Can UConn absorb 40,000 more students?

[UConnTrumbull]

UConn is very competitive for in-state kids these days. Top 10-15% of high school class is the norm now.

 

[History Geek]

My school used to send 40+ kids to UConn every year. Now it's dropped to 20-25 in the past few years because 1) it's harder to get into Storrs proper and 2) many of those branched (and don't care as much about the $$$ saved by not paying room and board) would rather go somewhere else where they can live on campus.

 

[BlueandOG]

I am on the side of democrats.

So many alumni I know their kids are B+ to A- students and they get “branched”.

Now, I am a proud branchfer who went to West Hartford UConn back in the day, I think Hartford is a wonderful site and for many students that is the way to go.

But if student doesn’t want to be a commuter what are their options?

My daughter is a perfect example. B+ student, wants to be a teacher.

She loved Colorado-Boulder and strongly considered going there. Luckily for her parents wallet, and state of CT education system, she is at Southern CT and loves it.

Luckily the southern, central, western and eastern teaching programs are incredibly strong.

But, if a student is an engineering student, I fear they will go to an out of state school and never return.

Its hard. We want to the best students at state flagship, but there are a lot of students who don’t get into UConn, but get into flagships of other states and never return.

I am a superintendent of schools. Southern is a great school for teachers. She will learn the skills she needs to succeed. Tell her that she is entering one of the most important professions and I am proud to call her a colleague.

 

[BlueandOG]

There are plenty of smart, high-achieving kids who want to go to UConn now; imagine what it will be like in 10 years when we are good at football. We will be the Michigan of New England

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Corrected: Michigan will be the UConn of the Midwest

 

[UCTitleTown]

I am on the side of democrats.

So many alumni I know their kids are B+ to A- students and they get “branched”.

Now, I am a proud branchfer who went to West Hartford UConn back in the day, I think Hartford is a wonderful site and for many students that is the way to go.

But if student doesn’t want to be a commuter what are their options?

My daughter is a perfect example. B+ student, wants to be a teacher.

She loved Colorado-Boulder and strongly considered going there. Luckily for her parents wallet, and state of CT education system, she is at Southern CT and loves it.

Luckily the southern, central, western and eastern teaching programs are incredibly strong.

But, if a student is an engineering student, I fear they will go to an out of state school and never return.

Its hard. We want to the best students at state flagship, but there are a lot of students who don’t get into UConn, but get into flagships of other states and never return.

I think Western is great for aspiring teachers and there is a strong market for them in the Danbury area.

 

[huskyinfl]

USF is AAU. Think we’re not competitive with them academically?

Did my grad work at a top 10 USF program. What I learned at UConn made it a joke and easy.

 

[shizzle787]

I would do 2 things.

1. Develop a plan to make Storrs a 30,000 student campus. Add dorms and infrastructure to make that feasible.

2. Create a “new” UConn- Stamford (or maybe one of the other branches which is effectively its own entity as part of the UConn system. Similar to UMass-Lowell, UNC Charlotte and other such entities. Then you can get a 4-year degree from Stamford ( I don’t think you can do that at branches now) or any advanced degree they offer, not just an MBA.

Disagree with #2 as a degree from UConn-Stamford won’t have the same steam as a degree from UConn. Just let 4 year students at Stanford continue to get a degree from UConn proper.

 

[uconndennis]

I am on the side of democrats.

So many alumni I know their kids are B+ to A- students and they get “branched”.

Now, I am a proud branchfer who went to West Hartford UConn back in the day, I think Hartford is a wonderful site and for many students that is the way to go.

But if student doesn’t want to be a commuter what are their options?

My daughter is a perfect example. B+ student, wants to be a teacher.

She loved Colorado-Boulder and strongly considered going there. Luckily for her parents wallet, and state of CT education system, she is at Southern CT and loves it.

Luckily the southern, central, western and eastern teaching programs are incredibly strong.

But, if a student is an engineering student, I fear they will go to an out of state school and never return.

Its hard. We want to the best students at state flagship, but there are a lot of students who don’t get into UConn, but get into flagships of other states and never return.

