-105, and this part: (1) A “full-time student” means a student who has been registered and who has been accepted for matriculation at a constituent unit of the state system of higher education in a course of study leading to an associate, bachelor or advanced degree or whose course of instruction or credit hour load indicates pursuit toward a degree; (2) “tuition” means a direct charge for institutional programs, which is clearly delineated from any other fees.

(b) In order to defray part of the cost of the higher education institutional programs at the constituent units of the state system of higher education, tuition shall be charged as provided in sections 10a-77, 10a-99 and 10a-105 for each full-time student or shall be prorated in the case of a student carrying less than seventy-five per cent of the credit hours defined as a full-time load by the institution. Any person enrolled in and paying extension fees for a course in an educational extension program, including for a course in a summer or winter school session or intersession, shall not be charged tuition for such course.

(c) Fees charged for educational extension programs, including for summer or winter school sessions or intersessions, under sections 10a-77, 10a-99 and 10a-105 shall not be deemed to be tuition within the meaning of this section.

(1969, P.A. 812, S. 7–11; June, 1971, P.A. 5, S. 126; P.A. 73-474, S. 8, 9; P.A. 74-120; P.A. 81-468, S. 1, 11; P.A. 82-373, S. 2, 4; P.A. 84-365, S. 1, 12; P.A. 91-256, S. 12, 69; P.A. 92-126, S. 36, 48; P.A. 25-95, S. 9.)

History: 1971 act amended Subsec. (a) to extend applicability to Secs. 10-38h, 10-108c, 10-116 and 10-119a, to redefine “out-of-state student” in terms of legal address at time of application rather than at time of acceptance or registration and to clarify effect of established status of student, amended Subsec. (b) to substitute “tuition … as provided in sections 10-38h, 10-108c, 10-116 and 10-119a” for specific sum of $150 per semester, to delete references to “out-of-state” students and to replace “exempt from the payment of tuition under this section” with “charged the same tuition as is payable by a resident of this state”, amended Subsec. (c) to change beginning date for tuition charge from fall semester of 1970-71 college year to semester beginning in January, 1972, and to delete reference to tuition being in addition to fees or differential rates charged during 1969-70 college year and deleted Subsec. (e) re refunds of tuition; P.A. 73-474 amended Subsec. (a) to delete definitions of “constituent unit of the state system of higher education” and “out-of-state student” and to delete provision re status enacted in 1971; P.A. 74-120 amended Subsec. (b) to exempt persons paying extension fees from tuition charge; P.A. 81-468 established tuition funds for The University of Connecticut and The University of Connecticut Health Center, which funds are exempt from requirement that funds received for tuition be deposited to resources of general fund, effective July 1, 1981, and replaced reference to “instructional programs” with reference to “institutional programs”; P.A. 82-373 deleted provision in Subsec. (b) setting tuition for residents of other New England states at rate paid by Connecticut residents under New England Board of Higher Education Compact; Sec. 10-329b transferred to Sec. 10a-26 in 1983; P.A. 84-365 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) deleting provision re deposit of amounts charged for tuition in general fund; P.A. 91-256 deleted obsolete Subsec. (c) relettered Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (c) and made technical changes; P.A. 92-126 removed references to repealed Sec. 10a-83; P.A. 25-95 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “or a summer session” with “including for a course in a summer or winter school session or intersession” and making technical changes and amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “and for summer school sessions” with “including for summer or winter school sessions or intersessions” and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2025.

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PART III

ACADEMIC DEGREES

Sec. 10a-34. (Formerly Sec. 10-330). Authorization of programs of higher learning or institutions of higher education. Authority to confer degrees. Review of requests and applications. Appeal of denials. (a) For the purposes of this section, (1) “program of higher learning” means any course of instruction for which it is stated or implied that college or university-level credit may be given or may be received by transfer, including any course offered by dual enrollment; (2) “degree” means any letters or words, diploma, certificate or other symbol or document which signifies satisfactory completion of the requirements of a program of higher learning; (3) “institution of higher education” means any person, school, board, association, limited liability company or corporation which is authorized to offer one or more programs of higher learning leading to one or more degrees; (4) “authorization” means the approval by the Office of Higher Education to operate or continue operating a program of higher learning or institution of higher education for subsequent periods, and in such periods to confer specified degrees; (5) “program modification” means (A) a change in a program of higher learning that does not clearly qualify as a new program of higher learning or a nonsubstantive change, including, but not limited to, a new program of higher learning consisting primarily of course work for a previously approved program of higher learning, (B) an approved program of higher learning to be offered at an off-campus location, (C) a change in the title of a degree, or (D) a change in the title of a program of higher learning; (6) “nonsubstantive change” means (A) a new undergraduate certificate program, within an existing program of higher learning, of not more than thirty semester credit hours that falls under an approved program of higher learning, (B) a new baccalaureate minor of not more than eighteen semester credit hours, (C) a new undergraduate option or certificate program of not more than fifteen semester credit hours, or (D) a new graduate option or certificate program of not more than twelve semester credit hours; and (7) “change of ownership” means a transaction involving an institution of higher education that results in a change of control of such institution, including, but not limited to, a (A) sale of such institution, (B) transfer of the controlling interest of stock of such institution or a parent corporation of such institution, (C) merger of two or more institutions of higher education, (D) division of such institution into two or more institutions of higher education, (E) transfer of liabilities of such institution to a parent corporation of such institution, (F) transfer of assets that comprise a substantial portion of the educational assets of such institution, unless the transfer consists exclusively of granting a security interest in such assets, or (G) change in the status of such institution as a public, nonprofit or for-profit institution of higher education.

(b) The Office of Higher Education shall establish regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, concerning the requirements for authorization, administration, finance, faculty, curricula, library, student admission and graduation, plant and equipment, records, catalogs, program announcements and any other criteria pertinent thereto, as well as the periods for which authorization may be granted, and the costs and procedures of evaluations as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (i) of this section.

(c) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall confer any degree unless authorized by act of the General Assembly. No application for authority to confer any such degree shall be approved by the General Assembly or any committee thereof, nor shall any such authority be included in any charter of incorporation until such application has been evaluated and approved by the Office of Higher Education in accordance with regulations established by the Office of Higher Education.

(d) The Office of Higher Education shall review all requests and applications for program modifications, nonsubstantive changes, authorizations and change of ownership. The office shall review each application in consideration of the academic standards set forth in the regulations for authorization adopted by said office in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-34e, any application that is determined by the office to be for (1) a program modification that meets all such academic standards, (2) a nonsubstantive change, or (3) authorization shall be deemed approved, and the office shall notify the institution of such approval, not later than forty-five days from the date the office receives such application without requiring any further action from the applicant.

(e) If the Commissioner of Higher Education, or the commissioner's designee, determines that further review of an application is needed due at least in part to the applicant offering instruction in a new program of higher learning or new degree level or the financial condition of the institution of higher education is determined to be at risk of imminent closure as a result of a financial screening conducted pursuant to the provisions of section 10a-34h, then the commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall conduct a focused or on-site review. Such applicant shall have an opportunity to state any objection regarding any individual selected to review an application on behalf of the commissioner. For purposes of this subsection and subsection (f) of this section, “focused review” means a review by an out-of-state curriculum expert; and “on-site review” means a full team evaluation by the office at the institution of higher education.

