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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ANSON SMITH AT 203-332-5229, OR KEITH MARTINO AT 203-326-2833

HCC WINS NATIONAL AWARD FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY USE

WASINGTON, D.C. – Housatonic Community College’s use of its landmark economic impact study has won the college second place in a national competition here.

HCC, which was the third college in the nation, the first east of the Rockies and the first urban college to complete the study, took second place in the Community College National Legislative Summit Best Practice Showcase for a vast array of materials it produced based on the study’s results. Those materials were targeted to the general public, the business community, legislators and other elected officials that the college relies upon for funding and other types of support.

The study’s results triggered editorials from eight Connecticut newspapers, op-ed pieces from seven state senators and representatives, and coverage in three national educational publications that included University Business, Trustee Quarterly and Community College Times.

“For colleges and universities, this is the Age of Accountability,” said HCC President Janis M. Hadley. “Taxpayers, students, parents, legislators and the business community want to know, in dollar terms, how colleges can and do benefit them.”

“Receiving this award shows how well we are communicating this information as compared to the rest of the educational community.”

More than 1,200 community college presidents, CEOs and trustees attended the summit Feb.13-16 to bring grassroots advocacy to their congressmen. The Best Practice Showcase was designed to demonstrate how colleges across the country capitalized on their economic contribution to win the support of legislators, taxpayers, business leaders, students and the media.

“ The exhibit shows the things the summit attendees should be thinking about when they are talking to their congressmen and legislators,” said Keith Martino, contest coordinator. “It was designed to raise their level of expectations and expand their knowledge of the options available to them.”

The Showcase was a success, he said. “The Showcase was supposed to open at 4 p.m.,” he said, “But, on the first day, people started banging on the door of the exhibit room about noon. We just opened the door and let them in.”

Housatonic, he said, displayed the most materials of any of the exhibitors. In addition to newspaper editorials and legislative op-ed pieces, Housatonic’s materials included a special publication and materials created for legislators, and newspaper and magazine articles about the economic impact study.

“ Housatonic contributed more materials than any other college,” Martino said. “We set up the materials on tables, and Housatonic was the only college that needed an entire table.”

HCC placed second to the San Diego (Calif.) Community College District in the competition, and was followed by Corning (N.Y.) Community College. Connecticut’s Middlesex Community College of Middletown was one of five colleges receiving honorable mention.

The summit and showcase were sponsored jointly by the Association of Community College Trustees and the American Association of Community Colleges. First Lady Laura Bush and incoming Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings were keynote speakers.

Since it moved to the new campus in January 1997, HCC's enrollment has increased 77 percent. According to the most recent statistics released by the Washington, D.C.- based American Association of Community Colleges, Housatonic was the Northeast’s second fastest-growing community college and its fastest-growing in terms of full-time students.

In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both regionally and nationally, Housatonic has increased the number of programs offered from 43 to 63 since moving to its new campus. The campus is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off I-95 (exit 27) and Rte. 8 (Exit 1) and a block from the Arena at Harbor Yard.