Recently in Office of the President Category
Written by Dwight Bachman and Ed Osborn
 Willimantic, Conn. -- 1,256 undergraduates and 41 graduate students heard the roars and cheers of thousands of their family members and friends as they celebrated their achievements at Eastern Connecticut State University's 123nd Commencement exercises at the XL Center in Hartford on May 14.
Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest member of the "Little Rock Nine," gave the Commencement Address, telling the graduates "This is your moment, a time you have been looking forward to and working toward since you first arrived at Eastern. Celebrate the moment; seize it. Step out into your future bravely and boldly." LaNier noted that the graduates were bound to encounter challenges. Those experiences will be "the greatest teacher in the grand classroom of life. Those challenges will show you who you really are."
The Little Rock Nine was a group of nine African American students who desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, AR, in 1957. Due to the segregation policies of Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus and the mob atmosphere in Little Rock at the time, President Dwight Eisenhower ordered 1,000 members of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division to Arkansas to provide protection and escort the nine students to class throughout the 1957-58 school year.
Despite the daily military escort, LaNier and her friends were kicked, hit with rocks, threatened, and shunned. Her own home was firebombed. As the onslaught continued, "the more determined I became to get my diploma." Today, she has "made peace with my past."
LaNier turned to the Class of 2013 and encouraged them to have the same commitment: "Finish whatever goals you have set for yourself. Find the strength, fortitude and determination to see it through. When you see injustice, how will you respond? I hope you take the heroic stand." LaNier was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa at the Commencement Exercises.
Eastern President Elsa M. Nunez told the graduates, "There is no other country in the world that places its future so firmly in the hands of the people. You are now the next generation of citizen leaders in our state and in our nation. . . . The world needs your energy, your enthusiasm, and your skills . . . There is a challenge out there ready for you to conquer, whether it's helping out at your church or synagogue, volunteering at the local senior center, or inventing a new surgical procedure. There is a team somewhere that needs you to complete its mission."
 As an example of the contributions Eastern students are making in the world, Nunez cited more than 100,000 hours of volunteer work performed by Eastern students, faculty, and staff each year in local communities, noting that President Barack Obama's had named Eastern to his National Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the third time in four years that past March.At the same time, President Nunez told the graduates to "be yourself and do what makes you happy," and quoted New England bard Henry Thoreau, who wrote: "Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still."
 From the Governor's Foot Guard Color Guard in attendance, to the plaintive sound of the bagpipes of the St. Patrick's Pipe Band and the pre-event music of the Thread City Brass Quintet, Eastern's graduation ceremonies were marked by dignity, grace and elegance. Senior Jessica Johnson sang "America the Beautiful," and Senior Class President Thomas Balestracci presented President Núñez with the class gift, a scholarship funded by more than 200 donations from the graduating class. Balestracci encouraged his classmates to continue donating so that the scholarship would grow. "We have all benefited from our experiences here at Eastern. These experiences are the ones that we will keep with us forever as we move on. They will be the ones we will look back upon and realize that they have helped us become who we are today. We lived up each day like it was our last at Eastern, and now, it really is our last day. We have turned our dreams into reality during our time at this University and we made memories that will last a lifetime."
 Yvette Melendez, vice president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the governing body for the 17 Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, brought greetings on behalf of the Board of Regents. "Congratulations to each and every one of you for reaching this incredible milestone. This is one of those moments that will forever be embedded in your memory. You are at the beginning of a future you have just begun to mold. You took the first step in that journey by enrolling at Eastern. You have much to be proud of." Meléndez urged the graduates to make their contribution to society "in the way that Eastern has taught you. You have worked exceedingly hard . . . you have learned that regardless of major, you are part of a community."
 Nana Owusu-Agyemang of Ghana, West Africa, delivered the Senior Class Address. She thanked the faculty for their support, saying, "During my time here at Eastern, I have met professors that I simply cannot forget -- professors who really care for their students. It will forever strike me how much time professors at Eastern are willing to spend with each student...how much of themselves they give. It's not just the professors who make Eastern what it is. At Eastern it's not just about imparting knowledge, it's about joining hands to mold each student into a richer person academically and mentally, as well." Owusu-Agyemang closed by quoting the late philosopher Alan Watts, who once said, "The attitude of faith is to let go, and become open to truth, whatever it might turn out to be."
