A Chronology of Laws that Transformed UCONN from a Rural Agricultural School to an International Business Machine

A View of the University of Connecticut Campus: 2016

   Introduction

    

   This blog site summarizes forty key laws passed by the Connecticut State Legislature that have transformed the Storrs Agricultural School into the internationally recognized University of Connecticut. During the 136 years since the school's founding in 1881, the university has gradually shifted from an agricultural college to a university system offering a wide range of intellectual disciplines. During this transition, UCONN was granted many extraordinary powers that were inevitably needed as it began to function more as a major corporation yet with governmental powers akin to those of a large city. 

    Gradually over time UCONN has become less dependent upon the state legislature as a result of the fiscal authorities it has been granted over the last fifty years. It has acquired its own police force, water company, sewage treatment plant, hotel, economic development organization, and vast land holdings in the town of Mansfield. As a governmental entity it has the power of eminent domain, sovereign immunity from local land use and environmental regulations, the power to issue bonds for capital improvements without consultation with the legislature and the power to set tuition for students to any level that the market will bear. Each of these powers has been granted gradually over time with the result that no single piece of legislation became a "Custer's Last Stand" scenario.    

    To understand how this remarkable transformation occurred, this blog site provides a digest and commentary on key UCONN legislation. This is the first in a series of three critiques of the University of Connecticut and its impact on the town of Mansfield and surrounding towns. Subsequent postings will address Mansfield's off campus housing crisis and the environmental damages associated with UCONN's uncontrolled growth. 

Connecticut State Capitol - The Place where these Laws Came From

   A Legislative History of UCONN: 40 Key Laws

1.   Public Act 1881-74: An Act establishing the Storrs Agricultural School
Adopted: April 16, 1881

Digest: This law created a six member board of trustees to manage the Storrs Agricultural School and to retain teachers and establish buildings for operating the school with an annual budget of $5,000. The Storrs Agricultural School is established for the education of boys, whose parents are citizens of Connecticut, in such branches of scientific knowledge as shall tend to increase their proficiency in the business of agriculture. 

Commentary:  This modest beginning focused on students from Connecticut and on the state’s agricultural needs.

2.   Public Act 1886-15:   Authorizing the Trustees of the Storrs Agricultural School to Accept Deed from Augustus Storrs

Adopted: April 9, 1886

Digest:  The trustees of the Storrs Agricultural School be authorized and directed to accept on the part and on behalf of the state of the deed from Augustus Storrs, dated March eighteenth, 1886, removing all conditions and reservations contained in his original deed of gift of the so-called Storrs Agricultural School property, dated April fifteenth, 1881.

Commentary:  Whatever restrictions Mr. Storrs placed on the original deed must have been unacceptable to the Board of Trustees.

3.  Public Act 19:-613: An Act making Provision for a Water Supply for the Connecticut Agricultural College and the Mansfield State Training School and Hospital

Adopted: May 21, 1919

Digest:  The sum of one hundred thirty thousand dollars is appropriated for the purpose of acquiring land or water, building a dam or dams, laying water mains and pipes and furnishing such equipment as shall be found necessary for a sufficient water supply for the Mansfield State Training School and Hospital and the Connecticut Agricultural College. This law approved the condemnation of land – if necessary – in order to achieve the water needs of the college.

Commentary:  The Connecticut Agricultural College was facing water demands that exceeded its available supplies as early as the second decade of the twentieth century.

4.  Special Act 51-320:  An Act Authorizing the State to Issue Bonds for the Construction of self-liquidating faculty housing at the University of Connecticut, Replacing Temporary Faculty Housing Facilities

Adopted: July 10, 1951

Digest:  The treasurer is directed, subject to the approval of a committee consisting of the governor, the comptroller, the public works commissioner and the commissioner of finance and control, to issue bonds of this state to an amount not exceeding one million dollars to construct faculty housing. At such time as permanent faculty housing constructed under the provisions of this act is available for occupancy, buildings numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 located in the north campus area shall be destroyed.

Commentary:  The fate of this faculty housing is not clear. The elimination of eight dormitories without a replacement strategy appears to set a pattern which has continued to this day.

5. Public Act 55-669: An Act Authorizing the State to Issue Bonds for the Construction of a Self-liquidating University Secondary School

Adopted: August 11, 1955

Digest:  This law establishes Edwin O. Smith School and authorizes $1.2 million to construct it.

