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HARTFORD, CT – A bill that would fully fund the state’s Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program is being considered by the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.
As it currently stands, the need-based grant gives up to $4,500 per eligible student. The legislation, Senate Bill 5, would increase the award to $4,500 per eligible student, rather than “up to” that amount.
The bill has the backing of Senate Democrats.
“By failing to adequately fund the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program, we are missing out on the opportunity to create a more educated workforce here in Connecticut,” the Senate Democrats said in their written testimony.
Apart from obtaining a quality education, they said the additional funding will increase the chances a student stays in the state, contributing to the “state’s economic strength and health.”
The scholarship has two different programs, one based on merit and the other being need based. The state Office of Higher Education outlines the eligibility requirements for each.
To apply for either, you must be a state resident who is attending a four-year Connecticut public or non-profit private college, and you must have submitted a FAFSA application on time.
The merit-based scholarship provides up to $5,250 a year for full-time students in a four-year program, and $4,650 for full-time students in a two-year program. To be eligible you must have a class rank of 20% or better, an SAT score of at least 1200, or an ACT score of at least 25.
The need-based grant requires the recipient to be a full-time student in a two or four-year program of study.
Nathan Fuerst, vice president for student life & enrollment at the University of Connecticut, supported the legislation during the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee public hearing on Thursday in the Legislative Office Building.
Fuerst said many UConn students benefit from the scholarship each year, with over 4,000 constituents receiving about $15 million in funds in aid in Fiscal Year 2024. While this is beneficial, Fuerst said it is not nearly enough.
Among the state resident students that are enrolled at UConn in the current fiscal year, the total financial need amounted to over $300 million, according to Fuerst.
“Even when factoring in Roberta Willis, UConn’s institutional aid – which is substantial – there was only enough to cover half of that financial need,” Fuerst said, adding that a college board of education study ranked Connecticut 39th in the country for financial aid investment.
“The only states ranking lower had significantly lower costs of living and costs of attendance, meaning that when you adjust the costs, Connecticut may be at or near the bottom,” Fuerst said.
Sen. Derek Slap, a West Hartford Democrat and committee co-chair, added to Fuerst’s testimony saying the state falls short on scholarships. They noted that UConn has less money for financial aid than similar state universities.
By fully funding the scholarship, Fuerst believes that it could ease some unmet financial aid needs.
Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Chancellor Terrence Cheng also testified in support of the bill. He said 5,700 students at CSCU receive the Roberta scholarship, which makes up 11% of CSCU students.
Cheng said they view financial aid as a direct correlation to enrollment.
“Any investment that the state makes in supporting students to access higher education is a direct investment that has a positive impact on enrollment and our fiscal bottom line,” Cheng said.
Sivan Hines, president of Hartford Promise – a college scholarship and success program for Hartford public schools students – testified in support stating this bill is not a matter of equity but economic survival.
“Without strong reliable programs like Roberta Willis, too many promising students are forced to abandon their higher education goals altogether,” Hines said.
She said she believes that by expanding the Roberta Willis scholarship program, the state will secure a better economic future, allowing students to reach their full potential without any financial barriers.
Coral Aponte is a graduate of the University of Connecticut where she majored in Journalism with concentrations in Digital Arts and Latino Studies. She originally joined CTNewsJunkie for an internship in 2024 and is now a freelance reporter.
