CCSU president looks back at first year and ahead to the future. 
Jack Miller
President, Central Connecticut State University

My first year as President at Central Connecticut State University ended on June 15, and I am now beginning my second.  It was an exciting and eventful year in which there were many accomplishments signaling much more to come in the future.  The successes of the institution belong to the faculty and administrators of both the past and the present.  Some of the hard work of Presidents James, Shumaker, and Judd arrived at fruition, and other successes resulted from brand new initiatives.  The following is a list of but a few accomplishments.

Marking the 50^th year of graduate education with Commencement Exercises that include the University’s first doctoral degree awards.

Responding to one of the state’s most pressing workforce needs by offering a Bachelor of Science program in mechanical engineering in fall 2006.  The new program received official approval from the Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education.
 

• Receiving a grant of nearly $1 million to form a consortium of partnering high schools offering programs to raise student awareness of American history.  Participating school districts include Ansonia, Berlin, Cromwell, Newington, Rocky Hill, and Wethersfield.
   
• Receiving a $3 million endowment gift – the largest ever awarded to CCSU – from Hyundai Motor America, U.S. subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.
   
• Bringing a group of distinguished visiting speakers to campus – most recently, former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins and Paul Rusesabagina, the hero of Hotel Rwanda.
   
• Winning women’s soccer 2005 Northeast Conference Championship for the fourth straight season and advancing to their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament.
   
• Winning important student awards, such as the St. Paul Travelers Business Case Competition, and the prestigious CBIA and Pfizer Global Research and Development undergraduate fellowships.

As exciting as these accomplishments are they are only indicators of what is to come.

New and refurbished academic buildings, athletic and recreational sports facilities, and residence halls will all be part of the near future.  Expanding the downtown New Britain presence with academic classes and staff offices is part of a growing role for the ITBD building.  An expanding partnership with the New Britain public schools is being forged.  As the City of New Britain plans strategically for new “downtown” development, the

University is a partner in the process.  Similarly, as initiatives such as the dedicated bus way take shape, the University is “at the table.”

The number of full-time faculty members will be significantly increased in the coming year as will staff members for fundraising, student support, and facilities maintenance.  These faculty will help reduce reliance on part-time employees, while other staff will help usher in new approaches to fundraising and student support.

Perhaps most importantly, virtually all of the additional tuition that students will be paying next year is going directly back to them.  This will be in the form of direct financial aid, athletic scholarships, and student employment.

The University’s past is storied, and the future holds equally great potential.

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