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As the University of Connecticut gets bigger - with more global aspirations - what does that mean for the state university system?
This fall, Dr. Elsa Núñez starts her seventh year as president of Eastern Connecticut State University. Some view it as UConn’s little sister campus in nearby Willimantic. But Núñez has bigger plans. She wants ECSU to make a name for itself as a first-choice liberal arts school.
In June, UConn President Susan Herbst told WNPR's Where We Live that UConn is becoming more competitive. "We’re not just a place where you get to go because you live in Connecticut," said Herbst.
That is a role becoming more fit for the state university system. Núñez agrees that Connecticut residents have alternatives to UConn. "You can go to one of the four state colleges where the standards are high - not as UConn - but they're nonetheless high," said Núñez.
In addition to her duties at Eastern, Núñez is also a vice president at Connecticut's Board of Regents.
In Herbst's June appearance on Where We Live, she spoke about the relationship between the University of Connecticut and the state university system. If a student does not get into UConn as a traditional freshman but they do incredibly well at a place like Central or community college, it is very easy for them to transfer into UConn and we love getting transfer students," said Herbst.
But Núñez does not love giving transfer students.
"Taxpayers and elected officials are measuring me by my graduation rates," said Núñez. "So every time somebody transfers out, it hurts me."
She remains optimistic that things could change. "I think this is an opportunity for UConn's board and the Board of Regents to really look at success in a different way," said Núñez.