UConn Board of Trustees (CGS § 10a-103, 104)

● The board consists of 21 members.

● The governor appoints 12 members who serve staggered, six-year terms.  Students elect two members, one undergraduate and one graduate, who serve staggered, two-year terms.  Alumni elect two members to staggered, four-year terms.

● The governor; agriculture, economic and community development, and education commissioners; and the chairman of the UConn Health Center Board of Trustees are ex-officio members.

● One chamber confirms.

● The board makes rules for governing the university and develops a mission statement for it, including the role and scope of each branch campus.  It establishes schools, colleges, divisions, and departments within the university.  It oversees the financing and construction of UConn 2000.  The board coordinates branch and institutional services and programs and makes recommendations on closing or merging campuses.  It sets tuition and fees.  It promotes fund raising and establishes gift policies for its foundation.

QUESTIONS

1. The board recently approved a 6% tuition increase, rather than the 8.67% increase reportedly favored by students and faculty. If any programs or services must be cut as a result of the lower increase, where should the cuts be made? In what other ways can UConn increase efficiency while maintaining the quality of its educational programs?

2. UConn has faced two rounds of rescissions in the current fiscal year. In what areas has it made cuts and how are the cuts affecting students and faculty?

3. President Hogan recently stated that UConn is considering closing regional campuses to cope with budget cuts. What do you think of this option?

4. Has UConn identified any potential grant opportunities in the recent federal stimulus act?

5. What are your thoughts on the UConn Health Center's proposed partnership with Hartford Hospital? What opportunities and challenges does the partnership present for the university?

6. Some colleges are considering three-year degree programs as a way of cutting families' college costs.   What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach? Do you envision UConn experimenting with such programs?

7. A group of college presidents recently reopened a national debate on the drinking age, arguing that the current drinking age promotes a culture of dangerous binge-drinking on college campuses.  How bad is the binge-drinking problem at UConn? Do you think UConn is doing enough to protect students from alcohol-related dangers?

8. How do you see UConn's athletic success contributing to its educational mission?

9. UConn performs below its peers in licensing and patent activity.  Should the university be doing more to promote innovation and commercialization? If so, what strategies should it pursue?

10. What lessons has the board learned from the problems encountered in the UConn 2000 and 21^st Century UConn construction programs? What has it done to address these problems?

RP:ts