Governor Rell: $8 Million to Upgrade Technology at State’s 12 Community College Campuses

Hartford, Conn.,-(May 21, 2008)…Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that $8 million to fund a technology and telecommunications upgrade for Connecticut’s community and technical college system is expected to gain approval when the state Bond Commission meets May 30.

The funding is needed to pay for equipment in telecom closets, network wiring, switches, routers, servers, wireless hardware and software and related needs.

“The 12 Connecticut community colleges are not only an integral part of our state’s higher education system, they are also an essential engine of our economy,” Governor Rell said. “Business leaders all over the state partner with their community college neighbors to identify specific courses of study that generate the skilled workers we need. From nurses and medical technicians to machinists and environmental engineering, graduates of our community colleges play vital roles every day.

“We are committed to making smart investments in all facets of higher education in Connecticut,” the Governor said. “Even though the national economy is in a slide and the state must be judicious in its spending, we know that the return on wise investments at the University of Connecticut, the Connecticut State University campuses and our community-technical colleges will be rewarded. It is vitally important to bring the technology on these campuses up to 21st century standards.”

The 12 two-year schools that comprise the Connecticut community college system offer associate degrees, certificates of study and a range of career and personal skills. A core of general education courses is required in every degree program, making a community college education a combination of career training and liberal arts education.

The 12 Connecticut campuses are: Asnuntuck, Capital, Gateway, Housatonic, Manchester, Middlesex, Naugatuck Valley, Northwestern Connecticut, Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley, Three Rivers and Tunxis.