CSCU wants $69 million to fix shortfall

The University of Connecticut is not alone in asking the state for help in making ends meet during this year of COVID-19.

The Connecticut State College and University system, representing 17 public colleges and universities, needs $69 million in the current fiscal year to avoid dipping into reserves, system officials said on Monday.

In a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont, Board of Regents President Mark E. Ojakian said the system is in a dire financial situation because of enrollment declines, fewer residential students and unforeseen expenses, most related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Without additional state and federal funding, serious cuts threatening studentfacing services and the long term viability of our institutions will have to be considered,” Ojakian said in his two-page letter.

The request comes a week after the University of Connecticut asked for a $104 million bailout to help stay afloat.

On Monday, Max Reiss, a Lamont spokesman, called the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic real and significant.

“Governor Lamont is taking seriously the economic fallout, presenting a deficit mitigation plan for state operations last week,” Reiss said. “The administration will continue to engage with all state agencies and institutions regarding their financial situations as a result of this pandemic.”

Later in his afternoon news briefing, Lamont said the CSCU system joins UConn and a whole other lot of entities in coming to the state looking for more support in a trying economic year.

“The money we got from the federal government from the CARES Act ... is specific to COVID expenses so it is not like I can just hand out federal money for broader purposes like backing up our universities.” Lamont said.

That said, he promised to do what he could to offer support.

The Board of Regents finance committee will meet on Wednesday, but the board was forewarned of the fiscal red ink last month.

In the fall of 2019, the system had a total head count of 79,098 students. This fall, preliminary, that number has dropped to 68,852,

Enrollment at the state’s four regional universities is said to be down 5.5 percent and dorms are barely at 50 percent at capacity; that has caused a $52.5 million shortfall, according to Ben Barnes, chief financial officer for the system.

At the state’s 12 community colleges, enrollment was down 15 percent, leading to a $16.5 million shortfall, he said.

On the other hand, the system’s Charter Oak State College, an online program, saw a 4 percent increase in students.

Ojakian said the system is not blindly asking for a bailout.

He blamed much of the shortfall on the pandemic, which shut campuses in the spring and forced the system to make room and board refunds. Ojakian said the system spent $45 million since March on COVID-19. A federal CARES Act relief payout only covered $33 million in relief funds.