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Board backs Finish Line Scholars pilot but warns funding limits will cap reach
Summary
The board approved a pilot to extend Connecticut’s Mary Ann Hanley award model to four‑year campuses, but regents and the chancellor warned a cut in the governor’s proposed appropriation from $7.7M to $3.85M would reduce the number of students who can be served to roughly 350–450.
The Board of Regents’ finance committee voted to adopt a Finish Line Scholars pilot that would extend a Mary Ann Hanley‑style tuition support to students transferring from CT State to the system’s four‑year institutions, but regents emphasized the program’s reach will depend on state appropriations.
Chancellor Maduco told the committee that the enabling legislation ("public act 25 1 68" in the packet) initially appropriated $7.7 million to stand up the program and that system analysis showed up to 5,587 CT State students might be eligible under the statute. After presidents added eligibility criteria (including an associate degree earned at CT State), the cohort estimate fell to about 1,300. Chancellor Maduco said, however, the governor’s budget halved the appropriation to $3.85 million, leaving funding to support an estimated 350–450 students if all eligible students opted to transfer.
"We have a responsibility ... to advocate for the legislature to claw back and get us back to the original $7,700,000," Maduco said, arguing the system must avoid turning students away. Regents asked whether the board’s approval would establish a permanent program; Maduco said the proposal seeks to establish the program permanently but that its operation will be tied to "available appropriations." Vice Chair Santiago and others stressed the board would not authorize using non‑appropriated reserves to cover gaps.
The committee voted to accept the Finish Line Scholars program. Regents said they intend continued oversight and further advocacy with the governor’s office and the legislature to secure sustained funding.
