We, the students, faculty, alumni, and families of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), do not support President Toro’s proposal to convert CCSU into a polytechnic institute for the following reasons:

1. CCSU’s history and mission matter.  CCSU is Connecticut’s oldest publicly funded university. It began as a teacher-training school and is the sixth oldest of its kind in the nation. For decades, CCSU has operated as the largest and most affordable institution in the Connecticut State University (CSU) system. This mission should be preserved.

2. CCSU faculty overwhelmingly do not support President Toro's Regional Polytechnic Plans.  Two months after Dr. Toro announced her polytechnic plans, and after weeks of coordination among the seven task forces, the AAUP administered a survey. Over 200 faculty responded. The results: only about 33% supported the proposal to pursue a regional polytechnic university.  Additionally, approximately 75% of respondents agreed that the proposal should not proceed to the Board of Regents until it is voted on and approved by the Faculty Senate.

2. CCSU does not face the same enrollment or fiscal challenges as Humboldt State Univ. did before they became a technical institution.  President Toro has identified Cal Poly Humboldt as a model for CCSU. However, prior to its polytechnic transition in 2022, Humboldt experienced several years of consistent enrollment decline and was approximately 30% under-enrolled. CCSU is not currently experiencing comparable enrollment declines that would justify such a fundamental redesign.

3. CCSU’s strength lies in being a comprehensive university.  It is estimated that only 15–20% of CCSU’s more than 100 majors directly align with polytechnic fields. AAUP Survey: nearly 75% of the faculty surveyed expressed concern that pursuing a polytechnic structure may result in the consolidation, elimination, or transfer of programs. Notably, within 3 years of Humboldt’s transition, programs in the humanities—including educational leadership—were eliminated.

4. Public input must be prioritized.  President Toro announced the pursuit of polytechnic designation before conducting formal surveys or consultations with faculty, students, or alumni. While task forces have since been formed, their focus has been on implementation rather than open evaluation. 

5. A polytechnic model may negatively impact gender balance.  Comparable polytechnic institutions in the region report lower female enrollment (e.g., WPI ~32%, Wentworth ~27%, RPI ~31%, NJIT ~28%, NEIT ~ 33%). Given that CCSU currently has approximately 49% female enrollment, there is concern that a transition to a polytechnic model could significantly decrease our future representation of women.

6. What about NCAA Division I athletics and scholarships?   The comparable polytechnic institutions in the region do not maintain NCAA Division I athletic programs (with the exception of NJIT). This raises concerns that CCSU student-athletes may lose Division I opportunities and scholarships as institutional funding shifts, prioritizing polytechnical fields. 

7. President Toro’s timeline is unsound and undermines shared governance.  Cal Poly Humboldt officially became a polytechnic university after a transition process that took approximately two years of planning with faculty. President Toro’s current proposal (see p.32) seeks approval from the CSU Board of Trustees in only five months and to become a polytechnic university within one year. The justification for this accelerated timeline is unclear and raises significant concerns about inclusivity and adherence to principles of shared governance.  AAUP survey: nearly 85% of faculty respondents do not believe that the process used by President Toro thus far reflects meaningful shared governance. 

8. Being a polytechnic and being an R2 research university are not mutually exclusive.  Polytechnics are extremely rare - currently, there are only 10-15 in the U.S.

Two ways you can take action (in less than 2 minutes):

1. You can now give feedback to President Toro’s R2 PolyTechnic Proposal anonymously on the CCSU website (under "feedback"), or directly here. 
2. Share this petition with at least 5 other friends

For more perspectives on why CCSU’s R2 Polytechnic vision is concerning, see the recent Op-ed in the Hartford Courant, by Dr. Timothy Scott. 

PS. Disregard the donation request from change. org. No money is necessary! :-)