(f) The Commissioner of Higher Education, or the commissioner's designee, may require (1) a focused or on-site review of any program application in a field requiring a license to practice in Connecticut, and (2) evidence that a program application in a field requiring a license to practice in Connecticut meets the state or federal licensing requirements for such license.

(g) Any application for authorization of a new institution in this state shall be subject to an on-site review upon a determination by the Office of Higher Education that the application is complete and shall be reviewed at the institutional level for each program as described in subsection (b) of this section. Such process shall be completed not later than nine months from the date said office receives the application.

(h) If the Office of Higher Education denies an application for authorization of a program or institution of higher education, the applicant may appeal the denial not later than ten days from the date of denial. The office shall conduct a hearing in accordance with the requirements of chapter 54 to hear such appeal.

(i) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall operate a program of higher learning or an institution of higher education unless it has been authorized by the Office of Higher Education, nor shall it confer any degree unless it has been authorized in accordance with this section. The office shall accept accreditation recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education, in satisfaction of the requirements of this subsection unless the office finds cause not to rely upon such accreditation. If any institution of higher education provides evidence of programmatic accreditation, the office may consider such accreditation in satisfaction of the requirements of this subsection and deem the program at issue in the application for accreditation to be accredited in accordance with this section.

(j) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall use in any way the term “junior college” or “college” or “university” or use any other name, title, literature, catalogs, pamphlets or descriptive matter tending to designate that it is an institution of higher education, or that it may grant academic or professional degrees, unless the institution has been authorized by the office, nor shall it offer any program of higher learning without authorization of the Office of Higher Education.

(k) Authorization of any program or institution or authority to award degrees granted in accordance with law prior to July 1, 1965, shall continue in effect unless the Office of Higher Education determines that an institution is at risk of imminent closure as a result of a financial screening conducted pursuant to the provisions of section 10a-34h.

(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) to (j), inclusive, of this section and subject to the authority of the State Board of Education to regulate teacher education programs, an independent institution of higher education, as defined in section 10a-173, shall not require approval by the Office of Higher Education for any new programs of higher learning or any program modifications proposed by such institution, provided (1) the institution maintains eligibility to participate in financial aid programs governed by Title IV, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended from time to time, (2) the United States Department of Education has not determined that the institution has a financial responsibility score that is less than 1.5 for the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the score is available, and (3) the institution has been located in the state and accredited as a degree-granting institution in good standing for ten years or more by a regional accrediting association recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education and maintains such accreditation status. Each institution that is exempt from program approval by the Office of Higher Education under this subsection shall (A) on or before the last date of each semester, but not less frequently than annually, update the credentials database, established pursuant to the provisions of section 10a-35b, with any new programs of higher learning that were introduced or any existing programs of higher learning that were modified or discontinued during such semester, and (B) not later than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, file with the office (i) the institution's current program approval process and all actions of the governing board concerning approval of any new program of higher learning, and (ii) the institution's financial responsibility composite score, as determined by the United States Department of Education, for the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the score is available.

(February, 1965, P.A. 330, S. 13; 1967, P.A. 751, S. 12; 1969, P.A. 344; P.A. 73-408; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 92-126, S. 10, 48; P.A. 95-79, S. 20, 189; P.A. 07-90, S. 1; P.A. 11-48, S. 245; P.A. 12-156, S. 56; P.A. 13-118, S. 1; 13-247, S. 187; 13-261, S. 12; P.A. 16-36, S. 1; P.A. 17-56, S. 5; 17-191, S. 2; P.A. 18-33, S. 1; P.A. 19-26, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 265; P.A. 22-123, S. 3; P.A. 23-204, S. 96; P.A. 24-81, S. 155; P.A. 25-99, S. 4.)

History: 1967 act amended Subsec. (d) to allow commission to accept regional or national accreditation; Sec. 10-6 transferred to Sec. 10-330 in 1969; 1969 act prohibited operation of program or institution of higher learning “unless it is operated on a nonprofit basis …” in Subsec. (d); P.A. 73-408 deleted requirement that programs and institutions be operated on nonprofit basis; P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with board of higher education; P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-330 transferred to Sec. 10a-34 in 1983; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; P.A. 92-126 amended Subsec. (d) to require the board to accept national accreditation, where appropriate, unless the board finds cause not to rely upon such accreditation; P.A. 95-79 redefined “institution of higher learning” to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 07-90 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), deleted former Subsec. (g) re fine for violation and redesignated existing Subsec. (h) as Subsec. (g), effective January 1, 2008; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “Board of Governors of Higher Education” with “State Board of Education”, amended Subsec. (b) to replace “Board of Governors of Higher Education” with “Office of Financial and Academic Affairs”, amended Subsec. (c) to replace “Board of Governors of Higher Education” with “State Board of Education” and “the Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education”, and amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) to replace “Board of Governors of Higher Education” with “State Board of Education”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 12-156, “Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Office of Higher Education” in Subsecs. (b) and (c), effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-118 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (1) to (5) designators, replace references to State Board of Education with references to Office of Higher Education in Subdivs. (4) and (5), make technical changes in Subdivs. (3) and (5), and add Subdivs. (6) and (7) re definitions of “program modification” and “nonsubstantive change”, amended Subsec. (b) to replace provision re advisory council for accreditation with provisions re academic review commissions and make technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) to replace “State Board of Education” with “Office of Higher Education”, added new Subsec. (d) re review of all requests and applications for program modifications, nonsubstantive changes, licensure and accreditation, added new Subsec. (e) re further review of an application, added new Subsec. (f) re focused or on-site review of any program application in a health-related field, added new Subsec. (g) re on-site review of application for licensure of a new institution, added new Subsec. (h) re denial of an application for licensure or accreditation, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (i) and amended same to replace references to State Board of Education with references to Office of Higher Education, authorize Office of Higher Education to consider evidence of programmatic accreditation and accept national accreditation and make technical changes, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (j) and amended same to replace references to State Board of Education with references to Office of Higher Education and make technical changes, redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (k), and deleted former Subsec. (g) re temporary licensure, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (b) to change “twenty-five” to “thirty-five” re members, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-261 amended Subsec. (b) to add new Subdivs. (2) and (3) re appointments for the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate, redesignate existing Subdivs. (2) to (5) as Subdivs. (4) to (7) and make a technical change, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 16-36 added Subsec. (l) re new programs of higher learning and program modifications by independent institutions of higher education not subject to approval until July 1, 2018, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-56 amended Subsec. (l) to make technical changes, effective June 20, 2017; P.A. 17-191 amended Subsec. (f) by designating existing provision re focused or on-site review of program application as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to replace “health-related field where a license in Connecticut is required to practice in such field” with “field requiring a license to practice in Connecticut”, and adding Subdiv. (2) re evidence that program application requiring license meets state or federal licensing requirements, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 18-33 amended Subsec. (l) by replacing “new programs of higher learning and program modifications proposed” with “up to twelve new programs of higher learning in any academic year and any program modifications proposed”, replacing “2018” with “2020”, and substantially revising provision re exempt institutions to file with office including by adding new Subparas. (A) and (B), designating existing provisions as Subpara. (C) and redesignating existing Subparas. (A) to (C) as clauses (i) to (iii), effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-26 amended Subsec. (l) by deleting “until July 1, 2020,”, effective July 1, 2019; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (l) by deleting allowance for independent institutions of higher education to establish up to 12 new programs and any program modifications without approval of Office of Higher Education, adding allowance for any new programs or modifications without approval until June 30, 2023 and up to 15 new programs and any modifications without approval on and after July 1, 2023, adding “on and after July 1, 2023,” and changing 12 to 15 in Subpara. (A), adding “until June 30, 2024,” in Subpara. (C)(i), and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-123 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “program of higher learning” in Subdiv. (1), deleting former Subdiv. (4) re the definition for “license”, redesignating existing Subdivs. (5) to (7) as Subdivs. (4) to (6) and redefining and changing “accreditation” to “authorization” in new Subdiv. (4), amended Subsec. (b) by removing the requirement for academic review commissions to hear appeals and denials, amended Subsec. (e) by adding provisions re financial screening and making a technical change, amended Subsec. (h) to require appeal hearings in accordance with Ch. 54, amended Subsec. (i) to change “regional” to “recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education” and removing the requirement to accept national accreditation, amended Subsec. (k) by adding provisions re financial screening, and changed references to approval, licensed or accredited to “authorized” throughout, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 23-204 amended Subsec. (l) by deleting “until June 30, 2023, and for up to 15 new programs of higher learning in any academic year or any program modifications proposed by such institution on and after July 1, 2023”, deleting former Subdiv. (3)(A) to (3)(C)(i) re requirement to file application for new program approval for programs in excess of 15, program actions form and list of new and discontinued programs, respectively, adding new Subdiv. (3)(A) re annually updating credentials database and redesignating existing Subdivs. (3)(C)(ii) and (3)(C)(iii) as Subdivs. (3)(B)(i) and (3)(B)(ii), respectively, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 24-81 amended Subsecs. (e) and (f) by replacing executive director of the Office of Higher Education with Commissioner of Higher Education, effective May 30, 2024; P.A. 25-99 added Subsec. (a)(7) defining “change of ownership” and added reference to change of ownership in Subsec. (d), effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-35a. Authority over establishment of new academic programs. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10a-34 to 10a-35, inclusive, the Board of Regents for Higher Education may, in accordance with the provisions of said sections and the standards set forth in any regulations promulgated thereunder, review and approve recommendations for the establishment of new academic programs for the universities within the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut State Community College and Charter Oak State College.