Commentary:  UCONN has responsibility for the management of the school and tuition issues.

6. Public Act 55-67: An Act Authorizing the State to Issue Bonds for the Construction of a Self-liquidating University Secondary School

Adopted:  December 20, 1955

Digest:  This law enabled the creation of E.O. Smith High School by issuing $1.6 million in bonds to build a school for Mansfield and three or more surrounding towns.

Commentary: UCONN is charged with tuition and establishing the high school within Mansfield.

7.  Public Act 57-153:  An Act Authorizing the Board of Trustee of the University of Connecticut to Act as a local Board of Public Education

Adopted: May 1, 1957

Digest:  This law authorizes the University of Connecticut to serve as the local Board of Education for E.O. Smith High School for state and federal grants in aid.

Commentary:  The University was responsible for the town’s high school under a benign dictator form of government.

8. Special Act 57-671:  An Act Authorizing the State to Issue Bonds for the Construction of Educational Facilities at the University of Connecticut

Adopted:  June 19, 1957

Digest:  This authorized $6.36 Million for construction work of ten projects at the University of Connecticut. It also authorizes the University to retain an architect to complete this work.

Commentary:  UCONN is given greater authority over project and budgetary management with respect to its capital improvement program.

9. Public Act 57-423: An Act Concerning the University of Connecticut Auxiliary Services Fund

Adopted:  June 30, 1957

Digest: This law requires UCONN to get approval for any capital improvement project of $50,000 or more from the state legislature or in their absence from the finance advisory committee.

Commentary:  The State Legislature exercised enormous oversight over UCONN in the 1950s.

10. Public Act 57-14:  An Act Concerning a Bond issue for Educational Plant facilities at the University of Connecticut

Adopted:  October 2, 1957

Digest: This law authorizes UCONN to initiate 10 capital projects including a nuclear reactor for $100,000, a life sciences building for $3M and classroom facilities for $2M.

Commentary:  This law modified a 1955 law and a 1957 special act to give more flexibility to UCONN in the allocation of funds amongst the ten projects.

11. Public Act 69-530: An Act Concerning the Responsibilities of the Commission for Higher Education

Adopted:  1969

Digest:  The board of trustees of The University of Connecticut shall fix fees for tuition and for such other purposes as the board deems necessary at The University of Connecticut, subject to the approval of the commission for higher education, and may make refunds of the same.

Commentary:  This law gives the Board of Trustees authority to control tuition for its students subject to the approval of the commission of higher education.  This is a major step in empowering UCONN to control its revenue sources and be less dependent on the legislature.

12. Public Act No. 5: An Act Concerning Revenue Sources for the State of Connecticut

Adopted: July 8, 1971

Digest:  The board of trustees of The University of Connecticut shall fix fees for tuition of not less than three hundred and fifty dollars for residents of this state and not less than eight hundred fifty dollar for non-residents and shall fix fees for such other purposes as the board deems necessary at UCONN, subject to the approval of the commission for higher education. The status of a student as established at the time of application for admission at a constituent unit of the state system of higher education shall be his status for the entire period of his attendance at such constituent unit.

Commentary:  This law raised tuition for in state and out of state students and set precedent of allowing the Board of Trustees to determine tuition in Connecticut.

13. Public Act 72-119: An Act Concerning the Establishment of a Special Police Force for the University of Connecticut

Adopted: April 28, 1972

Digest: The jurisdiction of said special police force shall extend to the geographical limits of the property owned or under the control of The University of Connecticut in the town of Mansfield.

Commentary:  Growing enrollment and student issues triggered this decision.

14. Public Act 73-542:  An Act Concerning Waiver of Tuition at the Regional Community Colleges, the State Colleges, the State Technical Colleges and the University of Connecticut

Adopted:  June 15, 1973

Digest:  The board of trustees of The University of Connecticut shall fix fees for tuition of not less than three hundred fifty dollars for residents of this state and not less than eight hundred fifty dollars for nonresidents and may waive half the tuition for Vietnam veterans and the full tuition for children of POW or MIA soldiers.

Commentary:  Tuition fee threshold is lowered from 1969 but exemptions provided to encourage veterans and children of POW and MIA soldiers to go to college.

