About Central

Age Friendly University (AFU) Designation

Age Friendly University Logo

Central Connecticut State University is proud to be designated as an Age-Friendly University – the first institution of higher education in Connecticut to earn this recognition. Since May 2017, Central has made a commitment to an age-inclusive approach to higher education. In 2023, Central received an inaugural Well-Spring Award from the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative and acknowledgement from the Governor for its dedication to promoting age and dementia inclusivity. 

Central’s commitment as an Age-Friendly University global member: 

  •  Central supports a curriculum that teaches a more balanced view of aging and avoids age-limiting biases.
  • Central values personal and career development across the adult lifespan by offering multiple pathways for degree attainment, professional development, and cognitive enrichment.
  • Central encourages intergenerational learning to facilitate reciprocal sharing of expertise between learners of all ages and strengthen skills for an increasingly multigenerational workforce.
  • Central promotes community access to the university’s range of health and wellness programs and its arts and cultural activities.
  • Central engages in regular dialog with local and national aging service networks to enhance curriculum, increase experiential learning opportunities, and provide research support.
  • Central upholds age-inclusivity as a workplace, recognizing the contributions of personnel of all ages.

No matter your age or previous experience on a college campus, we invite you to continue learning and join our community!  

State Department on Aging

Academics

Academic Programs - It’s never too late to earn a degree! What interests you? Central makes it possible.                       

Gerontology Programs - People are living longer than ever before, which makes this an exciting time to study gerontology at Central!

Life, Leisure, and Community Programs - CCSU’s Life, Leisure & Community programs offer older adults a welcoming place to learn, grow, and connect. Explore a rotating selection of engaging events designed for personal enrichment, social connection, and lifelong learning.

Professional Education – Central offers a suite of certifications and non-credit classes as well as customized training to enhance your career.

Connecticut residents aged 62 and older can go back to school tuition free. The tuition waiver can be applied to both full and part-time matriculated students (those who have been admitted to an undergraduate or graduate degree program) and nonmatriculated students. Some fees are still required and registration for nonmatriculated students is on a space-available basis and special registration dates apply. Check with the Registrar's Office for session/term registration dates. For those interested in earning a degree or certificate, students must follow standard admission procedures and submit the tuition waiver once accepted to their program of choice. Visit Admissions to learn more about our program offerings.                        

Open to the Public – Cultural Events/Activities

Join us at the Black Box Theatre! Free public parking is conveniently located next door at the Welte Garage. 

The Chen Art Gallery in Maloney Hall serves as the official exhibition space for Central Connecticut State University and invites renowned contemporary artists from around the world to the campus. Parking is free. Access to Welte Garage, which is adjacent to Maloney Hall, is available to the public. Additional nearby lots include the Student Center Garage and Kaiser Lot.

Central Discover Abroad offers enriching educational travel experiences for community members, students, alumni, professionals, retirees, and anyone eager to explore the world through learning.

Support the home team! Cheer for our talented student-athletes as they sport the blue with pride. Find a home game year round! Students, faculty and staff are free with a valid blue chip card. While some events may require a paid ticket to enter, many are also free to the public. 

 The Copernican Planetarium and Observatory offers free programming to the Central community, school groups of all ages – public, private, and homeschools, community, and special interest groups.  Free parking is available in the Copernicus parking garage. During the summer that garage is sometimes closed for repairs. The surface lots between Copernicus and the Robert Vance Academic Center parking garage (check the campus map for more details) are available in the summer, and the RVAC garage itself is open at night and on weekends.

Be sure to check out the Events announced on the Central Home Page for other weekly happenings that may be open to the public! 

Health and Wellness

The Central Community Health Education Clinic - The Central Community Health Education Clinic has the equipment and facilities necessary to conduct various screenings and deliver quality health education to the community, free of charge, while also providing Central students the hands-on experience they need to succeed in their future careers. Medical insurance is not required. Educational sessions and presentations are also free of charge and cover a wide range of topics to support community learning and wellness.