(b) Notwithstanding sections 10a-34 to 10a-35, inclusive, the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut shall (1) have the authority, in accordance with the provisions of said sections and the standards set forth in any regulations promulgated thereunder, to review and approve recommendations for the establishment of new academic programs at the university, and (2) until June 30, 2024, report all new programs and program changes to the Office of Higher Education.

(P.A. 11-48, S. 253; 11-61, S. 108; P.A. 13-118, S. 6; P.A. 14-91, S. 1; 14-117, S. 6; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 267; P.A. 25-22, S. 38.)

History: P.A. 11-48 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-61 added “in this state” re public institutions of higher education, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-118 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to replace reference to public institutions of higher education with “the state colleges within the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical colleges and the Board for State Academic Awards” and make technical changes and added Subsec. (b) re authority of the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut to review and approve new academic programs and report new programs and program changes, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-91 amended Subsec. (a) to delete former Subdivs. (1) to (3) re authority over academic degrees, add provision re standards set forth in regulations and add new Subdivs. (1) and (2) re authority over establishment of new academic programs, and amended Subsec. (b)(1) to add provision re review and approval in accordance with cited sections and standards set forth in regulations and add “at the university”, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 14-117 amended Subsec. (a) to change “the Board for State Academic Awards” to “Charter Oak State College”, effective July 1, 2014 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a), a reference to “the Board for State Academic Awards” added by P.A. 14-91 was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Charter Oak State College” to conform with changes made by P.A. 14-117); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsecs. (a)(2) and (b)(2) by adding “until June 30, 2024,”, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 25-22 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to regional community-technical colleges with Connecticut State Community College, deleting Subdiv. (1) designator, deleting Subdiv. (2) re report of new programs and program changes to Office of Higher Education until June 30, 2024, and making technical changes, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-35b. Credential database. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Credential” means a documented award issued by an authorized body, including, but not limited to, a (A) degree or certificate awarded by an institution of higher education, private career school or provider of an alternate route to certification program approved by the State Board of Education for teachers, (B) certification awarded through an examination process designed to demonstrate acquisition of designated knowledge, skill and ability to perform a specific job, (C) license issued by a governmental agency which permits an individual to practice a specific occupation upon verification that such individual meets a predetermined list of qualifications, and (D) documented completion of an apprenticeship or job training program; and

(2) “Credential status type” means the official status of a credential which is either active, deprecated, probationary or superseded.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2023, the Commissioner of Higher Education, in consultation with the advisory council established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, shall create a database of credentials offered in the state for the purpose of explaining the skills and competencies earned through a credential in uniform terms and plain language. In creating the database, the commissioner shall utilize the minimum data policy of the New England Board of Higher Education's High Value Credentials for New England initiative, the uniform terms and descriptions of Credentials Engine's Credential Transparency Description Language and the uniform standards for comparing and linking credentials in Credential Engine's Credential Transparency Description Language-Achievement Standards Network. At a minimum, the database shall include the following information for each credential: (1) Credential status type, (2) the entity that owns or offers the credential, (3) the type of credential being offered, (4) a short description of the credential, (5) the name of the credential, (6) the Internet web site that provides information relating to the credential, (7) the language in which the credential is offered, (8) the estimated duration for completion, (9) the industry related to the credential which may include its code under the North American Industry Classification System, (10) the occupation related to the credential which may include its code under the standard occupational classification system of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor or under The Occupational Information Network, (11) the estimated cost for earning the credential, and (12) a listing of online or physical locations where the credential is offered.

(c) There is established an advisory council for the purpose of advising the Commissioner of Higher Education on the implementation of the database created pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The advisory council shall consist of (1) representatives from the Office of Workforce Strategy, Office of Higher Education, Office of Policy and Management, Labor Department, Department of Education, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, The University of Connecticut and independent institutions of higher education, and (2) the Chief Data Officer, or such officer's designee. The Chief Workforce Officer, the Chief Data Officer and the Commissioner of Higher Education, or their designees, shall be cochairpersons of the advisory council and shall schedule the meetings of the advisory council.

(d) Not later than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, each regional workforce development board, community action agency, as defined in section 17b-885, institution of higher education, private career school, provider of an alternate route to certification program approved by the State Board of Education and provider of a training program listed on the Labor Department's Eligible Training Provider List shall submit information, in the form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Higher Education, about any credential offered by such institution, school or provider for inclusion in the database created pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Such information shall include, but need not be limited to, the data described in subdivisions (1) to (12), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section, except an institution of higher education shall only be required to submit the data described in subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, (7), (8), (11) and (12) of subsection (b) of this section.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any state agency or department to submit credential information to the database created pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(f) The Labor Department may, in consultation with the advisory council established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, require any program sponsor of a preapprenticeship or apprenticeship program registered with the department to submit information about such program to the Office of Higher Education for inclusion in such database.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 264; P.A. 22-123, S. 31; P.A. 24-81, S. 163; P.A. 25-21, S. 7; 25-99, S. 9.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 effective July 1, 2021; this section was originally published as Sec. 10a-34h in the 2022 Supplement to the General Statutes; P.A. 22-123 changed “private occupational school” to “private career school” throughout, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 24-81 amended Subsecs. (b) to (d) by replacing references to executive director of the Office of Higher Education with Commissioner of Higher Education, effective May 30, 2024; P.A. 25-21 made a technical change in Subsec. (d), effective July 1, 2025; P.A. 25-99 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting allowance for institutions of higher education to omit data in Subsec. (b)(6), (9) and (10) and adding requirement for institutions of higher education to only report data in Subsec. (b)(1) to (5), (7), (8), (11) and (12), effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-35d. Concurrent enrollment courses accreditation. Reporting re concurrent and dual enrollment courses. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Concurrent enrollment course” means a postsecondary education course in any academic subject or career-oriented pathway delivered at a high school through which a high school student is simultaneously enrolled in an institution of higher education and is taught by a high school teacher approved by such institution of higher education; and

(2) “Dual enrollment course” means a postsecondary education course in any academic subject or career-oriented pathway delivered by an institution of higher education through which a high school student is simultaneously enrolled in such institution of higher education and is taught by a faculty member of such institution of higher education.