"May our truth be a good truth," said Owusu-Agyemang. "May our world be a good world. May our mark be a good mark."
Carlotta Walls LaNier made history at age 14 when she enrolled at Central High School as a sophomore. On the first day of school she was surrounded by an angry mob that prevented the nine African American students from entering the building. After two weeks of protests and violence, President Dwight Eisenhower sent U.S. Army troops to Little Rock to protect the "Little Rock Nine" by escorting them to class for a year. Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus closed Little Rock schools for the 1958-59 school year, forcing LaNier to take correspondence courses. In June 1960, she became the first African American female student to graduate from Central High School.
LaNier has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Spingarn Medal from the NAACP in 1958, and the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian award, which was bestowed upon the Little Rock Nine in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. She is also the author of "A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice of Little Rock Central High School."
Written by Danielle Couture
 Willimantic, CT - - Carlotta Walls LaNier, youngest member of the "Little Rock Nine," a group of African American students who desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, AR, in 1957, will deliver the keynote address at Eastern Connecticut State University's 123rd Commencement at 6 p.m. on May 14 at the XL Center in Hartford. During the ceremony, 1,256 undergraduates and 41 graduate students will receive their diplomas.
"We are honored and pleased to have Ms. LaNier as this year's commencement speaker," said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. "Her courage as a young high school student more than 50 years ago in helping to break the barrier of segregation in Little Rock, Arkansas, resonated across this nation, with the Little Rock Nine serving as a catalyst for major social change in America."
LaNier made history at age 14 when she enrolled at Central High School as a sophomore. She was inspired by the desire for a quality education and by Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger sparked the 1955 Montgomery, AL, bus boycott. On the first day she attended Central High School, an angry mob surrounded the school to prevent African American students from entering the building.
After two weeks of protests and violence, President Dwight Eisenhower sent U.S. Army troops to Little Rock. The troops protected the Little Rock Nine by escorting them to class for a year. The desegregation of Central High School by the Little Rock Nine spurred similar changes in the American educational system.
LaNier was the first African American female to graduate from Central High School. She continued her education at Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado), graduating in 1968.
After college, LaNier began working at the YWCA as a program administrator for teens. In 1977, she founded LaNier and Company, a real estate brokerage company, where she has worked as a professional real estate broker for more than 30 years.
She is an active supporter in her community, serving on the board of trustees for the University of Northern Colorado and Iliff School of Theology. LaNier also serves as president of the Little Rock Nine Foundation, and is a member of the Denver Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and the Johnson Legacy, Inc. board of directors.
LaNier has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Spingarn Medal from the NAACP in 1958, and the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian award, which was bestowed upon the Little Rock Nine in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. She is also the author of "A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice of Little Rock Central High School."
At the ceremony, LaNier will also be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa.
Written by Dwight Bachman
 Willimantic, CT. -- On April 10, Eastern Connecticut State University announced its participation in a new national initiative called the LEAP Employer-Educator Compact.
Eastern President Elsa Núñez has signed the compact, which was developed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and by employers working with AAC&U. AAC&U is a national organization of colleges and universities of which Eastern is a long-standing member. President Núñez also is a member of a special presidential leadership group within AAC&U called the LEAP Presidents Trust. Presidents Trust members and employers who work with them are the initial signatories to this ongoing national initiative to ensure that today's students are well prepared for economic, civic and global challenges.
Participating campuses and employers will work together through 2014 to showcase employer support for the aims and outcomes of a broad liberal education and to show how higher education is helping students connect college learning with their roles as professionals, citizens and members of the global community.
As part of the compact initiative, Eastern is partnering with Webster Bank, the Mohegan Tribal Council, Savings Institute Bank and Trust, Blum-Shapiro, Farmington Bank and the Willimantic Waste Company to underscore the economic value of liberal education and to provide students with more hands-on learning opportunities to connect their campus learning with real-world contexts and problems.
At an April 10 compact forum in Washington, D.C., featuring remarks by U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter, AAC&U launched the new LEAP Employer-Educator Compact to make high quality college learning a shared national priority. More than 250 college presidents, business and nonprofit leaders have signed on to the LEAP Employer-Educator Compact. They have pledged to work together to ensure that all college students--including those attending two-year and four-year, public and private institutions--have access to a high quality liberal education that prepares them successfully for work, life and citizenship.