Just went through this…my daughter wanted to be a Husky since she was kid….3.7gpa, 1400 sat and gets branched. Doesn’t want to go to Stamford so she appeals the campus location. UConn takes almost 90 days to reply (into early June) and accept her to Storrs. By that time she had to make plans elsewhere and is now at Virginia Tech, 9 hours away

 

[Patman]

Just went through this…my daughter wanted to be a Husky since she was kid….3.7gpa, 1400 sat and gets branched. Doesn’t want to go to Stamford so she appeals the campus location. UConn takes almost 90 days to reply (into early June) and accept her to Storrs. By that time she had to make plans elsewhere and is now at Virginia Tech, 9 hours away

Those kind of numbers, UConn just has to be preferring out of staters and the money they'd pay then.

 

[BigTenFan]

Just went through this…my daughter wanted to be a Husky since she was kid….3.7gpa, 1400 sat and gets branched. Doesn’t want to go to Stamford so she appeals the campus location. UConn takes almost 90 days to reply (into early June) and accept her to Storrs. By that time she had to make plans elsewhere and is now at Virginia Tech, 9 hours away

Congratulations- VT is a great school!

 

[uconnfan68]

Did my grad work at a top 10 USF program. What I learned at UConn made it a joke and easy.

Then how did they get AAU membership?

 

[hank970]

Then how did they get AAU membership?

Things like academic excellence, research activity, number of faculty elected to membership in national academies, output of peer-reviewed publication, and so on.

 

[Redding Husky]

Dorms on Avery Point would be awesome. Oceanfront living at in-state tuition prices would be a super fun way to spend college years.


Yep. I teach at a small, private middle school where our kids end up with pretty impressive college matriculations. That being said, our not as strong kids who live in CT have been caught in the "I could always go to UConn" trap and then realize they can't get in and end up settling for expensive, but underwhelming private schools and out-of-state publics. UConn isn't a typical destination for our graduates, but our one full ride scholarship kid is starting at UConn now.

My brother graduated from Roger Williams in Bristol, RI. IIRC (it’s been 40 years) his dorm was on a cliff overlooking the ocean or bay. Pretty cool.

 

[Redding Husky]

Just went through this…my daughter wanted to be a Husky since she was kid….3.7gpa, 1400 sat and gets branched. Doesn’t want to go to Stamford so she appeals the campus location. UConn takes almost 90 days to reply (into early June) and accept her to Storrs. By that time she had to make plans elsewhere and is now at Virginia Tech, 9 hours away

A friend of mine from high school went to VT, majored in math. Now lives in a mansion in Houston.

When I applied to UConn-Storrs in the early 1980’s, my SAT’s were in the top 1/3 of those admitted. Now I’d be in the bottom 1/3 and probably wouldn’t get in.

 

[CL82]

A friend of mine from high school went to VT, majored in math. Now lives in a mansion in Houston.

When I applied to UConn-Storrs in the early 1980’s, my SAT’s were in the top 1/3 of those admitted. Now I’d be in the bottom 1/3 and probably wouldn’t get in.

Friend of mine went to Montclair and he has mansions in North Jersey and at the Jersey shore. He recently sold his mansion in Houston.

I have another friend who went to Princeton undergrad and Yale law school. He is amazingly wealthy and yet lives in a modest house (and has a modest shore house.)

There's a lot of places you can get a good education. What you do with it it's up to you.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

@AD DB Burner If you are still in the area of Avey Point... UConn is offering property across the ponds or from Shenny Yacht Club to a developer/operator to build a 50 room hotel on the site. I think it is an attempt to sweeten the dorm construction deal on campus proper. Said it was to accommodate academic related guests but given the very walkable proximity to a golf course, two marinas with short term anchorages, perhaps day access to EP Beach, boat launch, guest lodging for weddings at the Branford House etc. It would be an attractive draw for many out of the area guests.

 

[AD DB Burner]

@AD DB Burner If you are still in the area of Avey Point... UConn is offering property across the ponds or from Shenny Yacht Club to a developer/operator to build a 50 room hotel on the site. I think it is an attempt to sweeten the dorm construction deal on campus proper. Said it was to accommodate academic related guests but given the very walkable proximity to a golf course, two marinas with short term anchorages, perhaps day access to EP Beach, boat launch, guest lodging for weddings at the Branford House etc. It would be an attractive draw for many out of the area guests.

Yes, I am still in the area, but I had not heard of that until now. Thank you for sharing. I completely agree that it would have the potential to be a very attractive draw for out-of-area guests, especially for weddings at the Branford House. Knowing how local politics work around here, I would still be surprised if it came to fruition, but I will keep my fingers crossed.