(b) Not later than July 1, 2028, each institution of higher education in the state that currently offers a concurrent enrollment course shall obtain accreditation for such course from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, unless the Department of Education approves an extension of time for an accreditation in writing.

(c) Any institution of higher education in the state that establishes a new concurrent enrollment course shall obtain accreditation for such course from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships not later than three years after establishing such course, unless the Department of Education approves an extension of time for an accreditation in writing.

(d) Not later than August 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, each institution of higher education that offers a dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment course shall report to the Department of Education, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education and in a manner that complies with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 USC 1232g, as amended from time to time, for each high school student who enrolled in a dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment course during the preceding academic year (1) such student's name, date of birth, student identification number, the name of the high school where such student was enrolled and the code assigned to such high school by the department, (2) for each dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment course in which such student was enrolled, the course name, the subject matter or academic department associated with the course, the course code assigned to such course by the department, the location where each course was provided and the academic term and year in which such student enrolled in such course, (3) the grade and credits earned by such student for each dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment course, (4) whether such course was a dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment course, and (5) any other information requested by the department.

(P.A. 25-99, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 25-99 effective July 1, 2025.

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PART V

MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 10a-44d. Connecticut Open Educational Resource Coordinating Council. Members. Duties. Reports. (a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Open educational resource” means a teaching, learning or research resource that is (A) offered freely to users in at least one form, and (B) either (i) in the public domain, or (ii) released under a creative commons attribution license or other open copyright license;

(2) “Creative commons attribution license” means a copyright license that allows for the free use, reuse, modification and distribution of a work product, provided the original author is credited;

(3) “Open copyright license” means any copyright license that is not a creative commons attribution license, but allows for the free use, reuse, modification and distribution of a work product, provided the original author is credited;

(4) “High-impact course” means a course of instruction for which open educational resources would make a significant positive financial impact on the students taking the course due to the number of students taking the course or the market value of the printed textbook or other educational resources required for such course;

(5) “Course utilizing open educational resources” means a course in which all required learning materials are an open educational resource; and

(6) “Chancellor” means the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.

(b) There is established the Connecticut Open Educational Resource Coordinating Council, which shall be part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. The chancellor shall appoint the members of the council, which shall consist of the following: (1) A state-wide coordinator, who shall collaborate with all institutions of higher education to promote open educational resources and administer grants; (2) one faculty member, one administrator and one staff member from The University of Connecticut; (3) one faculty member, one administrator and one staff member from the Connecticut State Community College; (4) one faculty member, one administrator and one staff member from Charter Oak State College; (5) one faculty member, one administrator and one staff member from the Connecticut State University System; (6) one faculty member, one administrator and one staff member from the independent institutions of higher education; and (7) one student from any public or independent institution of higher education in the state. All initial appointments to the council shall be made not later than September 1, 2019, and shall expire on August 30, 2022, regardless of when the initial appointment was made. Any member of the council may serve more than one term.

(c) The state-wide coordinator appointed by the chancellor shall serve as the chairperson of the council. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the council, which shall be held not later than October 1, 2019. The administrative staff of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities shall serve as administrative staff of the council. The state-wide coordinator may employ a part-time staff person as necessary to assist and support the Connecticut Open Educational Resource Coordinating Council.

(d) Appointed members of the council shall serve for three-year terms which shall commence on the date of appointment, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. Members shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the chancellor. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

(e) The council shall perform the following functions:

(1) Identify high-impact courses for which open educational resources will be developed, converted or adopted;

(2) Establish a program of competitive grants for faculty members of institutions of higher education in the state for the development, conversion or adoption of open educational resources for high-impact courses with any funds identified by the council and within available appropriations;

(3) Accept, review and approve competitive grant applications, provided any faculty member who is approved for a competitive grant shall license such open educational resources through a creative commons attribution license or other open copyright license;

(4) Administer a standardized review and approval process for the development, conversion or adoption of open educational resources;

(5) Promote strategies for the production, use and access of open educational resources; and

(6) Develop a model policy for adoption by institutions of higher education that establishes (A) definitions for terms related to open educational resources, (B) methods for data collection concerning the use and availability of open educational resources, and (C) ways to present online course catalogs to students to clearly identify each course utilizing open educational resources.

(f) The council shall meet quarterly, or as often as deemed necessary by a majority of the council.

(g) Not later than February 1, 2024, and biennially thereafter, the council shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education regarding (1) the number and percentage of courses utilizing open educational resources, (2) the degree to which institutions of higher education promote the use and access to open educational resources, (3) the amount of grants awarded by the council and the number of open educational resources developed by grant recipients, and (4) its recommendations for any amendments to the general statutes necessary to develop open educational resources.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 147; P.A. 21-132, S. 13; P.A. 23-151, S. 1; 23-204, S. 95; P.A. 24-22, S. 25; 24-63, S. 2; P.A. 25-22, S. 39.)

History: P.A. 19-117 effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 21-132 amended Subsec. (g) by changing “January 1, 2021” to “February 1, 2022” effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 23-151 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “open educational resource” in Subdiv. (1) and “creative commons attribution license” in Subdiv. (2), adding new Subdiv. (3) defining “open copyright license”, redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4) and adding Subdivs. (5) and (6) defining “course utilizing open educational resources” and “president”, respectively, replaced references to Executive Department in Subsec. (b) and Office of Higher Education in Subsec. (c) with Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and references to the executive director of the Office of Higher Education with president throughout, added provision in Subsec. (c) re employment of part-time staff, added Subsec. (e)(6) re development of a model policy and amended Subsec. (g) by changing “February 1, 2022” to “February 1, 2024”, “annually” to “biennially” and “high-impact courses for which open educational resources have been developed” to “courses utilizing open education resources” in Subdiv. (1), effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 23-204 made identical changes as P.A. 23-151, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 24-22 amended Subsecs. (a) to (d) by replacing references to president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities with chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 24-63 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical college system with Connecticut State Community College in Subsec. (b)(3), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-51. (Formerly Sec. 10-334h). Child care centers. (a) The governing board of any constituent unit of the state system of higher education may allocate funds from its General Fund appropriation for any expenses incurred in connection with the operation of a child care center utilized in the instructional program of such constituent unit.

(b) The governing board of any such constituent unit may authorize the charging of a fee or schedule of fees to any person using any child care center operated by such constituent unit.

(P.A. 75-444; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 92-126, S. 37, 48; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 13-240, S. 4; P.A. 25-22, S. 40.)

