Not sure if 'works against their own residents' is the correct way to state it. The number of in-state has not dropped significantly, if at all, over the last 20 years but total enrollment has mushroomed as a result of out of state and out of country students. The net result is an almost totally refurbished campus without the need for the state to significantly increase public funding.
Careful now. No increase in public funding? Surely you jest.
Socially, economically and fiscally, Connecticut is being left in the lurch by many Southern and Western states, but there are many here who gain some level of satisfaction from mocking and belittling those states based on 60 year old stereotypes.
Sure Alabama has problems, but I'll bet minority home ownership and many other measures of growth and development outstrip those of Connecticut and that's a sad commentary about a state with such a rich history of cutting edge industries, beautiful old towns, hills, rivers, the Sound and so many other assets going to waste as people bail out (such as UConn's latest President).
Imagine the Legislators and Governor touting sports' betting as economic development. Have any of them given a thought to and followed through on leveraging a long term plan focusing on the excellent STEM programs at UConn? Hit and miss is the best case.
Only the pandemic, driving people from the misery of taxes and crime in NY, for example, has recently resurrected real estate values. How long will that last?