Students, faculty and staff members from the state’s colleges and universities protested today over budget cuts in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system and went to the Board of Regents meeting to make their opposition known.
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities President Mark Ojakian has said a tuition hike and budget cuts are both needed to deal with a big budget shortfall: $38 million next year, $55 million for the following year and $70 million the year after that.
Faculty, staff and students plan protested in a call for action and answers because they are unhappy about proposals, including one to consolidate community colleges to one centrally managed college with campuses statewide.
"What we really want is a board and a president that's going to fight for us, fight for the system as opposed to just considering it," John O'Connor, a CCSU professor, said.
"The faculty have expertise," Elena Tapia, an Eastern Professor & Connecticut State University AAUP president, said. "We should be involved from the very beginning on something that's going so drastically affect our lives."
Ojakian said the consolidation would save the system $28 million.
He also plans to consolidate administrative personnel to save $13 million.
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"When we're looking to cut another billion dollars out of the budget, I think they are forgetting that the legislature could cut us by another $50 or $60 million and then they could direct us to close colleges," Ojakian said. "I am trying to do everything I can (to) keep campus locations open."
Faculty members said they are outraged over the plans presented.
Ojakian said faculty members will be included in the planning teams that will help to develop a final plan.
