Politics & Government

'Next Generation Connecticut' Bill Passes State Senate

Bill that would greenlight major expansion of UConn next heads to state House of Representatives.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy Saturday lauded the state Senate’s passage of SB 840, which would infuse the University of Connecticut with $1.5 billion to support major expansions across three of its campuses.   

The bill, which passed 29 to 5, would bring thousands of jobs to the state and supercharge research investment and business activity, the governor said in a statement. It now goes to the state House of Representatives for debate.  

“Focusing state resources on our flagship university ensures that our graduates will have the skills and background to compete for the high-tech, bioscience, engineering, and digital media jobs we are vigorously pursuing in Connecticut,” Malloy said. “I applaud Senate President Don Williams and the many legislators who worked to get this bill passed — and in doing so helped position UConn as one of the leading research institutions in the nation.”

The proposal, which has been endorsed by more than 100 business groups, calls for:

  • $137 million in state funds to support a 30 percent increase in enrollment at UConn — adding 6580 students and 259 faculty to the UConn Storrs and UConn Stamford campuses.
  • Expansion of the School of Engineering by increasing enrollment by 70 percent.
  • A 47 percent expansion in the total number of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates.
  • Addition of 50 STEM doctoral fellowships and creation of the premier STEM honors program in the U.S.
  • Relocating the Hartford campus to improve accessibility, strengthen collaboration with regional business, and addition of real-world internships to help students launch careers.
  •  $1.54 billion in bonding to construct new STEM facilities, build out teaching and research labs, upgrade information technology, and renovate and build additional housing and parking.


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