Issue Position: Affordable Higher Education

Issue Position

I'm lucky to have experienced first hand how incredible, inspired students become driven members of society during my time lecturing at Central Connecticut State University, and during this campaign I've heard from students, educators and administrators about how our state has one of the best public and private higher education systems in the country.

But to make sure graduates are competitive for jobs, we've got to make sure our wonderful institutions are aligned with the needs of employers, and students are not weighed down by mountains of debt, putting them at a significant disadvantage when they graduate and begin working.

It's no secret that Connecticut faces serious fiscal constraints, but a lack of money shouldn't keep driven, qualified students from going to college.

Studies show the incredible benefits that students gain by earning a college degree. From higher competitiveness for jobs to better lifelong earning potential, the benefits of a degree cannot be overstated. We know too that benefits extend beyond better financial prospects: Those with postsecondary degrees are healthier, and have lower unemployment rates and lower poverty rates than those without college degrees.

That said, I am committed to also supporting programs that are the best fit for Connecticut residents, including apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, career schools and two-year community colleges. All of this adds up to a better educated, diversely skilled, and more competitive workforce that will attract and retain employers to Connecticut.

That's why as governor, I will prioritize:

Expanding access to higher education--including to older individuals--by making the first two years of any public college or university tuition-free to in-state students who commit to living and working in Connecticut for a period of time after they graduate.
Working to improve the partnership between our world class community colleges, state universities and private colleges to ensure students have the resources they need to continue their education.
Prioritizing expansion of public-private partnerships between our major employers and our community colleges. The partnership between Pratt and Whitney and Goodwin College to support their manufacturing classes is a model that can be replicated across the state. The IBM P-Tech school in Norwalk is another good example of a public private partnership.

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