 

[CL82]

I am on the side of democrats.

So many alumni I know their kids are B+ to A- students and they get “branched”.

Now, I am a proud branchfer who went to West Hartford UConn back in the day, I think Hartford is a wonderful site and for many students that is the way to go.

But if student doesn’t want to be a commuter what are their options?

My daughter is a perfect example. B+ student, wants to be a teacher.

She loved Colorado-Boulder and strongly considered going there. Luckily for her parents wallet, and state of CT education system, she is at Southern CT and loves it.

Luckily the southern, central, western and eastern teaching programs are incredibly strong.

But, if a student is an engineering student, I fear they will go to an out of state school and never return.

Its hard. We want to the best students at state flagship, but there are a lot of students who don’t get into UConn, but get into flagships of other states and never return.

But by the same logic aren't other states best in brightest ending up Connecticut and staying?

 

[LoyalFanCT]

UConn is reviewing enrollment numbers for 70 programs, causing concern for the professors who teach them.

 

[JohnFSilver]

But by the same logic aren't other states best in brightest ending up Connecticut and staying?

Some do stay. But I still think state kid who goes to state school is more likely to stay the a kid fro outside.

It’s CT taxpayer money, shouldn't CT students benefit?

There has to be a balance, Michigan, UNC, Virginia have become very difficult to get in to. I think UConn, Rutgers, Penn State and other state schools are starting to get even more exclusive. Is that good or bad?

Really does depend on the major tbh. For jobs like teaching and nursing, the hope is they stay in CT after graduation.

I think there has to be a balance. What I hate is educating kids at UConn, they leave tindi enginnering in Texas. Grr. Too much talent down there. Lol.

 

[CL82]

Some do stay. But I still think state kid who goes to state school is more likely to stay the a kid fro outside.

It’s CT taxpayer money, shouldn't CT students benefit?

There has to be a balance, Michigan, UNC, Virginia have become very difficult to get in to. I think UConn, Rutgers, Penn State and other state schools are starting to get even more exclusive. Is that good or bad?

Really does depend on the major tbh. For jobs like teaching and nursing, the hope is they stay in CT after graduation.

I think there has to be a balance. What I hate is educating kids at UConn, they leave tindi enginnering in Texas. Grr. Too much talent down there. Lol.

Yeah, but your argument is that Connecticut kids go to school away and then we lose that talent, but out of state kids come to Connecticut and don't stay? It seems inconsistent.

For what it's worth Connecticut students receive aid that out of state students do not. So there is an economic incentive to taking out of state students. (Of course, those out-of-state students may be entitled to merit scholarships or economic need grants.)

 

[JohnFSilver]

Yeah, but your argument is that Connecticut kids go to school away and then we lose that talent, but out of state kids come to Connecticut and don't stay? It seems inconsistent.

For what it's worth Connecticut students receive aid that out of state students do not. So there is an economic incentive to taking out of state students. (Of course, those out-of-state students may be entitled to merit scholarships or economic need grants.)

Good point. I jut don't want my kid to go to Penn State or Colorado-Boulder. I want him to go to UConn .

 

[CL82]

Good point. I jut don't want my kid to go to Penn State or Colorado-Boulder. I want him to go to UConn .

Me too! (neither did.)

 

[UConnJim]

UConn is reviewing enrollment numbers for 70 programs, causing concern for the professors who teach them.

There are many majors at UConn that have 0 to 10 total enrollment. Someone should examine the need for some majors and maybe they should be offered at other state universities instead. That said, you can still have professors teaching classes on a subject for electives, but you may not need to offer a major in a subject.

 

[Patman]

There are many majors at UConn that have 0 to 10 total enrollment. Someone should examine the need for some majors and maybe they should be offered at other state universities instead. That said, you can still have professors teaching classes on a subject for electives, but you may not need to offer a major in a subject.

state universities can be pluses and minuses for more niche majors and programs but sometimes you do have to consider if you want to invest in a hardcore language program, for instance.

The long argument as i think I've said before is who is the ultimate customer of a university? Is it the student? Taxpayer? State resident? State government? Employers in the state?

At least at a private school the benefactor, unless subsidized by the government, is the student. This is incredibly unclear at public universities.