1. What can you suggest to help encourage Connecticut high school seniors to attend a college or university in this state? Is there anything we can do to help prevent students from leaving the state after high school, creating a so-called "brain drain"?

2. The constituent units of higher education have been raising tuition and fees for the last few years by as much as 9%. What do you think of this trend? What can the state do to prevent similar increases in the future?

3. Many bills were proposed this year to give new tuition waivers in addition to those already available to such groups as veterans and the children of police officers and fire fighters killed in the line of duty. But tuition waivers mean paying students' tuition pays for non-paying students as well. What do you think of tuition waivers? Should there be any limit on the number allowed?

4. Connecticut is facing a severe shortage of nurses, teachers, and dental hygienists, and other professionals. What steps can the state's higher education institutions take to help address this problem?

5. Some states guarantee free tuition at their public colleges and universities for all students who do well in high school. Would you support such a plan for Connecticut? What are its advantages and disadvantages?

6. The University of California system recently called for an end to the SAT I. The SAT has historically been considered unfair and biased toward certain cultures and genders. What do you think of the SAT? Should Connecticut's colleges and universities investigate new methods of assessment? Or should they stick with the SAT, which allows them to compare high school students from around the country?

7. What are some programs or initiatives that the state's institutions of higher education are currently using, or should plan to implement, to encourage minority students to attend college and earn a degree?

8. A bill from the Public Health Committee (HB 5290) proposes to ban smoking in dormitory rooms at Connecticut's public colleges and universities. Is this an area in which the state should be involved? What are possible benefits and drawbacks of this proposal?

9. HB 5199, which died in committee this session, would have eliminated the Department of Higher Education (DHE) and transferred its duties to the Department of Education. How important is DHE's role in this state? What impact might DHE's elimination have on the state's colleges and universities?

10. Some colleges and universities appear to be placing a greater emphasis on sports than academics. Why do you think this is happening? What can we do to emphasize academics over sports at these schools?

JG: ts