15. Public Act No. 74-266:  An Act Concerning Waiver of Tuition for Veterans

Adopted: May 31, 1974

Digest:  The board of trustees of UCONN shall fix fees for tuition of not less than three hundred fifty dollars for residents of this state and not less than eight hundred fifty dollars for nonresidents and shall fix fees for such other purposes as the board deems necessary subject to the approval of the commission for higher education.  The law modifies the 1973 law for veteran tuition waivers by requiring that they be residents of Connecticut.

Commentary:  The 1973 law was too permissive in scope and required a refocus to veterans within Connecticut.

16. Special Act No. 75-77: An Act Creating a Blue Ribbon Commission to Establish Specific Goals for the University of Connecticut Health Center

Adopted:  July 1, 1975

Digest:  There shall be a special commission to establish and detail the purposes and goals for The University of Connecticut Health Center.

Commentary:  The Health Center is a major expansion of the University of Connecticut system.

17. Public Act 75-504: An Act Concerning Representation on the Boards of Trustees of Public Institutions of Higher Education

Adopted: July 1, 1975

Digest:  This law increased the Governor’s appointees to the University of Connecticut’s Board of Trustees from two to four representatives.

Commentary: This is one of many steps in which political influence has grown over University of Connecticut decisions.

18. Public Act 81-466: An Act Establishing Tuition Funds for the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Health Center and Increasing Tuition Fees at the State Colleges, the Regional Community Colleges and the State Technical Colleges

Adopted:  June 23, 1981

Digest: The board of trustees of The University of Connecticut shall fix fees for tuition (1) of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars for residents of this state and not less than one thousand three hundred dollars for nonresidents enrolled in the school of law, (2) of not less than one thousand dollars for residents of this state and not less than two thousand dollars for nonresidents enrolled in the school of medicine or dental medicine and (3) of not less than five hundred forty dollars for all other residents of this state and not less than one thousand two hundred thirty dollars for all other nonresidents and shall fix fees for such other purposes as the board deems necessary at The University of Connecticut, subject to the approval of the board of higher education.

Commentary: This law is one of many that shows the growing cost of higher education – especially for out of state students.

19. Public Act No. 82-91: An Act to Implement the Appropriations Act for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1983

Adopted:  May 6, 1982

Digest:  This law authorized the University of Connecticut to raise tuition for out of state students to meet a financial threshold set by the state legislature of $1, 837,680 for FY 1983.

Commentary:  This is one of many government sanctioned examples where out of state students are used as a cash cow to achieve the fiscal objectives of the University as well as that of the state legislature.

20. Public Act 82-463:  An Act Concerning Tuition Waivers at Public Institutions of Higher Education and Increase in Tuition for Non-Resident Students

Adopted: May 21, 1982

Digest: The board of trustees of The University of Connecticut shall fix fees for tuition (1) of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars for residents of this state and not less than one thousand three hundred dollars for nonresidents enrolled in the school of law, (2) of not less than one thousand dollars for residents of this state and not less than two thousand dollars for nonresidents enrolled in the school of medicine or dental medicine and (3) of not less than five hundred forty dollars for all other residents of this state and not less than one thousand two hundred thirty dollars for all other nonresidents and shall fix fees for such other purposes as the board deems necessary at The University of Connecticut, subject to the approval of the board of higher education, and may make refunds of the same. The board of trustees shall, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1983, implement a tuition schedules which shall increase fees for tuition for any nonresident student, except nonresident medical and dental students, provided the tuition schedule shall be designed to collect tuition revenue in an amount equal to one million, eight hundred thirty-seven thousand six hundred eighty dollars.

Commentary: This law creates incentives for the collection of tuition from non-residents as a means to achieve specific financial goals of the university.

21. Public Act 84-465:   An Act Concerning the Establishment of Tuition funds for the Regional Community Colleges and the Connecticut State University

Adopted: June 4, 1984

Digest: This law establishes the Connecticut State University tuition fund for tracking revenues generated by the state university system. The fund’s expenditures can’t exceed that authorized by the Governor.

Commentary:  This appears to be a means for greater fiscal accountability in the use of student generated funds.