History: P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with board of higher education; P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-334h transferred to Sec. 10a-51 in 1983; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; P.A. 92-126 removed a reference in Subsec. (b) to repealed Sec. 10a-83; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-240 amended Subsec. (b) to delete provisions re approval by Board of Regents for Higher Education and deposit of fees in auxiliary services fund, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 25-22 replaced references to board of trustees with governing board, effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-51a. Quarterly report re constructing, improving or equipping child care center on or near college and university campuses. Not later than October 1, 2025, and quarterly thereafter, the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, in consultation with the Commissioner of Early Childhood, shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, describing the coordination of efforts between the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the Office of Early Childhood to construct, improve or equip child care centers on or near college and university campuses in the state.

(P.A. 25-174, S. 134.)

History: P.A. 25-174 effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-55i. Higher Education Consolidation Committee. (a) There is established a Higher Education Consolidation Committee which shall be convened by the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education or such chairpersons' designee, who shall be a member of such joint standing committee. The membership of the Higher Education Consolidation Committee shall consist of the higher education subcommittee on appropriations and the chairpersons, vice chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and appropriations. The Higher Education Consolidation Committee shall establish a meeting and public hearing schedule for purposes of receiving updates from (1) the Board of Regents for Higher Education on the progress of the consolidation of the state system of higher education pursuant to this section, section 4-9c, subsection (g) of section 5-160, section 5-199d, subsection (a) of section 7-323k, subsection (a) of section 7-608, subsection (a) of section 10-9, section 10-155d, subdivision (15) of section 10-183b, sections 10a-1a to 10a-1d, inclusive, 10a-3 and 10a-3a, 10a-8, 10a-10a to 10a-11a, inclusive, 10a-17d and 10a-22a, subsection (f) of section 10a-22b, subsections (c) and (d) of section 10a-22d, sections 10a-22h and 10a-22k, subsection (a) of section 10a-22n, sections 10a-22r, 10a-22s, 10a-22u, 10a-22v, 10a-22x and 10a-34 to 10a-35a, inclusive, subsection (a) of section 10a-48a, section 10a-72, subsections (c) and (f) of section 10a-77, subsection (a) of section 10a-89, subsection (c) of section 10a-99 and sections 10a-102, 10a-104, 10a-105, 10a-109e, 10a-143 and 10a-168a, and (2) the Board of Regents for Higher Education and The University of Connecticut on the program approval process for the constituent units. The Higher Education Consolidation Committee shall convene its first meeting on or before September 15, 2011, and meet not less than once every two months.

(b) The Office of Higher Education shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Office of Legislative Management providing that up to one hundred thousand dollars appropriated to said Office of Higher Education shall be used by the Higher Education Consolidation Committee to hire a consultant to assist said committee in fulfilling its duties.

(P.A. 11-48, S. 231; P.A. 12-156, S. 43; P.A. 13-247, S. 178, 186; 13-261, S. 11; 13-299, S. 8; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 196; P.A. 22-118, S. 191; 22-123, S. 41; P.A. 25-22, S. 41.)

History: P.A. 11-48 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-156 amended Subsec. (b) to replace reference to Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education with reference to Office of Higher Education and make a technical change, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (a) to delete references to Secs. 10a-37(e), 10a-38 to 10a-40, 10a-42, 10a-42g, 10a-163a, 10a-164a and 10a-170, and to move Subdiv. (1) designator and require report from the Board of Regents for Higher Education and The University of Connecticut on the program approval process, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-261 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (2) re program approval process and add Subdiv. (1) designator, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-299 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change and delete references to Secs. 4d-90(a) and 10a-55i, effective July 1, 2013; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Secs. 10a-6a(a) and 10a-6b, effective June 23, 2021; P.A. 22-118 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to Sec. 10-183b(14) with reference to Sec. 10-183b(15), effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 22-123 amended Subsec. (a) by removing a reference to Sec. 10a-22b(h), effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 25-22 deleted references to Secs. 10a-71 and 10a-88 in Subsec. (a), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-55r. Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments. Membership. Duties. (a) There is established a Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments, which shall be part of the Legislative Department. The council shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Develop a list of data points to be collected by institutions of higher education through student responses to sexual misconduct climate assessments. Such data points shall include, but not be limited to, data regarding (A) student awareness of institutional policies and procedures related to sexual assault, stalking and intimate partner violence, (B) if a student reported sexual assault, stalking or violence to an institution of higher education or law enforcement, the response to and results of such report, and (C) student perceptions of campus safety; (2) recommend one or more sexual misconduct climate assessments that collect the data points identified by the council; (3) recommend guidelines for the implementation of such assessments, which shall include, but need not be limited to, procedures for (A) achieving a high rate of response to such assessments to ensure statistically accurate survey results, (B) protecting the confidentiality of respondents to such assessments, and (C) receiving responses to such assessments from as broad and diverse a segment of the student population as possible; and (4) perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties described in this section.

(b) The council shall consist of the following members:

(1) The cochairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement;

(2) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who has expertise in the development and design of sexual misconduct climate assessments;

(3) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who has expertise in statistics, data analytics or econometrics related to higher education assessments;

(4) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of the Victim Rights Center of Connecticut;

(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a Title IX coordinator at an institution of higher education in the state;

(6) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee;

(7) The president of The University of Connecticut, or the president's designee;

(8) Two designated by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, one of whom represents the Connecticut State University System and one of whom represents the Connecticut State Community College;

(9) One designated by the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, who represents the independent institutions of higher education in the state;

(10) Three designated by the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, one of whom is a victim of sexual assault or intimate partner violence who resides in a rural community in the state, one of whom is a victim of sexual assault or intimate partner violence who resides in an urban community in the state and at least one of whom is a person who is black, indigenous or a person of color;

(11) One designated by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, who is a victim of intimate partner violence;

(12) One designated by True Colors, Inc., who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or a queer;

(13) The staff director of the Every Voice Coalition of Connecticut, or the staff director's designee; and

(14) Three students, designated by the Every Voice Coalition of Connecticut, one of whom is enrolled at a public institution of higher education, one of whom is enrolled at an independent institution of higher education and at least one of whom is a person who is black, indigenous or a person of color.

(c) Any member of the council appointed or designated under subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.

(d) All initial appointments to the council shall be made not later than sixty days after July 1, 2021, and shall terminate on June 30, 2026, regardless of when the initial appointment or designation was made. Any member of the council may serve more than one term.

(e) The cochairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education shall jointly select the chairperson of the council from among the members of the council. The chairperson of the council shall schedule the first meeting of the council, which shall be held not later than sixty days after July 1, 2021.

(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education shall serve as administrative staff of the council.

(g) Members of the council who are appointed or designated shall serve for four-year terms, which shall commence on the date of appointment, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section. Members shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed or designated.

(h) Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing or designating authority not later than thirty days after the vacancy occurs. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term.

(i) A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.

(j) The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

(k) The council shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the chairperson or a majority of the council. Any appointed or designated member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the council.

(l) Not later than January 1, 2022, and every two years thereafter, the council shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and to each institution of higher education in the state the (1) list of data points developed by the council, and (2) recommended sexual misconduct climate assessments and guidelines for the implementation of such assessments.

(P.A. 21-81, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 125; P.A. 25-22, S. 42.)