"Too many students believe that the key to economic success is completion of a major whose title seems to promise a job," said AAC&U president Carol Geary Schneider. "What the compact and the research on employer priorities show is that, whatever the choice of major, employers say that career success will require broad liberal learning, strong 21st century skills, and 'real-world' experience and savvy. We want to make sure students and their families hear this message from employers themselves."
"I am excited to be a part of this new national effort bringing employers and educators together to ensure that all our students understand what it takes to succeed in today's workplace and to partner on ways we can provide students more opportunities to apply their learning in real-world settings," said Núñez. "We are particularly pleased to partner in this initiative with our good friends at Webster Bank, Blum-Shapiro, the Mohegan Tribal Council and other University partners."
On April 10, AAC&U also released findings of a national survey that revealed that 74 percent of business and nonprofit leaders say they would recommend a 21st century liberal education to a young person in order to prepare for long-term professional success in today's global economy. The findings from this national survey also reveal that:
· Nearly all employers surveyed (93 percent) say, "a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than a candidate's undergraduate major."
· Even more (95 percent) say they prioritize hiring college graduates with skills that will help them contribute to innovation in the workplace.
· About 95 percent of those surveyed also say it is important that those they hire demonstrate ethical judgment and integrity; intercultural skills; and the capacity for continued new learning.
· More than 75 percent of those surveyed say they want more emphasis on critical thinking, complex problem-solving, written and oral communication, and applied knowledge in real-world settings.
· 80 percent of employers agree that, regardless of major, every college student should acquire broad knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences.
Members of the Presidents Trust include leaders of institutions representing every sector of higher education--liberal arts colleges, community colleges, comprehensive state universities and research universities. Business and nonprofit leaders signing the compact include individuals from many sectors of the economy including: finance, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, human services, insurance, education, media, retail, real estate and energy. For a full list of LEAP Presidents' Trust members and employers signing the compact, see: www.aacu.org/leap/presidentstrust/compact. For a report of the complete findings from the 2013 survey of business and non-profit leaders, see: www.aacu.org/leap/public_opinion_research.cfm.
Written by Ed Osborn
 On Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, Eastern Connecticut State University alumna Victoria Leigh Soto '08 lost her life protecting the children in her first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, from an assailant who shot and killed 20 children and seven adults that day.
Victoria Soto was a dean's list student while she attended Eastern as an elementary education and history double major. "Our faculty remembers Vicki as a joy to be with, an exemplary student who was committed to nurturing young lives," said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. "Her dream job was to teach children in the primary grades. She died protecting those children. She is being hailed throughout the world as a hero. We will never forget her."
In honor of Soto and her heroism, the University has announced the creation of the Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund to support Eastern students studying to be teachers who have unmet financial need. For information, visit www.easternct.edu/advancement/victoria_soto.html
Donations may be directed to:
Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund
ECSU Foundation, Inc.
Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
ATTN: Kenneth J. DeLisa
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
To contribute online, donors can visit https://eweb.easternct.edu/wfbprod/bwakngft.P_Make_A_Donation2. After filling out the first screen, they will be directed to a second screen to select a designation for their gift. On the dropdown menu, they should choose "Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund."
Written by Dwight Bachman
 Elsa M. Núñez accepts the Willard M. McRae Community Diversity Award. Left to right: Mark Gingras, Chairman of Liberty Bank; Willard McRae; Elsa Núñez; Chandler Howard, President and CEO of Liberty Bank
Willimantic, Conn: --Liberty Bank officials presented Eastern President Elsa M. Núñez with the 2012 Willard M. McRae Community Diversity Award at a gala reception on Nov. 15 in the Betty R. Tipton Room attended by more than 300 friends, family members, students, faculty, Eastern staff, bank officers and community leaders.
"In choosing the recipient of the award, we look not just for people who have given their time in service to community organizations, but for those who have made it their mission to make opportunities available to all," said Chandler Howard, president and CEO of Liberty Bank. "There is not a shadow of a doubt that Elsa Núñez is such a person."
