Media Watch (June 13-20, 2005)

"Media Watch" is a round-up of recent stories in the media about the University of Hartford, as well as significant stories about other local and peer institutions and news about trends and issues in higher education.

An editorial in the Hartford Courant described the University of Hartford Performing Arts Center project as a “worthwhile” endeavor that “would help revitalize the Upper Albany neighborhood and strengthen the university’s links to it by bringing hundreds of students into the area.” The editorial called for the state, the federal government, and the university, through private fundraising, to get the project off the ground. (Hartford Courant, June 20)

The Connecticut Development Authority (CDA) approved an additional $500,000 in funding for the Performing Arts Center project, raising its total commitment to $2.5 million. The CDA had approved $2 million for the project in 2001, but was required to reaffirm its pledge because four years have passed since its original commitment. John Carson, senior advisor for corporate and community relations, said he is pleased that the CDA not only reaffirmed its original pledge, but added $500,000 to that amount. “Every dollar counts,” he said. “We’ve still got a good partner in the CDA, and we’ve still got a good partner in the city.” (Hartford Courant, June 16; Associated Press, June 13)

Dan Gaspar, former goalkeeper coach for FC Porto in Portugal, was named the University of Hartford’s soccer coach. “It came down to my pro career on one hand and my family and business on the other hand,” Gaspar said. “That outweighed the pro career. I’m back with family.” Gaspar was the university’s goalie in 1974-77, coached the professional Connecticut Wolves and was an assistant at Central Connecticut. (Hartford Courant, June 13)

Former fifth-graders at Hartford’s Annie Fisher School were recently honored for earning college degrees with a Say Yes to Education scholarship under a promise made by George Weiss and four other sponsors in 1990. Of the 76 pupils originally part of the program, 30 graduates showed up to thank their benefactor “It wasn’t just, ‘Call me when you're ready to go to college,’”said Connie Coles, director of the Hartford Say Yes program, based at the University of Hartford. “We did seminars, SAT preparation, college visits, overnight retreats, field trips—anything we could possibly do to prepare them.” (Associated Press, June 16; Hartford Courant, June 16)

A Hartford Courant editorial praised Hartford businessman George Weiss for funding the Say Yes to Education program run out of the University of Hartford. Say Yes director Connie Coles. Said the staff didn’t do anything for the students that most parents wouldn't do for their own children. But that is a lot, said the editorial, and more than many children can count on. (Hartford Courant, June 20)

At least a half-dozen summer school programs in the Hartford region failed to win state funding this year, jeopardizing classes for more than 1,000 children. The loss of funding threatens programs at regional magnet schools operated by the Capitol Region Education Council, including summer programs at the Metropolitan Learning Center, the Montessori Magnet School, Two Rivers Magnet School, the University of Hartford Magnet School. (Hartford Courant, June 18)

The University of Phoenix, the nation’s largest private university, is expected to win approval to open a campus in Norwalk for adult students. The Board of Governors for Higher Education is expected to grant the university a license to offer 11 business-related degree programs. Several schools raised concerns about the proposed license. The University of Hartford wrote that it “offers a full and robust array of similar programs. Along with other higher education institutions in Connecticut, [the University of Hartford believes] that we are fully meeting the needs of working adult citizens.” (Hartford Courant, June 15)

In a letter to the editor, Harald Sandstrom, an associate professor of politics and government, said the failure of Connecticut legislators to enact meaningful election reform was a slap in the face to their constituents and that Governor M. Jodi Rell must call a special session to deal with this fiasco. (Hartford Courant, June 14)

The University of Hartford and its partners received three excellence awards at Connecticut Main Street Center’s 2005 annual meeting and awards presentation, for their work on a variety of projects including “Albany Avenue: Now and Then.” (Hartford Business Journal, June 20)

John Williams and Sloan Kleinman, who met at a frat party and have been partners ever since, were featured in the Hartford Courant’s “Lifestyle”section. Williams was an admissions counselor at the University of Hartford, and both earned master’s in education degrees from the university. (Hartford Courant, June 19)

Ian Bornarth, and adjunct professor at the University of Hartford and Quinnipiac University and professional landscape photographer, stresses the importance of making photographer fun and not making it a chore. “You have to enjoy it. If you don’t, it’s a lot of work.” (The Herald, New Britain, June 19)

Ebonee Grandville of Manchester, a freshman at the University High School of Science and Engineering, won a trip to Disney World at the Fourth Annual Tony March Perfect Attendance Celebration in Hartford. The event included 1,400 students from the Hartford public schools who attended school each day since September. (Hartford Courant, June 18)

University of Hartford grad Jerry Kelly had two more birdies than Fairfield native J.J. Henry, but also had six bogeys and three double bogeys in an 80 that put him last at 305 at Pinehurst in North Carolina on Sunday. (Hartford Courant, June 20)

Other News

The University of Connecticut’s coaches should be treated no differently than other state employees when it comes to enforcing the state’s ethics rules on gifts and outside work, the state Ethics Commission ruled.. The decision will allow the coaches to keep their previously approved endorsement deals, but subjects future contracts to stricter ethical review. (Associated Press, June 20)

At least four University of Connecticut officials were aware of problems found in a 1999 audit of a $1 billion construction program but not disclosed to state legislators, memos show. The school failed in subsequent years to submit details of the critical report to lawmakers, who voted in 2003 to approve an additional $1.3 billion to UConn for more building projects. (Hartford Courant, June 19)

The Board of Governors for Higher Education endorsed tuition and fee increases at public colleges mostly in the 5 to 6 percent range for this fall, down from the increases of 10 percent or more at several state schools over the past three years. (Hartford Courant, June 16)

Yale University announced the creation of a master’s degree program in urban education studies that is scheduled for the 2006–07 school year. Under the program, Yale will train 10 teachers a year, pay their $28,000-a-year tuition, and provide them with an $18,000 stipend for the 14-month program. In return, the 10 students will each make a three-year commitment to teach in the New Haven public school system after they graduate. (Hartford Courant, June 15)

For the 10th straight year, the average SAT score and the level of minority enrollment has risen among the University of Connecticut’s incoming freshmen headed for the Storrs campus. The average SAT score of freshmen coming to Storrs this fall is 1192, up 12 points from the average score a year ago. (Hartford Courant, June 14)

Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Rosa, who took over the school following a sex assault scandal and acknowledged problems of religious intolerance, is leaving to become president of his alma mater, The Citadel. (CNN, June 20))