22. Special Act 84-442: An Act Concerning Authorization of State Grant Commitments for School Construction Projects

Adopted: June 7, 1984

Digest: This law enabled E.O. Smith High School to receive a grant of $5M for capital improvements. It also authorized the quit claim transfer of the title to ownership of the school’s land & buildings from the UCONN to the towns of Mansfield and Ashford effective July 1, 1987.

Commentary:  The University of Connecticut had owned the town’s high school since its inception in the mid-1950s. This transfer was a major step in enabling the towns to control their own high school.

23. Public Act 85-108:  An Act Concerning the Development of a Connecticut Technology Park at Storrs

Adopted: June 7, 1985

Digest: The University of Connecticut may, enter into a lease for the total rent of one dollar with The University of Connecticut Educational Properties, Inc. (UCEPI), for all or any portion of the land under its custody and control known as the North Campus, consisting of 390 acres, more or less, situated in the town of Mansfield.  This grant of land is for the creation of a research technology park, hotel and conference center, office and residential facilities and such other use or uses as shall, in the judgment of the board of trustees, enhance and benefit The University of Connecticut as a major research institution, provide increased housing for university staff, students and others, and enable the university to participate to a greater extent in the state's program of economic development. Any such lease shall provide that the board of directors of UCEPI may oversee all aspects of such development.  The town of Mansfield was allowed to tax properties developed on this parcel.

Digest:  This law enabled the University of Connecticut to switch from an educational institution to a business development institution in coordination with UCEPI.

24. Public Act 85-544: An Act Providing funds for the Extension of Water and Sewer Services of the University of Connecticut to certain low and moderate income Housing in Mansfield and concerning factors considered by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection in Granting Diversion Permits

Adopted:  July 5, 1985

Digest:  UCONN’s board of trustees is authorized to enter into an agreement with the town of Mansfield and the Mansfield Housing Authority to permit extension of the water line and sewer system of The University of Connecticut to certain real property in the town of Mansfield on which the Mansfield Housing Authority will undertake a housing project for the purpose of developing housing predominantly for low and moderate income families.  The extension of the water line and sewer system of UCONN is for the sole purpose of providing water and sewer service for this housing, provided there shall be no cost to UCONN as a result of the extension.  This law also altered the criteria the state could use to approve a water diversion permit.

Commentary: The University’s sewer and water service have been a means of urbanizing the areas surrounding the university’s campus enabling a development pattern the university’s administration favors since it fosters off campus housing and business development supporting its business mission. Interestingly enough, this law also altered the criteria for issuing a water diversion permit to allow consideration of the interests of the towns that would be affected by the diversion. This would turn out to be a critical change in the law that enabled UCONN to obtain a water diversion permit 28 years later.

25. Special Act No. 89-36 An Act Authorizing the University of Connecticut to Convey or Lease land to the Connecticut Fraternal Housing Corporation and to the University of Connecticut Chapter of the American Association of University Professors

Adopted: June 26, 1989

Digest:  Effective June 26, 1989 and for the next five years, the University of Connecticut is authorized to building student housing for fraternal organizations on a 24.17 acre parcel owned by the University and Timothy Costello. The law allows the provision of sewer and water services to the proposed student housing.

Commentary: This represents the first effort by the University of Connecticut to return fraternities to on campus housing.

26. Public Act 90-259:  An Act Concerning Campus Safety

Adopted:  June 8, 1990

Digest:  On or before September 1, 1991, and annually thereafter, each institution of higher education shall prepare in such manner as the commissioner of higher education shall prescribe a uniform campus crime report concerning crimes committed in the immediately preceding calendar year within the geographical limits of the property owned or under the control of such institution.  This law also requires UCONN to notify all new applicants and all new employees of these crime reports.  The law also protects those who wish to report crimes to university or local police.

Commentary:  Increasing crime problems on UCONN’s campus led to the enactment of this legislation.

