HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—Governor Ned Lamont plans to propose legislation aimed at increasing postsecondary education access, particularly among low-income and minority students, and improving workforce development in Connecticut.
The governor's proposal involves four key initiatives. The first is requiring all graduating high school students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) form or a similar state form for undocumented students.
"All too often, eligible students don't believe they qualify for funding," Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Interim President Dr. Jane Gates said, "so they skip the FASFA and end up unnecessarily paying hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket."
Connecticut Education Deputy Commissioner Desi Nesmith said it is vital that students take the first step to college by completing the FASFA and by looking into other scholarship opportunities.
The second initiative is the creation of an auto-admission program at the Connecticut State Universities so as to increase access by simplifying the application process and removing application fees.
Governor Ned Lamont tells Connecticut's students, "If you reach that grade point average, I'd like you to be automatically admitted. I like the presumption being that higher education is in your future."
According to Gates, these two initiatives will make college more accessible, affordable and equitable.
"We know that there are many smart, talented, hardworking students. We see them daily. Most of whom would be the first in their family to go to college who never get that far because we put too many procedural barriers and bureaucratic barriers in their way," Gates said.
Lamont's proposal also includes an initiative to increase access to advanced courses (such as Advanced Placement or AP courses, early college courses, dual credit courses, etc.) for students.
According to state officials, this would be done by requiring districts to not prohibit students from taking such courses based solely on prior academic performance and by requiring districts to automatically enroll students in advanced coursework if a student is academically prepared.
The last initiative involves creating an expanded transit pass program that is open to additional institutions.
The University of Connecticut is following Lamont's lead with their own program geared toward first-generation and minority students.
Known as the UConn Alliance Pathway, participating Alliance Schools will share the names of students in the top 10% of their high school class.
"We reach out to them to recruit them proactively. We let them know that we're waiving their application fee. We arrange visits for them and we encourage them to come to UConn," University President Dr. Thomas Katsouleas said.
The university will then offer support services to those students, including workshops, mentorships and other programs, Katsouleas said.
Alongside these education initiatives are those focused on workforce improvement such as coordinating and creating more workforce development programs across the state.
"We must prioritize postsecondary enrollment so that our students are earning degrees and credentials that get them into the workforce and contributing to Connecticut's economy," Lamont said.
Postsecondary enrollment has decreased nationwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, Connecticut saw a 3.5% decline in college enrollment from 2019 levels.
The stakes are too high if the state does not act now to mitigate these losses even further, Lamont said when referring to students as Connecticut's future.