Introduced in 2001 as the Liberty Bank Community Diversity Award, the award was renamed in 2009 in honor of Willard M. McRae, past chairman and board member of Liberty Bank. The award is designed to recognize an individual from the communities served by Liberty Bank who has been a leader in connecting people who are different -- whether those differences are of religion, race, ethnicity, economic status, age, or any other aspect of diversity.
As this year's award recipient, Núñez was able to direct a $5,000 charitable donation from the Liberty Bank Foundation to the nonprofit organization of her choice. She selected the Eastern Connecticut State University scholarship fund to receive the donation.
In accepting the award, Núñez spoke passionately about the need to address the educational achievement gap: "The conditions for every American in our society are not what you and I consider fair. When we see that the college graduation rate for African American students is 20 percent lower than that of white students - and that Latinos are half as likely to finish college - we realize that we have to create change in our communities and our universities."
Since her arrival at Eastern Connecticut State University in 2006, Núñez has worked tirelessly not only to make higher education accessible to underrepresented students, but also to support their success once they enter college. One of her innovations at Eastern is the award-winning Dual College Enrollment Initiative, now in its fifth year, which recruits inner-city high school graduates to take four remedial courses at Quinebaug Valley Community College in the first semester of college, while living on Eastern's campus and taking one course there. Students receive extensive mentoring, support services, on-campus employment and full integration into campus life. Núñez also established the Academic Services Center, which provides tutoring, advising and other services to all students, with a focus on underrepresented populations. Because of programs like these, a recent national study of 391 institutions of higher education ranked Eastern number one among public institutions in improving of the graduation rate of its Latino students -- an increase from 20 percent in 2004 to 58 percent in 2010.
Under Núñez's leadership, Eastern has built numerous partnerships with organizations in the Windham community, including the Windham Public Schools, where more than 1,000 Eastern students tutor or perform other volunteer service. In 2009, she created the on-campus Center for Community Engagement to coordinate Eastern volunteers in the community. Núñez was also instrumental in developing a partnership with the Caribe League of Bridgeport and the Spanish American Merchants Association in Willimantic.
Núñez's involvement in community organizations are many and varied, includes serving the board of directors of Hartford Health Care, the Connecticut Association for Human Services, the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, Camp Horizons, the Village for Families and Children, Girl Scouts of Connecticut and Covenant Soup Kitchen.
"Leadership is all about vision, and Dr. Núñez has a big vision," said Edward Osborn, director of university relations at Eastern, who nominated Núñez for the award. "In her mind, the 'tent' -- whether it is this campus, this community, this state, this nation, or the entire world -- includes all of us. Even with such a big vision, Dr. Núñez sees each person as the unique individual they are."
"There are five words that stick in my mind when I think of Elsa Núñez: Learn. Achieve. Give back. Repeat. This is what this extraordinary woman has done with her own life -- and what she encourages and enables every student, and indeed everyone around her, to do themselves," said Howard in presenting the award.
Written by Dwight Bachman and Ed Osborn
(left to right) Candida Flores, Family Life Education's executive director, presents the Transforming Lives Award to Elsa Núñez, president of Eastern Connecticut State University.
Willimantic, Conn: -- Elsa M. Núñez, president of Eastern Connecticut State University, received the 2012 Transforming Lives Award from Hartford-based Family Life Education during its 25th anniversary gala on Nov. 3 at the Connecticut Convention Center.
In accepting the award, Núñez talked about the challenges and struggles that Latinos have faced in Connecticut and the impact that education can have on a person's life. "When someone in a Puerto Rican family, an African American family, or an inner-city student from a low-income family is the first family member to attend college, it not only transforms one life," she explained. "Graduating from college tells a student, 'Yes you can.' It tells his or her family, 'We are strong.' It tells an entire neighborhood, 'We can succeed.' It is like a pebble tossed into still water -- it ripples and ripples and ripples, until it reaches all shores."
Family Life Education is an independent, non-profit organization that empowers inner-city families in the Hartford area through partnerships with corporate, civic and social organizations. This year's event marks the 17th year that Family Life Education has honored a community leader for their support of young people in Hartford.
"President Núñez is a powerful example of career achievement for Family Life Education clients, especially the girls and women who are served by our organization," said Candida Flores, Family Life Education's executive director. "She has devoted her entire career to the field of education; with special attention to supporting communities of color obtain access to higher learning, including the development of a program identifying Hartford students who have the capacity to succeed academically."
