Faculty oppose Connecticut community college merger
News // Local
Linda Conner Lambeck
Nov. 21, 2017 Updated: Dec. 7, 2017 7:12 p.m.
1of10Norwalk Community College students at the campus Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, in Norwalk.Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
2of10Norwalk Community College students at the campus Thursday, Feb. 2, in Norwalk.Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
3of10Buy PhotoThurday's Norwalk Community College graduation ceremony, with the largest graduating class in NCC history, on May 17, 2012.Lindsay Niegelberg / Lindsay NiegelbergShow MoreShow Less
4of10Buy PhotoNorwalk Community College on Thursday, January 15, 2015, where Rep. Jim Himes and NCC President David Levinson spoke in support of President Barack Obama's proposal to make the first two years of community college free for qualifying students.Lindsay Perry / Lindsay PerryShow MoreShow Less
5of10(Arnold Gold-New Haven Register) Gateway Community College in New Haven photographed on 1/21/2015. Show MoreShow Less
6of10(Melanie Stengel/New Haven Register) Gateway graduates, Spenta Mehraban (L), and Adon Duncanson, take some selfies before commencement ceremonies at Woolsey Hall 5/22.Journal Register Co.Show MoreShow Less
7of10Buy PhotoA view of the new wing of Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, Conn., on Thursday Oct. 19, 2017.Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
8of10Buy PhotoHousatonic Community College's Commencement 2017 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., on Thursday May 25, 2017. With 612 graduates, this is the college's 3rd largest graduating class in its history.Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
9of10Mark Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. October 17, 2017Linda Conner LambeckShow MoreShow Less
10of10Buy PhotoBoard of Regents President Mark Ojakian meet with Hearst Connecticut Media editorial board on Thursday, May 4, 2017Cathy Zuraw / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
A plan to merge the state's 12 community colleges may actually put students last — not first as advertised — according to faculty from at least a half dozen of the impacted campuses.
"This plan harms our students," said Lois D. Aimé, Norwalk Community College Senate President and chair of the Community College Governance Assembly.
Aimé said community college faculty and staff across the state are in the process of voting on a letter she hopes will make the Board of Regents for Higher Education reject — or at least press the pause button — on the consolidation portions of the Students First proposal.
Student organizations across the campuses are also said to be voting on statements opposed to the merger.
System President Mark Ojakian announced a plan in October to merge the colleges into a single accredited body while keeping all 12 campuses.
The idea is to save money and make it easier for students to apply, transfer and leave with a degree, he said. If approved, it is expected to take up to two years to complete the merger.
Maribel La Luz, a spokesman for Ojakian, said she is aware there are letters that are circulating but has not received anything.
The Board of Regents is expected to vote on the plan at its Dec. 14 meeting.
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On Tuesday, as students were headed out for Thanksgiving break, the Housatonic Community College Senate met to discuss the letter expressing concern about the plan, said Eleanor Bloom, chair of the College Senate at Housatonic in Bridgeport.
Afterward, Bloom said the matter would be discussed further on Dec. 5.
"That is all I am prepared to state at this point," she said.
Norwalk Community College voted 30-0 last week, to object to the plan. In addition, Aimé said Capital Community College, Three Rivers, Gateway in New Haven and Tunxis have also voted thumbs down.
Aimé said while faculty understand the need to cut costs, it is unclear how a merger will save a promised $28 million in a system that serves about 53,000 students.
"The structure as outlined appears to do just the opposite," she said.
Relegating Norwalk Community College into a branch of Connecticut Community College, Aimé added, removes its ability to apply for grants based on individual institution population and needs. it also would be difficult to undo if it doesn't provide the benefits as advertised.
"The harm that would be caused to our students, our businesses and our communities as a whole would be a lasting testament to the unintended consequences of this proposal," according to a second statement Norwalk faculty agreed to send state officials.
There is also concern about identity and the ability to make decisions locally and respond to local business and community needs.
"Community is in our name for a reason," the letter states.
Faculty said they see some benefits to streamlining student admission and cutting down on administrations but say that can happen without consolidation.
They also worry about curriculum development, established reputations and continued foundation support to a large state institution rather than a local campus.
"Why would anyone be willing to trade a fully accredited, independent community college for a branch campus of a mega-statewide-institution," the letter states. "We cannot see how students benefit from moving decision-making from the people who work with them every day."
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Linda is a Bridgeport, Conn., native and University of Bridgeport graduate with a degree in journalism. She got her start covering education and other town news in Easton and Fairfield for the Fairfield Citizen News before coming to the Connecticut Post in 1985. (At the time it was still the Bridgeport Post and there was also a Bridgeport Telegram). She has covered Milford and Fairfield and, since 1996, education on a local, statewide and higher education level.