Connecticut Gov. Lamont says UConn students operating under ‘misinformation’: No budget cuts

As hundreds of UConn students protested at the state Capitol, Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday they were operating under “misinformation’' because he has not cut the university’s budget.

The state’s contribution to UConn, he said, is not decreasing this year. Instead, the university would be losing federal money from the coronavirus pandemic that was scheduled to expire at the end of the current academic year in the same way that one-time federal funding for other programs has also expired.

“We’ve increased funding for UConn every year since I’ve been in office,’' Lamont said when asked by The Courant during an appearance in Hartford. “We’re going to continue to invest in UConn. I think it’s the right thing to do for the kids and the right thing to do for the state. The baseline has gone up every year. It’s gone up dramatically in this coming biennium.’'

Lamont dismissed recent statements by UConn president Radenka Maric that she might pull the men’s and women’s basketball teams out of the XL Center in downtown Hartford if UConn does not receive the proper state funding.

“They’re going to play at the XL Center,’’ Lamont responded. “You’ve got a lot of UConn alumni all over the Greater Hartford area. That place is packed and thriving. We love to see UConn win, and that’s not going to change.’’

Lamont seemed surprised and personally offended about some criticisms by students that he has not been active enough with the UConn trustees and on the campus. He paused before answering and said, “I go to UConn a lot. I love UConn Huskies sports. I sat down with the budget officer and Radenka, weeks ago, on site, walking through the budget going forward. I’ve met with students while I’m there. Get your facts straight.’’

The boost in federal funding, he said, is ending because the pandemic has subsided and is not as much of a problem as in 2020 before a vaccine was developed and distributed around the country.

“In the case of UConn, they had dorms that were empty,’' Lamont said. “They were doing testing. They were doing vaccinations. So that money doesn’t have to all be replaced. The nature of that emergency is over. But the baseline funding for the kids continues to go up.’'

Asked about the frustrations of students who left classes Wednesday and boarded multiple buses to protest at the Capitol, Lamont said, “I think they got some misinformation. They were told that we’re cutting funding for the University of Connecticut and that implied a lack of commitment to the kids and all the amazing things they’re doing at UConn. I’ve just got to remind them that we’re up ... over the last four years. We’re up quite a bit in this current cycle, and that’s going to continue because UConn is our future.’'

State statistics show that the top 15 highest-paid state employees all work at UConn, and 66 of the top 90 also work at UConn. The university has the highest total payroll of any state agency, including large departments like corrections and transportation, as well as the entire judicial branch, according to statistics released by the state comptroller.

The crowd outside the Capitol was estimated at 700 people in a gathering that was far smaller than past protests over taxes, guns, and other issues. The students then came inside the Capitol complex and filled the largest legislative room for a public hearing on the budget. They sat behind top UConn officials as the students were holding red-and-black signs that said “Fund The Future’' while wearing red T-shirts that said #Save UConn.

During the hearing, state Rep. Toni Walker of New Haven - a key player as co-chairwoman of the budget-writing committee - noted that she had once received a text message from Maric at 4:10 a.m. soon after she became the university president. Walker said she was surprised, but happened to be awake at that moment and texted her back.

Walker told Maric at the hearing that the state not only funds UConn but also the Connecticut State University that includes Western, Eastern, Southern, and Central state universities.

“We cannot take one baby over the other,’' Walker said.

The ranking House Republican on the committee, Rep. Tammy Nuccio of Tolland, said there was “misconstrued information’' because the federal pandemic money - known as ARPA - is running out.

“UConn has not been cut,’' Nuccio said, adding that she was not sure what UConn officials were asking for. “The block grant is going up, but I need to understand the numbers.’'

“For me, as the president, the students are the number one priority,’' Maric responded.

She then deferred to UConn’s chief financial officer, Jeffrey Geoghegan, who said, “We’re never asked for ARPA money or ARPA dollars to continue. ... Now, coming back to 2024, our request is not for ARPA funds. We would rather have this in the block grant.’'

Rep. Gregory Haddad, a Democrat who represents the district that includes the university in Storrs, noted that Lamont believes there can be efficiences by combining UConn and the health center in Farmington. The multiple options also include larger classes and tuition increases.

“The last thing that I want to do is increase tuition for our students,’' Maric said, adding that tuition increases for Storrs students would be $3,000 each if the budget gap was closed by the students.

“I want more scholarships,’' Maric said. “I want more support for students. ... Students first. UConn always and Huskies forever.’'

Haddad said that major savings would not be accomplished simply by admitting more out-of-state students, who pay higher rates that students from Connecticut.

“Out-of-state students expect scholarships as well,’' Maric responded.

Sen. Mae Flexer, a Democrat whose district includes eight towns in northeastern Connecticut, said some state residents have grown concerned that their children have not been admitted to UConn as the university has become more competitive.

“Don’t get me wrong. We love the out-of-state students, too,’' Flexer said.

Noting that UConn students arrived at the Capitol in large, coach buses, Sen. Cathy Osten of Sprague said she went to community college after she got out of the military and attended a school that did not send coach buses to the Capitol.

“This is not to say those two institutions don’t have similar support,’' said Osten, a key player who co-chairs the budget-writing committee with Walker. “Those students care just as deeply about their colleges but don’t have the capacity to be up here. Many people don’t have the capacity to do what has happened here. We don’t just fund UConn and UConn Health. We fund state universities and community colleges. ... Those other students also care about their school systems. We have to figure out how to fund both systems.’'

After the hearing, Maric said that Lamont’s budget director Jeffrey Beckham suggested that UConn should “increase the number of out-of-state students but don’t reduce the number in-state.’'

Concerning Lamont’s statements about misinformation, Maric said, “It always depends how we present the numbers and how we read the numbers. ... The governor is saying you didn’t cut UConn for the last five years. You got more and more money.’'

Asked about her talks on the budget with Lamont, Maric said she has had “lovely conversations’' with the governor.

While saying that all options would remain open if UConn’s budget is cut, Maric said that there is “no change coming’' in the short-term on the XL Center.

“I’m very sensitive that UConn playing in Hartford means a lot to the small businesses and all the fans and everybody in the community,’' Maric said. “Our focus is to stay and play at XL.’'

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com