Connecticut State University System
Encyclopedia
The Connecticut State University System (CSUS) is a public university system
in Connecticut
. CSUS consists of four comprehensive universities with more than 36,500 students and 180,000 alumni. It is the largest university system in the state. The system dates back to the founding Central Connecticut State University
in 1849 as a normal school
for teacher education. Over time the other three institutions were founded as normal schools and in 1959 they were converted into state colleges to reflect their expanded mission. From their founding until 1965, they were overseen by the Connecticut State Department of Education
. In 1965 the General Assembly
transferred control of the then-colleges to an independent Board of Trustees. In 1983 the four institutions were converted into universities, together constituting the Connecticut State University System.
The system is administered by a system office in Hartford
as part of Connecticut’s newly established Board of Regents for Higher Education, providing support for budgeting, planning, and technology operations led by a vice president of the Board for CSUS. The interim president of the Board is Michael P. Meotti. The Connecticut State University System Foundation, provides financial support from private donations to assist the missions of the universities.
The system publishes a regular magazine, Universe, highlighting the academic and civic initiatives of the universities, and a semi-annual journal
of contemporary literature
and essays known as the Connecticut Review that was founded in 1967 by the Board of Trustees.
The four universities - Central
, Eastern
, Southern
and Western
- offer graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 160 subject areas. Ninety-three percent of students are in-state residents and 86% of system graduates reside in Connecticut after graduation. The universities have experienced steady growth in recent years, as full-time enrollment is currently at an all-time high, and overall enrollment is at the highest level in the past two decades.
Central Connecticut is the oldest public institution of higher education in Connecticut. It was established in 1849 as a "normal school," an institution whose sole purpose was to train teachers. The three other CSU institutions also were established as normal schools: Eastern Connecticut in 1889, Southern Connecticut State University in 1893 and Western Connecticut in 1903.
In 1959, the four institutions were renamed "state colleges" to reflect their expanded curricula and missions.
Twenty-four years later, in 1983, the colleges became universities in recognition of their greater mission and strategies. Today, the Connecticut State University System is the largest public university system in Connecticut.
From 1849 to 1965, the four institutions were administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education. On July 30, 1965, the state General Assembly created the Board of Trustees to oversee the colleges and to guide them to more effectively to serve the public.
Within the Connecticut State University System, the system office, in Hartford, and the four universities, in New Britain (Central Connecticut State University), Willimantic (Eastern Connecticut State University), New Haven (Southern Connecticut State University) and Danbury (Western Connecticut State University) function under the common policies and oversight provided by the Board of Trustees.
University system
A university system is a set of multiple, affiliated universities and colleges that are usually geographically distributed. Typically, all member universities in a university system share a common component among all of their various names...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. CSUS consists of four comprehensive universities with more than 36,500 students and 180,000 alumni. It is the largest university system in the state. The system dates back to the founding Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
in 1849 as a normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
for teacher education. Over time the other three institutions were founded as normal schools and in 1959 they were converted into state colleges to reflect their expanded mission. From their founding until 1965, they were overseen by the Connecticut State Department of Education
Connecticut State Department of Education
Connecticut State Department of Education is a branch of the state government of Connecticut in the United States. The agency is headquartered in the State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue in Hartford...
. In 1965 the General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
transferred control of the then-colleges to an independent Board of Trustees. In 1983 the four institutions were converted into universities, together constituting the Connecticut State University System.
The system is administered by a system office in Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
as part of Connecticut’s newly established Board of Regents for Higher Education, providing support for budgeting, planning, and technology operations led by a vice president of the Board for CSUS. The interim president of the Board is Michael P. Meotti. The Connecticut State University System Foundation, provides financial support from private donations to assist the missions of the universities.
The system publishes a regular magazine, Universe, highlighting the academic and civic initiatives of the universities, and a semi-annual journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
of contemporary literature
Contemporary literature
Contemporary literature is literature with its setting generally after World War II. Subgenres of contemporary literature include contemporary romance.-History:This table lists literary movements by decade. It should not be assumed to be comprehensive....
and essays known as the Connecticut Review that was founded in 1967 by the Board of Trustees.
The four universities - Central
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
, Eastern
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System...
, Southern
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
and Western
Western Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University is a public university in Danbury, Connecticut. Founded in 1903, WestConn has an arts and sciences curriculum, a business school, and several professional programs including elementary and secondary education, nursing, music performance, and social work...
- offer graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 160 subject areas. Ninety-three percent of students are in-state residents and 86% of system graduates reside in Connecticut after graduation. The universities have experienced steady growth in recent years, as full-time enrollment is currently at an all-time high, and overall enrollment is at the highest level in the past two decades.
Campuses
| Central Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922... |
Eastern Eastern Connecticut State University Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System... |
Southern Southern Connecticut State University Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut... |
Western Western Connecticut State University Western Connecticut State University is a public university in Danbury, Connecticut. Founded in 1903, WestConn has an arts and sciences curriculum, a business school, and several professional programs including elementary and secondary education, nursing, music performance, and social work... |
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| Location | New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254.... |
Willimantic, Connecticut Willimantic is a census-designated place and former city located in the town of Windham in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 15,823 at the 2000 census. It is home to Eastern Connecticut State University, as well as the Windham Textile and History Museum.... |
New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and... |
Danbury, Connecticut Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut.... |
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| Most popular major | Business A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit... |
Liberal arts The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy... |
Science Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe... |
Business A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit... |
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History
The Connecticut State University System celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008, observing the Connecticut's General Assembly's establishment of the university system in 1983, formally bringing together the state's longest serving institutions of higher learning.Central Connecticut is the oldest public institution of higher education in Connecticut. It was established in 1849 as a "normal school," an institution whose sole purpose was to train teachers. The three other CSU institutions also were established as normal schools: Eastern Connecticut in 1889, Southern Connecticut State University in 1893 and Western Connecticut in 1903.
In 1959, the four institutions were renamed "state colleges" to reflect their expanded curricula and missions.
Twenty-four years later, in 1983, the colleges became universities in recognition of their greater mission and strategies. Today, the Connecticut State University System is the largest public university system in Connecticut.
From 1849 to 1965, the four institutions were administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education. On July 30, 1965, the state General Assembly created the Board of Trustees to oversee the colleges and to guide them to more effectively to serve the public.
Within the Connecticut State University System, the system office, in Hartford, and the four universities, in New Britain (Central Connecticut State University), Willimantic (Eastern Connecticut State University), New Haven (Southern Connecticut State University) and Danbury (Western Connecticut State University) function under the common policies and oversight provided by the Board of Trustees.
See also
- List of colleges and universities in Connecticut
- Connecticut Community Colleges
- University of ConnecticutUniversity of ConnecticutThe admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...