[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6652442,"mediaKeyId","2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5","parentId",2490568,"title","Lawyers, students and advocates ask legislature for scholarships and tuition relief after Stone Academy closure","audioSeconds",599,"startMs",9086000,"endMs",9685000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5&start=9086&end=9685","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5/thumbnail_9086000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6652442/Connecticut/Lawyers-students-and-advocates-ask-legislature-for-scholarships-and-tuition-relief-after-Stone-Academy-closure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652442-721f6d90dc839906df9d292165d4974c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151031&Signature=b4ZAopbkjo8XD8j-x8YdPY~uks6mCPXojYUIGdBqBeKWbHFpsndkc1djAxT6yy-g62FwO1MjP5awozfWclM~HTZB9UVpBzm45CBzkidDurgJJYG9svuJmJvG3MuI-uW7Pp1RE6uBfw~AcO19zo-TCDN2X7vtzRTwGeHxoYTbfRHOJCMXeI9UqkpIUh1K8wWqoSMSLTxLkWVehkHXUv1mGEVvKO0fsAmjIOUl7RMdETa2Iln7U1GPq5kZ5tJEBxDE~UAwdlSnqeDVopsUTWtbXWWJdYWlOLBe602JBt3UVC0fX4WUtSB6MLNOa4nXQsSSp7lYODWLmRJwRf83GNjc3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Connecticut State Legislature - Higher Education and Employment Advancement","date","2025-03-04T20:56:47.807Z","article","Counsel for hundreds of former Stone Academy students told the Higher Education Committee that a swift legislative remedy is needed after the for‑profit school’s closure left many students with unusable credits, outstanding out‑of‑pocket tuition and stalled career pathways.

Attorney David Slosberg, representing the class, said litigation and a court‑approved settlement produced results but could not fully address all students’ practical needs; he said judge‑approved settlements and prior statutory changes had not restored credits or provided teach‑out options for many students. He said the hearing record includes dozens of impacted students who cannot transfer credits, cannot get timely federal loan relief, and remain financially exposed.

Slosberg and a co‑testifier outlined two legislative concepts in testimony: (1) an amendment or clarification to permit reimbursement from the Student Protection Account for out‑of‑pocket tuition expenses tied to unusable credits (the testimony referenced a “raise bill 7 0 9 8” and related text) and (2) a targeted scholarship/tuition‑assistance program to help former Stone students enroll in alternate, credentialed nursing and allied‑health pathways. Witnesses estimated roughly 981 students in a related cohort and conservatively estimated 500 students might immediately use a targeted program; the proponents requested an illustrative appropriation of $10,000,000 to fund scholarships and re‑training slots, and they suggested phasing and use of existing COVID‑era or other funds where feasible.

Former Stone students gave first‑hand testimony describing lost time and money, loan and financial‑aid complications, long commutes to alternate training programs, and delays obtaining paperwork necessary for licensing and employment. Some said federal loan relief mechanisms are slow and that many students remain in limbo while deferments and other temporary measures expire.

Proponents asked the committee to craft a legislative solution that combines reimbursement for certain out‑of‑pocket costs and a state‑sponsored scholarship or retraining fund tied to high‑demand workforce pathways (nursing and allied health), and to consider using available state funds or stretching implementation across budget years. The committee did not take a vote at the hearing; attorneys and advocates asked staff to continue negotiations about funding sources and program design.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/4 HED Public Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Attorneys and former students urged the Higher Education Committee to adopt legislative measures—including scholarship funding and reimbursements from the Student Protection Account—to help hundreds of former Stone Academy students whose credits and finances were disrupted by the school’s sudden closure.","taxTitle","Higher Education and Employment, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Connecticut","taxId",15585,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6652446,"Students press bill to allow off‑campus living; some universities warn of risks",5206,2948000,8154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5&start=2948&end=8154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5/thumbnail_2948000.jpg","/articles/6652446/Connecticut/Students-press-bill-to-allow-offcampus-living-some-universities-warn-of-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652446-01c407563c92dbc03d02454f1c308085/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151031&Signature=Zw~2wVXfEjwkwxPMu98neycI2Jo1GMPZUSDEQCc87ctA7eQ0EEhZj1UrvHfaylf6AK0rFrvxdziaLMEyjj11KSk~0syyYp6gHzdFJ9eyywAH-H3OcyM24Fbrsms6IvK9xsLBBgSKcSf5Zul4JUQWiSdnS6IkKZnL8deloGh0RnQ7is03hwxHBBQxLUChjxzo7oPldpJi75CWcm1PG5vC7c4YLnn-a8idIfMDghwLP0wzM2FuzjkF8sFsDpIXho3Vp2YwKrXK3c2nphL1xT56DCQ2AMXNwi-p8i3HQMrPgBRtCLpsZfjQ~hrqOcqAuEaY2u3D1nSN0oeHuLht6fMdGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Students at Wesleyan and other institutions told the Higher Education Committee that restrictive campus residency rules and limited housing supply contributed to unsafe or substandard living conditions and steep costs, and they urged passage of SB 14‑11 to allow broader off‑campus living options.