27. Public Act 95-230: An Act to Enhance the Infrastructure of the University of Connecticut

Adopted:  June 7, 1995

Digest: The purpose of The University of Connecticut 2000 Act is to promote the welfare and prosperity of the people of the state and the continuation and improvement of their educational opportunities by approving a special capital improvement program for The University of Connecticut and enabling The University of Connecticut to borrow money and enter into financing transactions in its own name, on behalf of the state, to expand the authority of The University of Connecticut to construct projects and to assure a state commitment to support the financing of the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipping of facilities, structures and related systems for the benefit of the educational and economic development needs of the state and The University of Connecticut, all to the public benefit and good, and the exercise of the powers, to the extent and manner provided in the UCONN 2000 Act, is declared to be for a public purpose and to be the exercise of an essential governmental function. It authorizes $980,000,000 in general obligation bonds for a ten year period for projects estimated to cost $1.250 Billion.   The law indicates that as long as any securities are outstanding that the University has established, it will charge, collect and increase, from time to time, and in time tuition fees and charges for its educational services, its auxiliary enterprises, including dormitory housing, food services and sale of textbooks and use of the physical university plant and for all other services and goods provided by the university, the amount of which, together with other assured revenues or other revenues otherwise available to the university including proceeds  available from the special external gift fund shall in each of its fiscal years be sufficient to pay when due, the special debt service requirements on outstanding securities.  This law also allows UCONN to issue its own securities to fund the work of UCONN 2000.  At the request of the university, filed with the commissioner of public works, the university may assume, and thereafter shall, have charge and supervision of the design, planning, acquisition, remodeling, alteration, repair, enlargement, demolition of any real asset or any other project, which is authorized and underway as of the effective date of this act.  The law also authorizes zoning exemptions for projects in the UCONN 2000 initiative that are located in business zones.

Commentary:  This law essentially transforms UCONN from an educational institution with business responsibilities to a business institution with educational responsibilities. UCONN’s aggressive increases in tuition stem from this enabling legislation. This law also freed UCONN from the oversight of the Commissioner of Public Works enabling UCONN to be an independent contractor for its own services (see Section 14 of the Act).  This also authorizes UCONN to build in any zone that allows commercial structures without requiring compliance with Mansfield’s zoning regulations.

28. Public Act 96-244:  An Act Concerning Revision to the Education Statutes

Adopted: June 6, 1996

Digest:  Among many other items, this law exempts any hotel or mercantile property built on a 349 acre parcel in North Campus from Mansfield property tax for seven years and then gradually increases the tax rate until it achieves parity with town valuation standards after the 10^th year.  This law also authorizes $868,000,000 for the UCONN 2000 projects. The University of Connecticut Educational Properties, Inc. is responsible for the development of this land under a 1985 act of the legislature.

Commentary:  This law makes it clear that Mansfield can’t tax any developments within the UCEPI domain for a minimum of 7 years and then another three years before it can be fully taxed. This economic incentive makes no sense if indeed the University has any locational advantages that would attract hotels and corporate facilities. It would prove to be a pipe dream for many years and indeed even today nothing has yet been built on the UCEPI property – although one building is near completion after over 30 years of dilly dallying around.

29. Public Act 97-293:  An Act Concerning Advancement of Public Institutions of Higher Education

Adopted: July 18, 1997

Digest:  The Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University system shall establish a permanent Endowment Fund for the Connecticut State University system to encourage donations from the private sector, with an incentive in the form of an Endowment Fund state grant, the net earnings on the principal of which are dedicated and made available to a state university or the Connecticut State University system as a whole, for endowed professorships, scholarships and programmatic enhancements.

Commentary:  UCONN’s building program requires enormous fiscal resources and as a result the legislature is encouraging UCONN to seek alternative funding sources.

30. Public Act 98-124: An Act Concerning Interest Rate Risk Management Agreements in Connection with State Bonds and Expanding Certain Investment Options for State Bond Proceeds

Adopted: May 27, 1998

Digest: This law provides UCONN with authority to enter into flexible and innovative credit arrangements as long as they are judged to be safe by national risk management associations.

Commentary: UCONN is in desperate need of funding and is seeking flexibility to maximize its interest income and reduce debt service.

31.   Public Act No. 00-192 An Act Concerning Individual Development Accounts Among many other topics

Adopted:  May 26, 2000

Digest: This law is a pork barrel of state funded projects including a continued support for the Homer Babbidge Library project in Mansfield.

Commentary:  The library renovation project was a financial disaster.