History: P.A. 21-81 effective July 1, 2021; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by adding “and ranking members” and Subsecs. (d) and (e) by substituting “July 1, 2021,” for “the effective date of this section”, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical college system with Connecticut State Community College in Subsec. (b)(8), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-55v. Go Back to Get Ahead program. (a) There is established a Go Back to Get Ahead program, administered by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, for the purpose of encouraging individuals who previously enrolled in an associate's or bachelor's degree program, but left such program prior to its completion or who received an associate's degree and seek to advance their educational attainment, to return to an institution of higher education to earn a degree.

(b) Subject to the guidelines established by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the Go Back to Get Ahead program shall provide, within available resources, an incentive of up to three free three-credit courses necessary for the completion of an associate's or bachelor's degree to any resident of this state who previously enrolled in an associate's or bachelor's degree program at any public or independent institution of higher education, who either (1) left such program prior to completing it, or (2) received an associate's degree and seeks to enroll in a bachelor's degree program, and who has not attended any institution of higher education for at least eighteen months as of June 30, 2014. Said program shall be limited to individuals who enroll, not later than September 30, 2016, in an associate's or bachelor's degree program at a state college within the Connecticut State University System, a former regional community-technical college or Charter Oak State College.

(P.A. 14-217, S. 176; P.A. 25-22, S. 43.)

History: P.A. 14-217 effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 25-22 added “former” in reference to regional community-technical college in Subsec. (b), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-55w. Information re transfer and articulation programs. (a) The Office of Higher Education shall publish on its Internet web site, links to the existing transfer and articulation programs developed between the Connecticut state colleges and universities and The University of Connecticut. Each institution within the jurisdiction of the constituent units shall include on its Internet web site a link to the Office of Higher Education's Internet web site and provide information regarding such transfer and articulation programs. Each institution of higher education in this state, receiving federal funding pursuant to the Higher Education Act of 1965, shall provide on its Internet web site a link to the institution's most recent institutional profile provided on the National Center for Education Statistic's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Internet web site.

(b) The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities shall provide any student who has been accepted for admission to the Connecticut State Community College with information about the existing transfer and articulation programs between said college and four-year public institutions of higher education.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and The University of Connecticut shall each submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education. Such report shall analyze the existing transfer and articulation programs utilized by students who attended a regional technical-community college and who transferred to a four-year public institution of higher education, including, but not limited to, (1) enrollment of transfer students, (2) the average number of credits accepted by the four-year public institution, and (3) graduation rates of transfer students.

(P.A. 17-229, S. 1; P.A. 18-103, S. 2; P.A. 25-22, S. 44.)

History: P.A. 17-229 effective January 1, 2018; P.A. 18-103 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 25-22 replaced references to regional community-technical colleges with Connecticut State Community College in Subsec. (b), effective June 9, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-56. Student athlete compensation through an endorsement contract, employment or revenue sharing agreement. Representation. Policies and limitations. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Student athlete” means a student who attends or has agreed to attend an institution of higher education and participates or has agreed to participate in an intercollegiate athletic program;

(2) “Intercollegiate athletic program” means a program at an institution of higher education for sports played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student athlete are established by a national association for the promotion or regulation of college athletics;

(3) “Compensation” means the receipt, whether directly or indirectly, of any cryptocurrency, money, goods, services, other item of value, in-kind contributions and any other form of payment or remuneration;

(4) “Endorsement contract” means a written agreement under which a student athlete is employed or receives compensation for the use by another party of such student athlete's person, name, image or likeness in the promotion of any product, service or event;

(5) “Sports agent” means a duly licensed person who negotiates or solicits a contract on behalf of a student athlete in accordance with the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, 15 USC 7801, et seq., as amended from time to time;

(6) “NCAA” has the same meaning as provided in section 10a-55k;

(7) “Institutional marks” means the name, logo, trademarks, mascot, unique colors, copyrights and other defining insignia of an institution of higher education;

(8) “Institution of higher education” means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 10a-55, and a for-profit institution of higher education licensed to operate in this state;

(9) “Official team activities” means all games, practices, exhibitions, scrimmages, team appearances, team photograph sessions, sports camps sponsored by the institution of higher education and other team-organized activities, including, but not limited to, individual photograph sessions, news media interviews and other related activities as specified by the institution of higher education;

(10) “Prohibited endorsements” means receipt of compensation by, or employment of, a student athlete for use of the student athlete's person, name, image or likeness in association with any product, category of companies, brands or types of endorsement contracts that the institution of higher education prohibits endorsing by policy; and

(11) “Revenue sharing agreement” means an agreement between an institution of higher education, or an entity acting on such institution's behalf, and a student athlete through which a student athlete shares in a portion of the revenue of such institution as compensation.

(b) (1) A student athlete at an institution of higher education in the state may earn compensation through an endorsement contract or employment in an activity that is unrelated to any intercollegiate athletic program and obtain the legal or professional representation of an attorney or sports agent through a written agreement, provided such student athlete complies with the policy or policies adopted by such student athlete's institution of higher education regarding student athlete endorsement contracts and employment activities.

(2) A student athlete at an institution of higher education in the state may earn compensation through an endorsement contract or a revenue sharing agreement directly with such institution of higher education, or an entity acting on behalf of such institution of higher education, provided such institution of higher education adopts one or more policies allowing endorsement contracts or revenue sharing agreements with student athletes and such student athlete complies with such policy or policies.

(c) Each institution of higher education shall adopt one or more policies regarding student athlete endorsement contracts, employment activities and the use of institutional marks. Such policy or policies shall include provisions for: (1) Requiring a student athlete to disclose and submit a copy to such student athlete's institution of higher education of each endorsement contract, written agreement for employment and representation agreement executed by the student athlete; (2) prohibiting a student athlete from entering into an agreement that conflicts with the provisions of any agreement to which the institution of higher education is a party, provided such institution shall disclose to the student athlete or the student athlete's attorney or sports agent the provisions of the agreement that are in conflict; (3) prohibiting a student athlete's performance of the endorsement contract or employment activity from interfering with any official team activities or academic obligations; and (4) identifying any prohibited endorsements.

(d) No provision of this section shall be construed to (1) require an institution of higher education or an athletic association or conference, including, but not limited to, the NCAA, to compensate a student athlete for use of such student's name, image or likeness or to enter into a revenue sharing agreement with a student athlete; (2) require a student athlete or any other person to compensate an institution of higher education or an athletic association or conference, including, but not limited to, the NCAA for a student athlete's endorsement contract or employment activity that is in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section; (3) qualify any scholarship or other financial aid that a student athlete receives from an institution of higher education as compensation; (4) qualify a student athlete as an employee of an institution of higher education; (5) require an institution of higher education to take any action in violation of the Discrimination Based on Sex and Blindness Act, 20 USC 1681, et seq., as amended from time to time; (6) prohibit a student athlete from engaging in an employment activity that entails coaching or performing a sport, provided such activity is not related to any intercollegiate athletic program; (7) prohibit an institution of higher education from using a student athlete's name, image or likeness in connection with official team activities; or (8) require an institution of higher education to allow a student athlete to use or consent to the use of any institutional marks.

