State schools, enrollment record levels

As the 2009-10 academic year gets underway, the Connecticut State University System, which includes Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State universities, will have a record number of students attending classes. Officials say the record-breaking numbers (an increase of between 3 and 5 percent above a year ago) stem from larger freshman classes, increases in the number of transfer students and improved retention of students.

The increases come against a backdrop of diminishing resources due to state budget reductions, voluntary cutbacks, and early retirements that reduced the ranks of faculty and staff by nearly 200 people. The CSUS Board of Trustees also voted earlier this year to freeze salaries for non-union personnel and implement a 10 percent reduction in those positions.

A hiring freeze has been in effect for all but a limited number of essential personnel who impact the health and safety of students and provide direct instruction. Faculty and staff have worked diligently to maintain academic excellence and the quality of student services.

The increases also follow a jump in applications of about 11 percent for the incoming freshman class, which was the largest ever one-year increase in the number of applications, and accelerated a trend which saw the number of applications for admission increase 18 percent over the previous four years.

"It has been said that there is no better investment than an investment in education. That is certainly true at our four state universities - Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western," said CSUS Chancellor David G. Carter. "The universities are attracting Connecticut students who are drawn by academic quality, affordability and accessibility. Since our graduates, by and large, stay in Connecticut and add to our economic vitality and quality of life, the growing interest in CSUS is good news for Connecticut's future."

CSUS is Connecticut's largest university system, with approximately 36,000 students. Final tabulations regarding the number of students will not be completed until mid-September, but CSUS officials anticipate record-breaking numbers of full-time undergraduate students for the third consecutive year; that number increased 44 percent between 1996 and 2008.