HARTFORD – Today, Senate Democrats announced priority legislation that takes aim at college affordability by fully funding the state’s Roberta B. Willis scholarship foundation. Senate President Martin Looney, Majority Leader Senator Bob Duff, and State Senator Derek Slap, Co-Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, proposed legislation to increase funding for needs-based scholarships for Connecticut students attending four-year colleges and universities.
Roberta B. Willis Scholarships are awarded on a need-basis and are, on average, between $4,500 and $5,200. In FY 22, only 31% of eligible students received the scholarship, leaving 16,000 students who qualified for the scholarships without state assistance.
Connecticut’s investment in needs-based scholarships is among the lowest in the country. According to a National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs survey, forty-three other states spend a greater percentage of state funding for higher education on student aid than Connecticut does. Connecticut also loses 40 percent of its young adults to colleges and universities in other states.
“Increasing funding to our scholarship program will provide significant assistance to financially struggling students and their families, allowing them to take on less debt while furthering their education,” said Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney. “This proposal, coupled with the General Assembly’s recent history of funding debt-free community college, workforce development, automatic admissions, and more, tells current and prospective students that Connecticut is a place where they can start a career, increase their earning potential, and have a realistic path toward more opportunity.”
“Connecticut has some of the greatest public institutions of higher education in the country and we need to ensure that Connecticut students have access to these schools,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. “Increasing funding toward our needs-based scholarship program will help students afford tuition at these institutions, keeping talent in Connecticut and lowering the financial burden on students and their families.”
“Connecticut’s lack of investment into our students and young people has created a brain-drain, we are losing highly educated and skilled workers to our surrounding states,” said Sen. Derek Slap, Senate Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee. “Over the last several years we have greatly expanded access to community college and workforce development opportunities. Looking towards this legislative session, as Senate Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, ensuring that bachelor’s degrees are more affordable for students and their families will be one of my top priorities. Now is the time to fully fund our state’s scholarship program and send a strong message to students: we are willing to invest in you if you choose Connecticut for college.”
Over the last several years Democrat led legislation has expanded access to higher education through debt-free community college, Connecticut Automatic Admission Program (CAAP) and expanding access to lower interest CHESLA loans.
Additionally, Connecticut continues to offer career pathways through secondary and post-secondary education options:
-Six CT State Community College campuses offer pathways to becoming a registered nurse
–CT State Workforce Development and Continuing Education courses in business, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing and social services
–CT State ‘Micro-Credentials’ for focused skills in healthcare and professional development
Connecticut State Employee Training Program offers current state employees professional development in essential business skills, leadership development, technical advancements and trade skills upskilling.
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