"Family Life Education has long sought to ensure the healthy growth and development of Hartford's disenfranchised children through education, advocacy and support," said Family Life Education Board President James Shortley. "Dr. Núñez is a vigilant advocate for children, especially closing Connecticut's achievement gap. She is an outstanding role model for young girls and young women served by Family Life Education. Her example instills a desire in them to finish high school, pursue college and advanced training, and become productive citizens willing to give back to their community."
Connecticut First Lady Cathy Malloy, who also served on the Gala Honorary Committee, presented Núñez with a special citation from Governor Dannel Malloy. In addition, a citation from Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra was also presented to Núñez at the gala. Past Family Life Education gala awardees include Nathan Grube, tournament director of the Traveler's Championship; Dr. Paul Dworkin, executive vice president of the Connecticut Children's Medical Center; and Greg Butler, general counsel for Northeast Utilities.
Since Núñez's arrival at Eastern in 2006, the University has received several awards and recognitions, including being named one of the top 30 regional public universities in the North by U.S. News and World Report; being recognized for the fourth year in a row by the Chronicle of Higher Education as a "Great College to Work For"; being named to President Obama's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll With Distinction, one of only 110 institutions nationally to receive this recognition; and being included in The Princeton Review's list of "Best Colleges in the Northeast," just to name a few of the distinctions the University has garnered in the past six years.
Family Life Education was founded in 1987 to address teenage pregnancy among Puerto Rican youth in Hartford's Frog Hollow neighborhood. The organization partners with other agencies to strengthen the Hartford community by supporting families in developing life and employability skills. Family Life Education helps at-risk, low-income families by giving them the confidence and tools needed to manage their own lives with dignity. Services focus on the needs of families, children and youth in Hartford; the majority are of Latino heritage, with a small percentage of clients being of African American and South Asian descent.
Wrtitte by Nana Owusu Agyemang
 Willimantic, Conn. - U.S. Marine Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, will speak at 7 p. m. on Nov. 15 in the Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium at Eastern Connecticut State University. Bogdanos is the second speaker in Eastern's 2012-13 Arts and Lecture Series. The event is free of charge.
Bogdanos is the author of "Thieves of Baghdad: One Marine's Passion to Recover the World's Greatest Stolen Treasures." A former middleweight boxer who joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 19, he left active duty in 1988 to join the New York County District Attorney's Office. Remaining in the Marine Corps Reserves in the 1990s, Colonel Bogdanos led a counter-narcotics operation on the Mexican border and served in Desert Storm, South Korea, Lithuania, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kosovo.
Following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, Colonel Bogdanos joined a counter-terrorism task force in Afghanistan, where he received a Bronze Star for actions against al-Qaeda. He then served in the Horn of Africa and three tours in Iraq -- leading the investigation into the looting of Iraq's National Museum -- before deploying again to Afghanistan in 2009. Exposing the link between antiquities trafficking and terrorist financing, and presenting those findings to the United Nations, Interpol, British Parliament and the Peace Palace in The Hague, Colonel Bogdanos received the National Humanities Medal from President George W. Bush for his work recovering more than 6,000 of Iraq's treasures in eight countries.
Colonel Bogdanos holds a classics degree from Bucknell University; a law degree and a master's degree in classics from Columbia University; and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College. In addition to dozens of military awards, he received the 2004 Public Service Award from the Hellenic Lawyers of America, the 2006 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Washington, D.C. Historical Society, and was a 2011 Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient.
Colonel Bogdanos donates all royalties from his book, "Thieves of Baghdad," to the Iraq Museum.
While seating is free of charge, please reserve your seat by calling (860) 465-0036 or e-mailing tickets@easternct.edu.
Written by Ed Osborn
Willimantic, Conn: -- On Oct. 2, Eastern Connecticut State University joined more than 460 other public colleges and universities across America in signing the "Commitment to the Future," which calls for increasing the number of undergraduate baccalaureate degrees by 3.8 million between now and 2025. The goal of the "Commitment to the Future" campaign is to increase the percentage of American adults with college degrees to 60 percent of the nation's population.
The commitment, a project of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), pledges to enhance educational quality while containing per student educational costs. The initiative also calls for a renewed partnership among public colleges and universities, the states and the federal government to achieve its goals.
