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2019 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 37 Working Together HCHE allows students to experience a broader range of learning By Cara McDonough At the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education, it's all about collaboration. With a roster of 12 members that include 10 institutions of higher education and two affiliate organizations, the consortium facilitates the sharing of college resources by allowing academic cross-registration and creating educational initiatives that promote career readiness. It also promotes both cultural and educational opportunities in the Hartford region, helping students to get to know the city better, and vice versa. "We are trying to increase the footprint of students in Hartford," said Sue Harris, director of marketing and communications at the organization. Programs like "Art After Dark" events for college students at the Wadsworth Museum, and college nights at Hartford's TheaterWorks and Hartford Stage are aimed at showing the 36,000 students that the collaborative represents the wealth of cultural, dining, and other attractions in downtown Hartford. Yes, it's about creating a meaningful, fun experience. But the impact can go deeper, Harris explained, showing students that the city is an excellent place to find work and plant roots post-college. And that's important to the consortium's overarching goal of helping students in its member educational organizations achieve success while attending college – and after. Each spring, the consortium holds a large Multi-Campus Career and Internship Fair, allowing local businesses to meet and recruit talented students who are available for full-time and part-time roles. Harris said that by acting as a resource on multiple levels, from culture to careers, the organization has become a "hub in the community." "Students are saying that they can't find jobs, but we know of these great opportunities," she said. "Meanwhile, employers are looking to fill roles and we are trying to find a solution to that pressure." "I think these events help us understand that employers and universities in the consortium are really interested in the same thing, which is making sure there is a good match between students' career goals and employers' needs for talent and their workforce," said Rhona Free, who chairs the consortium's board of directors and Hartford Consortium for Higher Education board members (shown above) celebrated the group's 47th anniversary in 2019. " " "We are trying to increase the footprint of students in Hartford." - Sue Harris, Director of Marketing and Communications, Hartford Consortium for Higher Education EDUCATION & RESEARCH [Photo | Steve Wang ]