Committee raises 10 higher-education concepts for public hearing, including 90‑credit degree proposal

The Higher Education Employment Advancement Committee voted Feb. 17 to raise 10 proposed measures for public hearing, advancing a package that includes proposals on disciplinary-hearing advocates, an expanded debt-free community college program, permission for 90‑credit degree offerings and a plan to reestablish a veterinary training pipeline with the University of Connecticut.

Chair opened the meeting and said the 10-item package ‘‘should round out the balance of bills that this committee will be considering this year’’ and that the group planned to move the concepts into the public hearing phase after today’s action. The public hearing on the raised concepts is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.

Why it matters: The group’s items include proposals that change student protections, financial aid coverage and program structure at public higher-education institutions. If advanced in public hearings and eventual legislation, several measures could alter degree pathways, institutional responsibilities and state funding obligations.

What was raised: Committee members reviewed short summaries of…