Mark Ojakian’s first full year on the job as president of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) system was largely one of stabilizing and healing. It also was marked by successes, but importantly, laying the foundation for more.
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Mark Ojakian's first full year on the job as president of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) system was largely one of stabilizing and healing. It also was marked by successes, but importantly, laying the foundation for more.
He had to repair relationships between CSCU and parties that included lawmakers who control the system's budget and faculty in contract renegotiations. He had to demonstrate leadership and stability in a post that turned over four times before him between 2011 — when the system was formed to consolidate 17 colleges and universities under one umbrella — and when he became CSCU's captain in Sept. 2015.
“I think the system and the colleges were hungry for a leader who would listen, but a leader that would lead,” said Ojakian, former chief of staff to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. “And also they wanted some consistency, some stability and I think we've been able to, in the first year, at least achieve that on a short-term basis.”
Ojakian, who received a three-year contract extension Dec. 8, said relationships with bargaining units representing employees are much better than when he arrived. Negotiations continue and tentative agreements have been reached in many areas that benefit both sides, he said. Pay for the 7,000-plus faculty remains to be negotiated.
Key, too, Ojakian said he repaired relationships with the General Assembly, which he believes helped reduce budget cuts.
To cover the cuts, he canceled raises for about 300 managers, didn't refill positions, offered unpaid leave and avoided layoffs, unlike other state departments.
Still, CSCU had to raise tuition by 5 percent at universities, 3.5 percent at community colleges and 4 percent at Charter Oak State College.
CSCU also advocated successfully on behalf of part-time community college students, changing the formula for the former Governor's Scholarship program (now the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship) to benefit part-time students with low household incomes.
Additionally, he's met with foundations about scholarship assistance to help compensate for state funding cuts. And, Ojakian is working to build partnerships with foundations and businesses to potentially help pay for CSCU programs that benefit businesses but cost more than tuition covers.
He also established six work groups comprising students, faculty, school presidents and CSCU administrators to get ideas for improvements, from supply-ordering efficiencies to boosting enrollment, which fell 3.2 percent this fall in headcount.
He praised a pilot program at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield that offers instate tuition to people in nearby Massachusetts, plus its Second Chance Pell Grant program for low-risk prisoners in Enfield, both of which helped spike enrollment. The instate offer also has been authorized for Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, next to New York.
He's brought a sense of urgency to CSCU, including hiring two presidents in four months, while respecting the system's deliberative culture. He also believes the system is now seen as a resource for schools.
“ … The first year was kind of taking stock of what was and then starting to lay the strategies for how do we move forward in … these different areas,” Ojakian said.