Multiple students described program houses and converted spaces they were assigned to because the university lacked adequate conventional dormitory beds. Testimony described rodent and squirrel infestations, boarded or broken windows, double doors that did not lock, distant locations that isolated residents from campus life, and safety incidents near some program houses. Witnesses said the university guarantee often amounts to a bed assignment—not necessarily an acceptable living space—and that allowing off‑campus choices would introduce competition and accountability for institutions’ housing quality.

Administrators disagreed. Bethany Zemba, Quinnipiac University vice president for strategy and community relations, told the committee Quinnipiac strongly opposes SB 14‑11. She said residential living is integral to student mental health, academic success and campus safety; she noted Quinnipiac’s process for exceptions based on financial hardship or disability and cited reduced neighborhood complaints after more students returned to campus in prior years.

Representatives from Wesleyan described the educational and co‑curricular rationale for a four‑year residency model, said Wesleyan guarantees housing, and told lawmakers that residential programs and living‑learning communities are central to their pedagogy. University staff also said they provide targeted resident services and that only a small number of students are released from residency requirements for specific reasons.

Students pressed the committee to balance institutional claims against their accounts of crowded and poorly maintained housing, and to consider affordability and choice—particularly where students face long commutes, safety incidents or high housing costs. No committee vote was taken at the hearing; the record contains both student appeals for the bill and institutional warnings about impacts on campus safety and student services.","Students from Wesleyan and other colleges urged the Higher Education Committee to pass SB 14‑11, a bill that would let more students live off campus and challenge restrictive campus housing practices they blamed for high costs and poor conditions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6652451,"Longtime complaint about adjunct reliance: advocates press bill to phase down part‑time course share at CT State Community College",0,3181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5&start=3181&end=3181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5/thumbnail_3181000.jpg","/articles/6652451/Connecticut/Longtime-complaint-about-adjunct-reliance-advocates-press-bill-to-phase-down-parttime-course-share-at-CT-State-Community-College","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652451-6b87cb8b7323c11a1c5d216e4b52871c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151031&Signature=kfq9TiQZ5QNYFJ0EfnM6RQrF0VkS3c9832vEVRTflKJNDSCaEf2fKqtZ3mHQQ3qLDqMqbn8w0ZkRv2YtXiLF0v8NfEdwpNIi0lyUFk4K7BanR-JucQ4TmVnsph4B3PGPZjdGjkg6SDQfEATC8bECvVsfPylLicIhrPXZ4G8bTeoAQrCh4xfxZenkXuHlVD6qeNWlDFYsKqHn8H4Sdd0MAfyJ3EX0mll-ELxQvI8Sle7mgSs8aw5NVsnZGWeGZZmeosfd20DobE21qRAT5fRzClsRZJd6q2GwawL97BNK2kTXStlJvL9Q1R5gs~gvtOgGaB78cQe6TFynuUFcn4dznA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Union leaders, current and former part‑time instructors, students and higher‑education advocates testified strongly in favor of SB 14‑14, which would phase in a reduction of the percentage of courses taught by part‑time faculty at the Connecticut State Community College system and encourage additional full‑time hires.

Speakers across dozens of testimonies described the current staffing model as heavily dependent on contingent labor. Several witnesses gave similar statistics: roughly three‑quarters of the faculty positions at CT State are held by part‑time instructors, who teach roughly 41–45% of credits. Speakers said that part‑time faculty commonly lack office space, predictable schedules, health care and job security, and that the practice undermines student advising, retention and graduation outcomes.

Ed Hawthorne of the Connecticut AFL‑CIO said the bill would require community colleges to reduce the share of courses taught by part‑time faculty to 25% by July 2028; other witnesses described phasing mechanisms and noted the need for state funding to support conversions to full‑time positions. Faculty union leaders (including representatives from CSU AUP and the 4C’s/SEIU) and full‑time professors testified that universities in the state cap adjunct use at lower rates (CSU limit cited as 20%) and that community colleges’ heavier reliance on adjuncts produces inequities for students who are more likely to be low‑income and first‑generation.