(e) No athletic association or conference, including, but not limited to, the NCAA, on the basis of a student athlete's endorsement contract, employment activity, revenue sharing agreement or representation by an attorney or sports agent pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, shall (1) prohibit or prevent an institution of higher education or its intercollegiate athletic program from participating in intercollegiate sports, (2) restrict or revoke a student athlete's eligibility to participate in an intercollegiate athletic program, (3) prohibit or prevent a student athlete from earning compensation from such endorsement contract, employment activity or revenue sharing agreement, (4) prohibit or prevent a student athlete from representation by a duly licensed attorney or sports agent, or (5) take action on a complaint, open an investigation or take any adverse action against an institution of higher education, an entity acting on behalf of such institution, an employee of such institution or a student athlete for activity permitted under this section, including, but not limited to, direct compensation of a student athlete through an endorsement contract or a revenue sharing agreement.

(f) (1) No institution of higher education, on the basis of a student athlete's endorsement contract, employment activity or representation by an attorney or sports agent pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, shall (A) prohibit or prevent such student athlete from earning compensation from such endorsement contract or employment activity, (B) prohibit or prevent such student athlete from representation by a duly licensed attorney or sports agent, or (C) restrict or revoke such student athlete's eligibility for a scholarship or to participate in the intercollegiate athletic program at such institution.

(2) With respect to public institutions of higher education, records of the compensation received by a student athlete from an endorsement contract, employment activity or revenue sharing agreement entered into or engaged in pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall not be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, unless the public institution of higher education receives the written consent of the student athlete for each disclosure.

(g) No provision of subsections (d) and (f) of this section shall be construed to prevent an institution of higher education or an athletic association or conference, including, but not limited to, the NCAA, from prohibiting a student athlete's participation in an intercollegiate athletic program, revoking a student athlete's eligibility for a scholarship or taking any other punitive or legal action if such student athlete's endorsement contract, employment activity or representation by an attorney or sport agent does not comply with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.

(h) An institution of higher education, or an entity acting on behalf of such institution, may create, facilitate, negotiate, support, assist with or otherwise enable opportunities for a student athlete or a prospective student athlete to earn compensation for use of such student athlete's name, image or likeness or any other compensation related to such student athlete's participation in an intercollegiate athletic program.

(i) No institution of higher education shall use state funds appropriated to such institution for compensation of a student athlete pursuant to an endorsement contract or a revenue sharing agreement.

(P.A. 21-132, S. 14; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 146; P.A. 22-11, S. 1; P.A. 25-1, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 21-132 effective July 1, 2021; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsecs. (b) and (f)(3) by changing “September 1, 2021” to “January 1, 2022” and added Subsec. (h) re prohibition on receiving compensation as inducement to attend or enroll in an institution of higher education, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-11 amended Subsec. (c) by adding “and the use of institutional marks”, deleting former Subdiv. (3) re a prohibition on the use of institutional marks and redesignating existing Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (3) and (4) and amended Subsec. (d) by adding Subdiv. (8) re the use of institutional marks, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 25-1 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “student athlete” in Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (11) defining “revenue sharing agreement”, amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re student athlete compensation through endorsement contract or revenue sharing agreement with an institution of higher education, amended Subsec. (d) by adding reference to revenue sharing agreements in Subdiv. (1) and adding “or other financial aid” in Subdiv. (3), amended Subsec. (e) by adding reference to revenue sharing agreements and adding Subdiv. (5) re taking an action or investigating any activity permitted under section, amended Subsec. (f) by adding reference to revenue sharing agreements and deleting Subdiv. (3) re deadline to adopt policies to carry out purposes of section, amended Subsec. (h) by removing prohibition on student athlete compensation as an inducement to attend institution of higher education and adding provision allowing student athlete compensation related to participation in intercollegiate athletic program, added Subsec. (i) re use of state funds for student athlete compensation, and made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) to (f), effective March 3, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-56b. Student athlete revenue sharing disclosures by public institutions. Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, each public institution of higher education that enters into a revenue sharing agreement with a student athlete pursuant to section 10a-56 shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement a report stating the amount of total revenue that is used as compensation for student athletes and the total number of student athletes receiving such compensation.

(P.A. 25-1, S. 13.)

History: P.A. 25-1 effective March 3, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-57d. Certificate programs: Uniform naming convention. Tuition review. Report. (a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education, under the direction of its chief academic officer, shall establish a working group comprised of deans of continuing education programs, or their designees, at the Connecticut State Community College to review all of the noncredit sub-baccalaureate certificate programs offered by the Connecticut State Community College for purposes of designing a uniform naming convention for such programs. Not later than January 1, 2019, the working group shall design the uniform naming convention to enable students to distinguish between noncredit certificate programs with similar yet varied requirements within the same field of study. Any programs that vary shall be uniformly designated with indications of different, enhanced or more demanding requirements.

(b) Not later than February 1, 2019, and periodically thereafter as prescribed by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the working group shall review the tuition of uniformly named noncredit sub-baccalaureate certificate programs leading to the same qualifications to determine if any cost variations in the tuition and fees for such program are reasonable.

(c) Not later than March 1, 2019, the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education regarding the uniform naming convention designed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and the determination made from the tuition review required under subsection (b) of this section.

(P.A. 16-44, S. 6; P.A. 17-56, S. 3; P.A. 24-22, S. 27; P.A. 25-22, S. 45.)

History: P.A. 16-44 effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-56 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective June 20, 2017; P.A. 24-22 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities” with “chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-22 replaced references to regional community-technical college with Connecticut State Community college, effective June 9, 2025.

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(1) “Connecticut institution of higher education” means an institution of higher education that (A) conducts instructional activities at a physical location in the state, or (B) maintains an administrative office in the state; and

(2) “Out-of-state institution of higher education” means an institution of higher education that (A) is not a Connecticut institution of higher education, and (B) is authorized, licensed or accredited by another state.

(b) The Office of Higher Education shall enter into a multistate or regional reciprocity agreement for purposes of enabling the state and Connecticut institutions of higher education to participate in a nation-wide state authorization reciprocity agreement (1) establishing uniform standards for distance learning programs across states, and (2) eliminating the need for a state participating in the state authorization reciprocity agreement to assess the quality of a distance learning program offered by an out-of-state institution of higher education through the participating state's authorization, licensing and accreditation process. Notwithstanding the provisions of part III of this chapter and upon the Office of Higher Education entering into the multistate or regional reciprocity agreement, an out-of-state institution of higher education that participates in the state authorization reciprocity agreement may operate a distance learning program in the state in accordance with the uniform standards.

(c) Any Connecticut institution of higher education that seeks to participate in the nation-wide state authorization reciprocity agreement under subsection (b) of this section shall submit an application with the Office of Higher Education on a form prescribed by the office. The office shall approve or reject the institution's application in accordance with the terms of such agreement. Authorization by the office to participate in such agreement shall be valid for a period of one year and may be renewed by the office for additional one-year periods. The office shall establish a schedule of application and renewal fees for all Connecticut institutions of higher education that participate in such agreement. The fee schedule shall be graduated based on the number of full-time equivalent students at each Connecticut institution of higher education.

(d) Any out-of-state institution of higher education that does not participate in the nation-wide, state authorization reciprocity agreement and seeks to operate a distance learning program in the state shall submit an application to the Office of Higher Education on a form prescribed by the office. Each institution shall agree to abide by standards, similar to those in the nation-wide, state authorization reciprocity agreement and established by the office. The office shall approve or reject the institution's application in accordance with the standards established by the office. Authorization by the office to operate a distance learning program in the state shall be valid for a period of one year and may be renewed by the office for additional one-year periods. The office shall establish a schedule of application and renewal fees for all out-of-state institutions of higher education that do not participate in the nation-wide, state authorization reciprocity agreement and are approved by the office. The fee schedule shall be graduated based on the number of full-time equivalent students enrolled at each out-of-state institution of higher education.