32.   Public Act No. 06-134: An Act Concerning Construction Oversight at the University of Connecticut and the Pre-Qualification of Substantial Contractors

Adopted: June 6, 2006

Digest: Effective July 1, 2006 auditors are required to conduct annual investigation of UCONN’s building practices for a period of five years.  This was prompted by years of waste, fraud and abuse within UCONN 2000 construction project.  The law also required a construction oversight committee.  The law also required the University of Connecticut to establish the construction assurance office as a full time office to review the performance of UCONN 2000. The law also allowed for the delegation of state building code and fire code enforcement to the University of Connecticut. It also required total cost basis contracts.

Commentary: Unfortunately this authority has expired even though its need remains constant. The University of Connecticut was mismanaging millions of dollars of construction contracts and misusing state contracting procedures. The Construction Management Oversight Committee (CMOC) is now defunct as several legislators resigned resulting in an insufficient membership for a quorum. Lacking a quorum the CMOC has been rolled into UCONN's Building, Grounds and Envronmental Committee (BGE) which inevitably falls short of the intended purpose of Public Act 06-134.

33. Public Act No. 07-166: An Act Concerning the Faculty at the Public Institutions of Higher Education and Revisions to Various Higher Education Statutes

Adopted: June 19, 2007

Digest: This law covers a wide array of topics but most importantly it authorized a construction management oversight committee to monitor UCONN.  The members appointed shall have expertise in the fields of construction management, architectural design or construction project management. The construction management oversight committee shall review and approve the policies and procedures developed by The University of Connecticut to undertake any project of UCONN 2000, concerning the selection of design professionals and contractors, contract compliance, building and fire code compliance, deferred maintenance, and an annual budget for such maintenance, project and program budgets and schedules and the authorization and review of contract changes. There is no expiration date on the committee’s function.

Commentary:  This law established a long term oversight function over UCONN’s building program.

34. Public Act No. 07-108: An Act Concerning the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority and the Schedule of Estimates Costs of UCONN 2000 Projects

Adopted: July 1, 2007

Digest:  This law authorized $1.348 Billion in bonds for phase 3 of University of Connecticut projects (2005 to 2015). Phases 1 and 2 authorized $1.250 Billion in bonds. The university may administer, manage, schedule, finance, further design and construct UCONN 2000, to operate and maintain the components thereof in a prudent and economical manner and to reserve for and make renewals and replacements thereof when appropriate, it being hereby determined and found to be in the best interest of the state and the university to provide this independent authority.  The law also created a body politic and corporate to be known as the "Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority to administer the education loan program and revenue bonds used to finance UCONN 2000.

Commentary: This law gives an enormous amount of power to an administrative agency to issue revenue bonds without state legislative oversight.

35. Public Act No. 09-7: An Act Implementing the Provisions of the Budget Concerning General Government and Making Changes to Various Programs

Adopted: October 5, 2009

Digest: While this law covers a wide range of budget issues, its relevance is that the commissioner of Public Works is given greater authority to terminate contractors and sub-contractors for cause.

Commentary: Oversight of government contractors is improved by this law.

36. Special Act No. 09-9: An Act Authorizing the University of Connecticut to Receive and Treat Sewage from the town of Mansfield

Adopted: June 29, 2009

Digest: UCONN’s Board of Trustees may enter into an agreement with the town of Mansfield to receive and treat sewage from the Four Corners area of said town. The board of trustees may grant easements over land owned by the university for the purpose of constructing a sewer system to convey the sewage from the Four Comers area to the sewer collection system of the university.

Commentary:  This law, while presumably helping UCONN is actually a tool that now allows UCONN to expand into other areas of Mansfield that are zoned for business purposes.

37. Public Act 10-104: An Act Establishing the University of Connecticut Health Network and Connecticut Bio-Science Initiative

Adopted: June 3, 2010

Digest: This law, while covering health center budget issues, also authorizes the University of Connecticut to expand its construction budget to $1.555 Billion over the period 2005 to 2018 thereby superseding previous legislation enacted by the State legislature. The bonds issued pursuant to this act shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. Not later than June 30, 2011, the president of The University of Connecticut and the Governor's designee shall notify the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management whether not less than one hundred million dollars in federal, private or other non-state money has been contributed pursuant to section 10a-109e of the general statutes, as amended by this act. In the event the notification states that such money has not been contributed, construction on The University of Connecticut Health Center new construction and renovation shall not commence until such money has been raised, at which time construction may commence.

