Hartford Business Journal

22 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 11, 2024 Opinion & Commentary EDITOR'S TAKE UConn right to consider elimination of low-enrollment programs S ome of UConn's unionized professors have raised concerns about school admin- istrators' efforts to examine, and potentially eliminate, low-enrollment academic programs. While those worries may be under- standable, UConn is right to analyze the supply and demand for its majors to determine the best return on investment for both students and taxpayers. At a time when UConn is facing budget constraints, and the cost of higher education continues to rise, public universities should be held more accountable for how they spend money. We've already seen recent exam- ples of excess by the head of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, which has led to various calls, including from Gov. Ned Lamont, for independent audits of spending within the CSCU system. UConn, which is not part of the CSCU system, is slated to receive $328 million in state funding in the current fiscal year, but is still trying to close a $17.6 million deficit that the school says is being driven by "salary increases negotiated through collec- tive bargaining at the state level." UConn is projecting an even bigger deficit next fiscal year — $72.8 million — as one-time federal pandemic aid dries up. Lamont has warned that the state's public colleges will need to tighten their belts in the year ahead. Taking a critical look at enroll- ment trends across all majors and programs should be part of that effort. In fact, state lawmakers should mandate that UConn and other public universities submit annual reports that identify low-enrollment programs and the efforts being undertaken to improve or eliminate them. The reality is, UConn can't be every- thing to everyone, despite being the state's flagship university. Resources being used to support underutilized programs ought to be redirected elsewhere, particularly to in-demand fields in science, technology, engi- neering or math. UConn's evaluation process identi- fied 70 low-enrollment and low-com- pletion academic programs. Fewer than 100 students completed each of those programs over the last five years, according to the university. Programs on the assessment list range from women's gender and sexuality studies, to art history and Italian literary and cultural studies. During an Oct. 30 UConn Board of Trustees meeting, Chairman Daniel Toscano said only "a small fraction" of the low-enrollment programs face the possibility of actually being cut. He tried to put to rest concerns raised by the school's faculty union, which has argued, among other things, that the review process has been moving too quickly and without proper consideration, according to media reports. Toscano defended the school's evaluation process, noting that any significant changes to academic programs will be reviewed and debated by the Board of Trustees in open session — as they should. Most importantly, he said the university and its faculty "cannot be afraid at the prospect of change." "The world changes slowly over time, and universities need to do the same to try to stay ahead of the curve, not burying our heads in the sand and pretending that self-ex- amination is bad and that programs must exist in perpetuity," he said. Toscano is right — self-examination is not a bad thing. Our public institu- tions ought to do more of it. OTHER VOICES Action plan to re-engage CT's at-risk youth is needed now By Lisa Tepper Bates "Y oung People First." That's the title and focus of a newly released report by the 119K Commission — an initiative led by mayors of towns and cities across the state, and coordi- nated by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities — and it could not be more succinct or urgent. The comprehen- sive report outlines a clear path forward for Connecticut to effectively address — without delay — the ongoing crisis currently impacting tens of thousands of disconnected and at-risk youth all across our state, in communities large and small. A year ago, organizations — including United Way of Connecticut, Dalio Education and scores of community-based nonprofits that are on the front lines addressing the challenges facing these young people — implored the state legislature to take meaningful and productive steps to respond. Initial actions were taken, but there was little doubt, then and now, that much more needed to be done if progress was truly to be achieved and sustained. United Way of Connecticut proudly built a coalition of nonprofit organiza- tions whose voices have continued to not only amplify the challenges, but suggest solutions within our reach. We all share a bold commitment to our young people reflected in the 119K Commission report. Addressing the barriers to the success of these young people is unmistakenly vital for our communi- ties and economy, a fact also recog- nized by supportive business leaders in Connecticut. This crisis is widespread because economic hardship is widespread. Today, more than 564,000 ALICE (asset limited, income constrained and employed) households are struggling across every zip code in our state. The 119,000 young people identified in this report were likely raised in an ALICE family. Without support, they will likely raise their children in an ALICE family, too. Addressing this crisis with focus and urgency can break this generational cycle. It's very well understood that the more stability there is in the family, the better the odds are that a young person will have what they need to find their own path, address their own challenges, weather the difficult experiences of adolescence and make the most of their talents, skills and abilities. Too many families in our state are struggling financially, including at-risk and disconnected young people who are raising children of their own. The pressure is crushing when you're so worried about paying the bills, keeping a roof over your head, putting food on the table and keeping the lights on. Proven solutions Given the drastic 13% increase in ALICE households since 2019, we're headed in the wrong direction, and we have no time to lose. The report outlines a comprehen- sive 10-year plan to cut the number of at-risk and disconnected youth in half, arguably the minimum that should be done. It includes "ready-to-implement" solutions that Connecticut should prioritize for immediate investment in light of this crisis: • Support an expanded and refund- able child tax credit at the state and federal levels to provide families with direct financial support and relieve financial stress. • Establish a critically important integrated case management structure to coordinate the wide range of services a young person needs to thrive across different organizations and sectors, so that these young people don't have to knock on a dozen different doors to find the help they need. • Enhance the 211 system to reduce wait times and provide targeted flex funds to cover gaps in existing services to ensure that this trusted resource keeps young people on track. United Way of Connecticut is ready to be a partner in such a sustained, multifaceted initiative. The nonprofit organizations we have been working closely with on these issues have track records of success, and have demonstrated that with sufficient resources and enhanced coordination, they can unlock these proven solutions. Together, we can help every young person realize their full potential. It's a win-win and it's urgent. Lisa Tepper Bates is president and CEO of the United Way of Connecticut. Greg Bordonaro Lisa Tepper Bates

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