Specific objectives contained within the overall goal of increasing the number of college degrees awarded include reaching out to former students who have attended college but have not finished their degree; reducing the average time for students to complete their degree; working closely with P-12 systems and community colleges, especially in the STEM fields and other areas of critical need; controlling per-student educational expenditures while pursuing enhanced quality; upholding the principles of access and diversity; and supporting regional and national economic growth through research and innovation, commercialization of technologies and economic development.
"I am pleased to be a signatory to the 'Commitment to the Future,' with Eastern joining more than 460 other public colleges and universities in this campaign to increase the number of college graduates in our country," said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. "The United States is currently only 12th among the nations of the world in college degree attainment of young adults ages 25-34. We have slipped significantly over the past decade from our former number-one ranking. If the United States is to regain its economic position and leadership role in the world, we need to aggressively pursue strategies to increase our degree completion rates. That means that government, education and industry must work collaboratively on this important national initiative."
(Other Connecticut public colleges and universities signing on the Commitment to the Future include the University of Connecticut; Central Connecticut State University; Southern Connecticut State University; Western Connecticut State University; and the Board of Regents for Higher Education of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.)
(Excerpt from the "A Committee to the Future" statement released by the APLU and the AASCU on Oct. 2)
"During the past 20 years, many states have maintained tight, regulatory institutional oversight while per-student investment in public higher education steadily declined until 2008 when the decline accelerated, in part, because of the recession.
During this same period, public colleges and universities contained per-student educational expenditures to about the rate of inflation. These circumstances forced public institutions to raise tuition to compensate for the significant loss of state dollars. The total educational expenditures per student have been stable for many years, but the mix of student tuition versus state appropriations has shifted dramatically and continues to deteriorate. This trend must be reversed for public colleges and universities to continue to meet their obligations as institutions of public purpose. In short, the full partnership between public colleges and universities, the states and the federal government needs to be reestablished with each partner fulfilling its responsibilities.
The states must provide sufficient appropriations to support students and the discovery of new knowledge while extending greater operational flexibility for public colleges and universities. The federal government must maintain its: commitment to student financial aid; support for research and innovation; and encouragement of states to continue their support for public colleges and universities. Public colleges and universities must be more innovative in the performance of their essential roles while containing educational expenditures.
Education, including research, is the only public investment that provides both a social and an economic return. Policymakers need tangible evidence that public higher education is transforming to meet economic and educational needs. Achieving these commitments will ensure greater economic security for America and the next generation of citizens."
Written by Rebecca Holdridge
Willimantic, Conn. Eastern Connecticut State University will hold an open house for prospective students from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 14. During the open house, potential students will learn about the benefits of Eastern's liberal arts education and can also tour the campus.
From noon to 4 p.m. an academic, athletic and activities fair will be held in Geissler Gymnasium, where faculty, staff and coaches will discuss a wide range of opportunities for students who enroll at Eastern. At 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. in Room 104 of the Science Building, the Admissions Office will offer guidance on the admissions process. For Spanish-speaking students, a concurrent session will be held at 1:15 p.m. in Room 115 of the Student Center.
At 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre, Eastern's Housing Office will discuss what is expected of students who live on campus. At 12:30 p.m. in the Betty R. Tipton Room of the Student Center, Eastern President Elsa Núñez will share her vision for Eastern.
At 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Room 219 of the Student Center, Political Science Professor Bill Salka will discuss the University Honors Program. The Financial Aid Office will hold information sessions at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Betty R. Tipton Room. At 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Room 110 of Webb Hall, the Department of Education faculty will discuss Eastern's Teacher Education Program, including how to apply and why the program is unique.
Campus tours of the Child and Family Development Resource Center, the J. Eugene Smith Library, the Science Building, and other facilities will be provided throughout the afternoon.
Written by Ed Osborn
UTC Power PureCell® system will reduce the University's carbon footprint and supply clean, efficient energy to Eastern's Campus
Willimantic, Conn. -- Eastern Connecticut State University has a longstanding commitment to energy conservation and sustainability that dates back nearly two decades. Today, Eastern is partnering with UTC Power of South Windsor, Conn., and the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA), on a project that is increasing energy efficiency at the University.