Commentary: The state is responsible for the debts created by UCONN if it defaults. This law forces UCONN to achieve a $100 million pledge before work can proceed.

38. Public Act No. 11-75: AN Act Concerning the University of Connecticut Health Center

Adopted: July 8, 2011

Digest: This law extends the bonding obligation of the state to $1.818 billion to cover additional Health Center construction projects. Under this law, the university shall be entitled to rely on the amount of the state debt service commitment and minimum state operating provision as and for assured revenues in any financing transaction proceeding, provided, to the extent any such proceeding includes reliance on such state debt service commitment and such minimum state operating provision, the university commits to a rate covenant and covenants, in substance, with the state and the holders of its securities to the effect that as long as any securities thereunder are outstanding that it has established and will charge, collect and increase, from time to time, and in time tuition fees and charges for its educational services, its auxiliary enterprises, including dormitory housing, food services and sale of textbooks and use of the physical university plant and for all other services and goods provided by the university, the amount of which, together with other assured revenues or other revenues otherwise available to the university including proceeds available from the Special External Gift Fund shall in each of its fiscal years be sufficient to pay when due, the special debt service requirements on outstanding securities and to permit the university to operate and maintain itself as an institution dedicated to excellence in higher education and to operate and maintain the physical university plant in sound operating condition and to otherwise permit the performance of all covenants included in the financing documents. This law raised the bond issuance authority of the state bond commission from $30M to $32M.

Commentary:  This law clearly allows UCONN to raise tuition to pay for its enormous debt without any constraints imposed by the state legislature.  This is a major transformation of the free tuition system that UCONN provided prior to 1971.

39. Public Act No. 12-156: An Act Concerning Revisions to the Higher Education Statutes

Adopted: June 15, 2012

Digest:  This law allows the University of Connecticut to establish endowed chairs if a grant of $500,000 can be raised.

Commentary:  This law authorizes the university to look for superstar professors to enhance its national reputation and attract more students.

40. Public Act 13-233: An Act Concerning Next Generation Connecticut

Adopted: July 1, 2013

Digest:  The purpose of The University of Connecticut 2000 Act is to promote the welfare and prosperity of the people of the state and the continuation and improvement of their educational opportunities by approving a special capital improvement program for The University of Connecticut and enabling The University of Connecticut to borrow money and enter into financing transactions in its own name, on behalf of the state, to expand the authority of The University of Connecticut to construct projects and to assure a state commitment to support the financing of the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipping of facilities, structures and related systems for the benefit of the educational and economic development needs of the state and The University of Connecticut, all to the public benefit and good, and the exercise of the powers, to the extent and manner provided in The University of Connecticut 2000 Act, is declared to be for a public purpose and to be the exercise of an essential governmental function. This law limits UCONN’s debt for the period 1996 to 2005 to $2.034 Billion and for the period 2006 to 2024 to $3.270 Billion. The law also enables sub-committees of the Board of Trustees to have enormous power as follows: The board of trustees of the university is hereby authorized by such resolution to delegate to its finance committee such matters as it may determine appropriate other than the authorization and maximum amount of the securities to be issued, the nature of the obligation of the securities as established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the projects for which the proceeds are to be used. The finance committee may act on such matters unless and until the board of trustees elects to re-assume the same.  This law also increases the maximum debt service that the legislature will enable UCONN to create during the period 2014 to 2018 by over ½ Billion dollars but then allows it to resume to previously established levels after 2018. The State legislature reaffirmed its support for the university to have charge and supervision of the design, planning, acquisition, remodeling, alteration, repair, enlargement or demolition of any real asset or any other project on its campuses through the year 2024.

Commentary:  This level of debt service – an aggregate of $5.3 Billion for the two phases - is outrageous and underscores the complete recklessness of UCONN’s viral growth of the last twenty years without regard to its consequences to Connecticut taxpayers (who are responsible for paying off the General Obligation bonds) or to the students who are now experiencing dramatically higher and uncontrolled tuition.  Deferred building maintenance has been increased from $215M to $805M for the period 2005 to 2024 under this law. This law increased UCONN’s total approved capital investment strategy from $1.818 Billion to $3.369 Billion. 

Research Methods:
Details on the sources and methods used in this research can be found by clicking on Notes on the Research Supporting this Blog.