Several faculty members described operational problems caused by part‑time caps and assignment rules: inability to recruit enough adjuncts, splitting lab sections between instructors, and maximum contact‑hour restrictions that prevent assigning additional sections to experienced adjuncts. Testimony from department chairs and faculty in biology and other high‑demand programs described students being taught by multiple instructors across a single course term and difficulties staffing prerequisite courses for allied‑health pipelines.

Union leaders and faculty said educational research links greater access to full‑time faculty with improved student retention, transfer and completion; they framed SB 14‑14 as both a quality and equity measure. Proponents requested accompanying funding for hiring and asked the legislature to hold the Board of Regents accountable to the phased targets. No recorded vote was taken during the hearing; the committee heard wide‑ranging support from faculty, unions and some students and stakeholders.","Union leaders, faculty and students told the Higher Education Committee that Connecticut’s community college system relies heavily on part‑time instructors and urged passage of SB 14‑14, a bill to phase in limits on courses taught by part‑time faculty and increase full‑time hiring.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6652455,"Office of Higher Education backs bills to let Norwalk Conservatory and International Institute of Astronautical Sciences confer degrees",942,2103000,3045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5&start=2103&end=3045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5/thumbnail_2103000.jpg","/articles/6652455/Connecticut/Office-of-Higher-Education-backs-bills-to-let-Norwalk-Conservatory-and-International-Institute-of-Astronautical-Sciences-confer-degrees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652455-89bb259cc347d64ed4bb4f6c2b5e5e88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151031&Signature=ZgnlRyJafIiagiQ3tioePVeOXnSYKzP-PYBUxA1jL2CR0k6OKXrvDSyURGhVoQLqqjldDJk4cpRZbLvLXhkmuZIhKOUE3CLX52TV1GbSLpq5SU9YqrII3W4Pk~35e1VlnH3C6qID2Va7UIyWRVyiW2hxkjmbd-qqEVAdrYQ3CRmnunqAMAiq6q-9m9Jf50kwjjT-6q0KPUn1l4gTjo3a7WzGxRuehAQAL2xihuU4lNoaroPm-VbA6qaovFZb67sTM8kNkuIVajmrSGwx~5XU6G659GgTG9jL9VAUU-Hc~pMEh6sDZuoYo3PHqnizMJdc-pRcWItsV3loARZFIo9t6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sean Severson, division director at the Connecticut Office of Higher Education (OHE), told the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee that OHE has reviewed two institutions and recommends that the General Assembly authorize them to confer degrees: SB 14‑12 for the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts and SB 14‑24 for the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences (IIAS).

Severson described the statutory authorization process (he referenced Connecticut General Statutes 10 A‑34C), the OHE application and review steps—application, circulation to existing institutions for comment, evaluators’ site visits and an evaluation panel—and said neither institution drew objections during the circulation period. He said OHE’s recommendation follows evaluation teams’ reviews and site visits and that approval by the General Assembly is the final step.

Daniel Loftus George, president of the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, described a two‑year conservatory that grew out of a professional training program and now offers three majors (musical theater, dance/musical theater and television/film). He said the school has alumni working on Broadway and national tours, draws students from 37 states, offers scholarships and private fundraising support, and partners with local arts organizations. He told the committee the conservatory seeks legal authority to award associate degrees.

Representatives of the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences and its partners described hands‑on astronautical and bioastronautics training and research. Dr. Aaron Persad, director of bioastronautics at IIAS, said the institute conducts microgravity parabolic flights, spacesuit and egress testing in partnership with Survival Systems USA and that students have gone on to NASA and commercial spaceflight employers. Jason Reimuhler, IIAS executive director, and Maria Hannah of Survival Systems described specialized facilities—neutral‑buoyancy and egress labs, space‑suit testing—and said the programs are unique in Connecticut. IIAS and supporters asked the committee to approve SB 14‑24 so the institute may confer a professional master’s degree and four professional certificates.

Committee members asked about competition with existing Connecticut programs and funding models. OHE testified that the Norwalk Conservatory’s offerings are highly specialized and drew no objections in the circulation; IIAS and Survival Systems said their programs are unique in-state and largely supported by tuition and private fundraising while also running outreach and inclusion programs.

