2026 CCIC Legislative Agenda

CCIC will advocate to increase the general fund appropriation for need-based financial aid under the Roberta Willis Scholarship Program.

While significant strides were made in the 2025 legislative session to increase funding for the Roberta Willis Scholarship Program, additional state investment is needed.   Current funding levels only allow for approximately 50% of eligible students to receive a Willis grant and Connecticut still lags the nation with its investment in this area.

Investing more in need-based aid will support the state’s goals of having a highly trained workforce, retaining more young people and promoting access to quality post-secondary education. These resources will also help offset cuts in federal funding and significant declines in international student enrollment due to changing federal policies.

CCIC will support CHESLA’s plan to expand its lending capacity for both undergraduate and graduate students to provide affordable financing opportunities due to changes in federal loan programs.

Effective July 1, 2026, new caps will be placed on the Parent Plus program and the GradPLUS will be eliminated for new borrowers. Additionally, institutions will be required to prorate annual federal loan amounts in direct proportion to the percent of full-time status the student is enrolled, limiting federal Direct Loan access for part-time students.  

CHESLA has a proposal to expand its lending portfolio to meet some of this need but will require resources to offer loans to students previously served by federal programs who may not meet the qualifications for a traditional CHESLA loan.

Supporting a state solution to close this gap in lending with a state-sponsored program will ensure continued equitable access to higher education and, in particular, graduate programs that fill a critical need in the health sciences, engineering, architecture, social work and teaching talent pipelines.

CCIC will work to ensure that current tax exemptions for non-profit independent colleges and universities remain intact.

CCIC institutions educate a significant percentage of the state’s talent pipeline and are strong economic engines in our communities, enrolling nearly 90,000 students and having an annual economic impact in our state of $19.3 billion.

Engagement of our member institutions must be integrated into state strategies seeking to promote workforce and economic development including those related to:

• Identifying In-demand degrees eligible for Workforce Pell
• Investing resources to leverage emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence;
• Expanding Dual Credit;
• Workforce Housing; and
• Supporting Community College Transfers

CCIC will seek to maintain or increase current appropriation levels for PILOT grants to municipalities.

CCIC will provide information to the General Assembly regarding the impact of independent colleges and universities on the educational, economic, and community life of Connecticut and its citizens.  An ongoing review of all bills and amendments introduced during the legislative session will be conducted to determine whether there are impacts on independent colleges and universities.  CCIC will take positions on legislation affecting member institutions as appropriate.