Under a 10-year Energy Services Agreement (ESA), UTC Power has furnished and installed a PureCell system combined heat and power fuel cell at Eastern's Science Building, made possible by a federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant through CEFIA.
The PureCell system, a stationary phosphoric acid fuel cell, produces 400 kilowatts of continuous electric power while generating usable by-product heat. Eastern will use 100 percent of the energy produced by the fuel cell system, which was installed earlier this year on the west side of Eastern's Science Building, to provide a majority of the power required for the Science Building, while maximizing the use of the heat output available. Supplemental heat generated by the operation of the fuel cell will be utilized by Eastern's infrastructure. With effective utilization of the thermal output, overall system efficiencies of up to 90 percent are possible -- more than double that of traditional power sources.
"We have a campus-wide commitment to sustainability at Eastern, evidenced by campus conservation programs, the sustainable energy studies curriculum, and our outreach across Connecticut in support of local energy efficiency efforts," said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. "We are delighted to work with CEFIA and UTC Power on a fuel cell generating facility that will provide clean, reliable and affordable energy to the University."
UTC Power, CEFIA and Eastern officials, along with other guests, will formally dedicate the fuel cell during a brief ceremony on Oct. 4 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on site.
"We are thrilled that our Connecticut-grown fuel cell technology is helping Eastern build upon its commitment to energy conservation and sustainability with installation of a PureCell system on campus," said Joe Triompo, vice president and general manager of UTC Power. "Our PureCell system is a great fit for Eastern because it delivers efficient, affordable energy to the University, while reducing the impact on the environment."
By generating and using power on-site with a PureCell system, Eastern will prevent the release of more than 1,356 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually - the equivalent of planting more than 313 acres of trees. The reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to a conventional power plant is equal to the environmental benefit of removing more than 136 cars from the road. In addition to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the PureCell system saves nearly 3.8 million gallons of water each year.
"We are pleased to have provided support in partnership with Eastern and UTC Power," stated Bryan Garcia, President of CEFIA. "The fuel cell at Eastern provides a clean and reliable source of energy and an opportunity for students and faculty both today and for years to come to realize the benefits of distributed generation."
Other examples of Eastern's commitment to sustainability can be found throughout the campus. The Science Building is LEED Silver Certified for its use of gray water to irrigate and its many other green features, and three of Eastern's residence halls are LEED Certified. In addition, a geothermal system provides heat and air conditioning to the 62,973-square-foot High Rise residence hall, the largest geothermal-heated building in Connecticut. The campus also generates 6.2 kilowatts from photovoltaic solar panels to light bus shelters, trash disposal areas and building perimeter lighting.
In addition, dual-fuel burning capability in Eastern's heating plants allows the University to switch from gas to oil and vice versa based on prices and/or the requirements of its gas utility agreement. Water-saving features exist on a number of showers, toilets and urinals. Finally, an energy-monitoring system analyzes energy usage for each building, and can automatically reduce electricity usage through preprogrammed initiatives, to reduce peak demand and energy costs.
Eastern is also home to the Institute for Sustainable Energy, which is recognized and widely respected throughout New England as an invaluable resource for supporting sustainable energy conservation efforts in municipalities and public schools.
In April 2012, Eastern was named one of the nation's Green Colleges by The Princeton Review and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This is the third year in a row that Eastern has received the designation.
Eastern Connecticut State University is the state's public liberal arts university and serves approximately 5,400 students each year on its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. It is the policy of Eastern Connecticut State University to ensure equal access to its events. If you are an individual with a disability and will need accommodations for this event, please contact the Office of University Relations at (860) 465-5735.
About the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA)
CEFIA was established by Connecticut's General Assembly on July 1, 2011, as a part of Public Act 11-80. This new quasi-public agency supersedes the former Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. CEFIA's mission is to help ensure Connecticut's energy security and community prosperity by realizing its environmental and economic opportunities through clean energy finance and investments. As the nation's first full-scale clean energy finance authority, CEFIA will leverage public and private funds to drive investment and scale-up clean energy deployment in Connecticut. For more information about CEFIA, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.
About UTC Power
UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries. UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate energy for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications. UTC Power has designed, manufactured and installed more than 300 stationary fuel cells in 19 countries on six continents. For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com
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