(e) Nothing in subsection (b) of this section shall be construed to affect the authority of the Attorney General to enforce the provisions of chapter 735a or Title X of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, P.L. 111-203, as amended from time to time.

(P.A. 16-120, S. 1; P.A. 19-174, S. 1; P.A. 25-99, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 16-120 effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 19-174 added new Subsec. (c) re applications for out-of-state nonparticipating institutions and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d), effective January 1, 2020; P.A. 25-99 added new Subsec. (a) defining “Connecticut institution of higher education” and “Out-of-state institution of higher education”, redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) to (d) as Subsecs (b) to (e) and made conforming changes, effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-57g. Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network” or “P20 WIN” means a state integrated data system utilized for the purpose of matching and integrating data of state agencies and other organizations to inform policy and practice for education, workforce and supportive service efforts.

(2) “Participating agency” means the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, Department of Education, Labor Department, the Office of Early Childhood, The University of Connecticut, the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges and any entity that has executed an enterprise memorandum of understanding for participation in the P20 WIN and has been approved for participation pursuant to the terms of the enterprise memorandum of understanding.

(3) “Enterprise memorandum of understanding” means a foundational multiparty agreement that sets forth the details of how data is shared and the respective legal rights and responsibilities of each party within the data sharing process.

(b) There is established a Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network. The executive board of the P20 WIN, established pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, shall establish processes and structures governing the secure sharing of data across participating agencies.

(c) The Office of Policy and Management shall serve as the administrator for P20 WIN to support the executive board and data governing board, develop procedures for secure sharing and analysis of data and provide program management to support the continued operation and maintenance of P20 WIN, in accordance with the state data plan and data sharing efforts specified in sections 4-67n and 4-67p.

(d) The P20 WIN shall be governed by an executive board that shall provide oversight of such network. Said executive board shall include, but need not be limited to, the chief executive officer of each participating agency, or their respective designees, the Chief Workforce Officer, or the officer's designee, and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee. The duties of the executive board shall be to:

(1) Advance a vision for the P20 WIN including a prioritized research agenda with support from the Office of Policy and Management.

(2) Convene as needed to respond to issues from the data governing board.

(3) Identify and work to secure resources necessary to sustain P20 WIN funding.

(4) Support system implementation, maintenance and improvement by advocating for the P20 WIN in regard to policy, legislation and resources.

(5) Advocate and support the state's vision for the P20 WIN.

(6) Establish a data governing board to establish and implement policies related to cross-agency data management, including, but not limited to, data confidentiality and security in alignment with the vision for the P20 WIN and any applicable law. In establishing such policies, the data governing board shall consult with the Office of Policy and Management, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-67n and 4-67p and other applicable statutes and policies.

(e) The executive board established pursuant to this section may appoint advisory committees to make recommendations on data stewardship, data system expansion and processes, and such other areas that will advance the work of the P20 WIN.

(f) (1) Each regional workforce development board established under section 31-3k shall regularly submit data to the P20 WIN to report on the performance and outcomes achieved by the state's workforce system, including, but not limited to, workforce training and development programs that receive federal and state funds or grants. Not later than September 1, 2025, the Chief Workforce Officer shall, in consultation with the Labor Commissioner, the Chief Data Officer and the regional workforce development boards, establish standards for the submission of data by regional workforce development boards specifying the data to be submitted and the form and manner in which to submit such data.

(2) On or before January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Chief Workforce Officer may, in consultation with the Chief Data Officer and the Labor Commissioner, submit to the administrator of the P20 WIN a request for data and analysis of such data for the purposes of assessing performance and outcomes of the state's workforce system. Such data and analysis request shall be completed by the administrator of the P20 WIN not later than August 15, 2022, and annually thereafter.

(g) Not later than October 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, each constituent unit of the state system of higher education, as defined in section 10a-1, and such constituent unit's central or system office, if any, shall submit, in a manner that complies with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 USC 1232g, as amended from time to time, data to the P20 WIN to report on the outcomes of postsecondary education and workforce development programs operated by such constituent unit. Not later than September 1, 2025, the Chief Data Officer shall specify the form and manner in which to submit such data. Any report produced from such data shall be in aggregated form and, consistent with any other provision of state or federal law, shall not include any personally identifiable information of students or participants in such programs.

(P.A. 17-207, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 250; P.A. 25-119, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 17-207 effective July 11, 2017; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subdiv. (8) defining “enterprise memorandum of understanding”, redefining “participating agency” and “P20 WIN”, and deleting former Subdiv. (8) defining “P20 WIN Data Request Management Procedure”, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing certain agency members with provision re chief executive officer of each participating agency or respective designees and Chief Workforce Officer or officer's designee, replacing “Planning Commission for Higher Education” with “Office of Policy and Management” in Subdiv. (1) and replacing “enforce” with “implement” in Subdiv. (8), and added Subsec. (e) re data and analysis request from Chief Workforce Officer to assess the state's workforce system, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 25-119 renamed and redefined “Connecticut Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network” or “CP20” to “Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network” or “P20”, amended Subsec. (a) by deleting definitions for “data definitions”, “data dictionary”, “data elements”, and “meta-data”, redesignating existing Subdivs. (6) and (8) as Subdivs. (2) and (3), redefining “enterprise memorandum of understanding”, added new Subsec. (c) re Office of Policy and Management as administrator of P20 WIN, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (e) as Subsecs. (d), (e) and (f)(2), respectively, amended redesignated Subsec. (d) by deleting former Subdivs. (6) and (7) re fiscal responsibility and agreements with private entities as duties of the executive board and redesignating existing Subdiv. (8) as Subdiv. (6), added Subsecs. (f)(1) and (g) re requirement for regional workforce development board to submit data to P20 WIN and requirement for constituent unit to submit data to P20 WIN, effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-57h. Reporting to Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Each public institution of higher education and such institution's central or system office, if any, shall submit data to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System maintained by the United States Department of Education's National Center for Educational Statistics in accordance with 20 USC 1094(a)(17), as amended from time to time. As used in this section, “public institution of higher education” means the institutions of higher education that comprise the constituent units of the state system of higher education, as defined in section 10a-1.

(P.A. 25-119, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 25-119 effective July 1, 2025.

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Sec. 10a-57i. Development of a career pathway to assist police officers in obtaining higher education degrees. Report. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut and the Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall jointly develop a career pathway to assist police officers in obtaining higher education degrees. Such pathway shall include a schedule of credits that officers may receive at each constituent unit of higher education, as defined in section 10a-1, for the training such officers received in order to be certified, and maintain their certification, as police officers pursuant to section 7-294d. Such boards and council shall promote such pathway in order to encourage police officers to earn higher education degrees.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut and the Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall jointly submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. Such report shall include the pathway and schedule developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and a description of plans to promote such pathway.

(P.A. 25-174, S. 197.)

History: P.A. 25-174 effective June 30, 2025.

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ADMINISTRATION OF STATE SYSTEM

Table of Contents

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

PART Ia

HIGH TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

PART II

TUITION CHARGES

PART III

ACADEMIC DEGREES

PART V

MISCELLANEOUS

HIGH TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE