Lawmakers hear broad support for expanding Mary Ann Hanley tuition aid to state universities; advocates call it a debt‑reduction and workforce measure

Chancellors, university presidents, faculty, students and community groups told the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee that extending the Mary Ann Hanley tuition assistance (formerly known as PACT) to the state universities would expand access to four‑year degrees and reduce student debt.

Terrence Chang, chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, told the committee the program has improved outcomes at community colleges and should be expanded to the four CSUs. He said the program helped students meet basic needs and has been associated with higher retention and graduation rates: "Investing in this expansion is a strategic move for Connecticut's future," he told lawmakers, noting that many CSU graduates remain and work in state after graduation.

Faculty and student speakers amplified those points. Fiona Pearson, sociology professor and chair at Central Connecticut State University, said the scholarship prevents students from taking on debt and keeps students enrolled: "Expanding the scholarship program would prevent students from taking on debt in the first place," she said. Other faculty and student leaders described friends or classmates who stopped out because of the cost of a bachelor's degree.

Supporters also framed the change as a workforce and equity measure: speakers said tuition support at CSUs would help fill teacher, nursing and other in‑state needs and lift low‑income students into better‑paying jobs. John O’Connor of CSU AUP, faculty union, said the program was “good for students, good for institutions, and good for the state,” and argued it would help reverse enrollment declines by making the CSUs more affordable.

Opponents were scarce at this hearing; questions focused on funding and program design, transfer eligibility and whether the program should explicitly include transfer students. Several speakers urged that the legislature fully fund the expansion rather than partially scale it.

What happened next: Committee members heard a range of campus and labor leadership in favor of the expansion. No formal vote was taken at the hearing.

Why it matters: Supporters say the change would reduce household and state‑level costs tied to student debt, improve completion rates and help Connecticut meet workforce demand. Opponents and questions centered mainly on funding sources and program design choices, including transfer student eligibility and program administration.

Ending: Lawmakers said they would consider funding and eligibility details as they move forward. No formal committee action occurred at the close of the hearing.