No formal committee vote was recorded in the hearing; OHE requested legislative approval be granted for both bills.","The Office of Higher Education told the committee it has evaluated and recommends legislative approval for two private institutions—the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts and the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences—to be authorized to confer degrees in Connecticut; proponents described program focus, enrollment and facilities.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":91,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6652460,"UConn urges state aid to boost research, pursue AAU membership",330,330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5&start=0&end=330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490568-34d647ceeb76076db3c6414dc71fafb5/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6652460/Connecticut/UConn-urges-state-aid-to-boost-research-pursue-AAU-membership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652460-e9f5fd3a64111ac8b467e887f68a7770/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151031&Signature=UIfEj6VK79hN7qzDt1GYdW28EcSptX2uCCE8Ke1~XsIr-pzcL1Cqs5EK7KwWt4MUzeZVGoe4DvJlLlCsiOmTKE6Uc3g5-4sMl-rYaY2pYE5~NREqE7t4~B3TKyshZyWg-XMtCPDMTtv6EDbXSO6BU6iOiEvDd3Zq1NdqiReK8-NJ5Q8qJrVJkjZZSvVgIodLhugGIXZTr4hBuiqNgTHNwj37k4H7QzoTcvankxCoyQFji5dONZGc9FY28V7ZJqbPDh6c~ZOPQu-W95U8W60dyuBhskELinvmoSNj4-Eiso6eyr7YjabVIhh~GyJwZY0E~O4euw1S75X-iYc3C5nwIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","President Merrick of the University of Connecticut told the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee that UConn is seeking legislative support to help the university qualify for invitation-only membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU).

UConn’s push for AAU recognition is tied to its research expansion and economic impact: the president said UConn’s research portfolio is targeted to grow to $500,000,000 from the current $368,000,000; she cited recent major grant submissions including a $70,000,000 Department of Commerce AI manufacturing initiative and a $160,000,000 Connecticut Quantum Engine collaboration with Yale. The university estimates its statewide economic impact at $8,500,000,000, supporting nearly 50,000 jobs and generating about $429,000,000 in state revenue.

If invited to the AAU, UConn leaders said, that status would help recruit top researchers and students, accelerate technology translation and entrepreneurship, and support long-term state economic growth. But they told the committee that AAU membership is by invitation only, and that UConn needs additional state investment—particularly to recruit senior faculty with strong publication and citation records—to meet AAU quantitative indicators such as prestigious awards per faculty, research expenditures and citations.

Vice President for Research Tamir Alpay walked committee members through metrics the AAU and NSF consider and backed the administration’s ask for targeted hiring and state-industry partnerships to increase federally reported research expenditures. He pointed to differences on a per‑faculty metric used in their analysis (he cited an example figure from the slide deck comparing award counts per faculty), and said recruiting senior faculty in high‑impact fields is a priority to improve citations, grants and rankings.

Committee members asked how additional research dollars benefit the state. Merrick and Alpay said federal grants flow to Connecticut businesses, small vendors and service providers, support graduate students living in the state and create startup companies. Merrick described UConn’s prior state‑supported projects (for example, a DOE award used for household energy audits across more than 100 households) as examples of how federal research funds are spent across the state and boost local firms working on SBIR/STTR projects, Pratt & Whitney partnerships and other industry collaborations.

Speakers also raised concerns about federal policy changes affecting indirect cost recovery on grants. Merrick described proposed federal adjustments as “unpleasant” and “disturbing,” and warned that lower reimbursed indirect costs would make facilities and instrumentation harder to support without state or institutional help. The administration said it provided minor technical edits to the draft bill and is prepared to work with the legislature on an action plan.

The university asked the committee to view AAU consideration as a multi‑year, state‑university partnership that centers on recruiting senior research faculty and expanding direct research support from state and industry.

Next steps: UConn indicated it will supply the committee with technical changes to the bill and with the slide deck and metrics it referenced during testimony; no committee vote was recorded at the hearing.","University of Connecticut leaders told the legislature’s Higher Education Committee they need more state investment—especially to recruit senior research faculty—to meet criteria for membership in the Association of American Universities and to grow the university’s economic and research impact.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawyers, students and advocates ask legislature for scholarships and tuition relief after Stone Academy closure

Students press bill to allow off‑campus living; some universities warn of risks

Longtime complaint about adjunct reliance: advocates press bill to phase down part‑time course share at CT State Community College

Office of Higher Education backs bills to let Norwalk Conservatory and International Institute of Astronautical Sciences confer degrees

UConn urges state aid to boost research, pursue AAU membership