As part of the budget, delegates approved two five-pay period dues holidays, which means that no dues will be deducted from paychecks for 10 weeks in both the fall and spring semesters. The dues holidays are estimated to cost the union about $650,000 in dues income.

Over the past few years, thanks to prudent financial management, the union’s reserves have grown to $1.6 million. The Finance Committee and the Delegate Assembly approved the dues holidays because they believe that this financial cushion is too large and want to bring our reserves to a more reasonable level.

> Click here to view 2012-13 budget documents

Click here to request tickets.

Bring the family and friends and join your 4C’s colleagues as we cheer on the Rock Cats as they host the Bowie Baysox. Seating is General Admission, so arrive early for the best selection. Look for seats in Section 214 to sit with 4C’s President Steve Cohen and your 4C’s friends.

Click here to Request Tickets. Tickets vouchers will be mailed in June.

Directions to New Britain Stadium in Willowbrook Park:

• From I-84 E or W: Route 9 South to exit 25 (Ellis Street). Turn left at light onto Ellis Street, then left at next light onto South Main Street. The stadium is about 1 mile on the right.
• From I-91: Route 9 North to exit 24. Take the first exit for Willowbrook Park/Route 71. The stadium will be right in front of you off the exit.

Faculty Advisory Committee:
This bill expands the size of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the Board of Regents for Higher Education from 7 members to 10. Each system (CTC, CSUS, and Charter Oak State College) will add a slot for an administrative employee that provides direct student services. The other seven members must be teaching faculty.
The bill specifies that committee members are to be elected in an open system-wide vote by each BOR institution’s faculty/professional staff governance body by October 1, 2013.

Adjuncts May Waive Retirement Benefits:
Newly-hired community college adjuncts will be able to waive participation in a state employee retirement plan within 60 days of beginning employment. The waiver remains irrevocable if the faculty member remains part-time within any of the public higher education systems, but does not apply if the faculty member becomes a full-time employee. Adjuncts at the Connecticut State Universities and the University of Connecticut already had the right to waive retirement benefits.

• House Bill 5028: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ALIGNMENT OF COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS WITH COLLEGE CURRICULUM
  This bill requires alignment of common (High School) core standards with college-level programs at Connecticut institutions of higher education. A substitute bill was approved by the Higher Education Committee, Education Committee, and Appropriations Committee. The substitute bill changes the grade level for college readiness assessment from grade 11 to grade 10.
• House Bill 5030: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GENERAL EDUCATION CORE OF COURSES
  This bill calls for seamless student transfer from Community Colleges to the State University System via a general education core of courses of at least 30 academic credits to be implemented by July 1, 2013. Faculty members from the affected higher education institutions will be included in the development and implementation of a general education core of courses. The bill passed the House unanimously after an amendment removed the University of Connecticut from the bill.
• Senate Bill 39: AN ACT CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS
  This clarifies the staff qualification requirements for early childhood education programs serving infants, toddlers or preschool age children. Substitute language requires all individuals in the program who have primary responsibility for a classroom of children to meet staff qualifications requirements. The substitute bill was approved by the Higher Ed Committee and sent to the Senate floor for action.
• Senate Bill 40:AN ACT CONCERNING OPEN ACCESS TO COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES
  This allows all students open access to entry level courses at the college level and prohibits Connecticut institutions of higher education from forcing any student to enroll in a remedial course. Substitute language details concepts such as using “multiple commonly accepted measures of skill level” to assess student’s needs and to create intensive, embedded support while the student is in an introductory course. It calls for development of these intensive programs, as well as, college readiness testing in high schools. The Higher Ed Committee approved the substitute bill and sent it to the floor of the Senate for action.

• Senate Bill 42: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
  This bill clarifies the composition of the committee and the means and manner under which elections will be conducted. The language approved by the committee allows for the election of three faculty and one administrative representative from each of the systems. It also specifies that unions are not required to be involved in the election process. Thirdly, it adds the words “fair and open” with regard to the system-wide election of faculty senate members. The Higher Ed Committee approved the bill and sent it to the Senate floor for action.
• Senate Bill 241: AN ACT ALLOWING ADJUNCT FACULTY MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL COMMUNITY-TECHNICAL COLLEGES TO WAIVE MEMBERSHIP IN A STATE RETIREMENT PLAN
  The bill permits adjunct community college faculty members to waive membership in a Connecticut retirement plan just as adjunct faculty members employed by the Connecticut State University System and the University of Connecticut are permitted to do. The Higher Ed Committee and the Labor Committee approved the bill and sent it to the Senate floor for action.