Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6404
Title: AN ACT FUNDING THE DEBT-FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAM.
Vote Date: 3/11/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Change of Reference to Appropriations
PH Date: 3/4/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
To establish a permanent Endowment Fund for the Debt-free Community College Program.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Sean Bradbury, Senior Director of Government Relations and External Affairs (CSCU):
Gave oral testimony and submitted written testimony in support. Mr. Bradbury describes the
brief history of the PACT program and the impacts of its current funding. He requests
legislators make good on their Oct. 25, 2020, promise to reimburse that CSCU system for
funds spent from their reserves, and secure additional funds to support the program. He
concludes with projections for FY22 and FY23 costs.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Maureen Chalmers, President, Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (4Cs):
Submitted written testimony in support. She explains that CT's community colleges are the
most cost-effective institutions in the state, and therefore attract many students that would not
otherwise be able to afford, and benefit from, higher education. The 4Cs hopes that a more
stable funding source will be provided and that the program will be expanded to all students
regardless of legal status. She concludes with a reminder that CT's college system exists in a
competitive environment; by passing this bill CT remains competitive with its neighbors and
attracts tax revenues.
Senate Democrats:
Submitted written testimony in support. They state, "the lack of a long-term funding source
appears to be the only threat to this program's overwhelming success," and that this resulted
in a limited, but "very positive," start to the PACT program. They believe, "Funding of this
program is critical to maximize enrollment going forward."
Lillian Maisfehlt, Reference & Instruction Librarian and the Information Literacy
Coordinator at Gateway Community College:
Submitted written testimony in support. Lilian is "intensely, fiercely" proud of her colleagues
and adopted home state of CT. She is heartbroken to see the BOR spend funds on
expensive consultants, initiatives, and administration, in lieu of investment in resources and
expertise that benefit students and staff. She believes this has gone on so long that it has
created a lack of accountability, damaged trust between admin. and staff, and this results in
no meaningful improvement to education, yet comes at taxpayer expense. She gives a
specific example of how these practices have impacted the Information Technology (IT)
department. Lilian believes "support for community college is a matter of social justice," and
that "your commitment to debt-free community college is noble and to be applauded."
Eric Maroney, Professor of English, Gateway Community College:
Submitted written testimony in support with substitute language. Prof. Maroney believes the
"enormous and untested structural changes" within the CSCU system need a pause to
determine whether they are in the best interest of schools, students, and taxpayers. He says
that this process, while labeled "Student First," has failed to place students first. His students
have demonstrated that they lack not the ability, but only an educational background which
has prepared them for collegiate level work. He provides an example of one student who is a
refugee from Afghanistan, speaks 5 languages, and provided translation services for the UN,
but does not have the English skills necessary to complete a collegiate composition course.
Another student arrived in his class with an SAT score that placed him in the 9 th percentile
but is now on his way to completing his degree with awards. Prof. Maroney says the
developmental support that allowed both students to succeed is now threatened with
elimination.
Eileen Russo, Professor and Program Coordinator, Drug and Alcohol Recovery
Program, Gateway Community College:
Submitted written testimony in support with substitute language. Prof. Russo says that faculty
efforts to be included in shaping the one college process have been defeated, and that this
resulted in a bureaucracy which has wasted funds and drained institutional resources. She
says elimination of developmental education, "will set up students for failure from day 1," and
that a message is growing to "water down your courses" resulting in students with a degree
but no education. She explains that "offering free college to only those students who can
attend full-time, excludes the students who need it most."
Colena Sesanker, PhD, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Gateway CC:
Submitted written testimony in support with substitute language. Prof. Sesanker describes the
"enormity of the mess" that she believes is the CSCU consolidation, and the many costs this
process has incurred. She elaborates on paid administrators that govern no school or
students, high turn-over in leadership, and other examples of significant dysfunction.
Jennifer Widness, President Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC):
Submitted written testimony in support of the premise. CCIC believes making higher
education more accessible is critical "to meet the workforce demands of the 21st century
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economy." However, they believe that "by making one sector free, policymakers are picking
winners and losers," and that by offering funds to all full-time students, grants will
disproportionately be awarded to students that already qualify for Federal Pell Grants. They
say these funds would be better spent on students with greater need and fewer means who
do not currently qualify. CCIC says CT has cut support for education, and lags both the
region and nation in need-based financial aid.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
John Board, CSCU Graduate:
Submitted written testimony in opposition and substitute language. He believes this program
"has been riddled with issues," and a more holistic solution exists.
Reported by: Jeremy Salyer Date: 03/12/2021
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Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 12-812
HED Joint Favorable Change of Reference: 12-812