Faculty Handbook
Statewide Organization of Public Higher Education
Board of Regents for Higher Education/Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
Governance Structure
The Board of Regents for Higher Education was created by Connecticut State Statute on July 1, 2011, and serves as the governing body for seventeen Connecticut State Colleges & Universities--four state universities; twelve community colleges; and Charter Oak State College, Connecticut's only public, online, degree-granting institution.
On the board, there are nineteen total members, broken down as follows:
- Fifteen voting members:
- Nine appointed by the Governor
- Four appointed by legislative leadership, of whom one is a specialist in K-12 education and the three remaining are alumni of the Connecticut Community Colleges, Connecticut State Universities, and/or Charter Oak State College
- The chair and vice-chair of the Student Advisory Committee
- Four non-voting, ex-officio members:
- Commissioner of the Department of Education
- Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development
- Commissioner of the Department of Labor
- Commissioner of the Department of Public Health
The chair of the Board of Regents is appointed by the Governor and the Board of Regents elects a vice-chair and other officers from among its membership.
Among other responsibilities, the board sets statewide tuition and student fee policies; establishes financial aid policies; reviews and recommends any new academic programs; and, in collaboration with institutional stakeholders, conducts searches for and selects campus presidents.
In addition to governance responsibilities, the board also holds broad responsibilities for development and coordination of statewide higher education policy.
