PERSPECTIVE: CT Independent Colleges Among National Leaders in Student Completion; Working to Reduce Disparities

by Jennifer Widness Recent news coverage labeling Connecticut’s private, non-profit institutions of higher education as “drop-out factories” is a flawed conclusion based on incomplete data and requires additional scrutiny.  While more always can and should be done to improve the outcomes for low-income students in our higher education system, Connecticut’s private, non-profit colleges have made this issue a priority and in fact are among the nation’s leaders in completion rates for all students.

First, let’s address the limitations of the data used in the report.  To conduct their analysis, the authors from the Washington, D.C. think tank, the Third Way, used data compiled for the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.  As the authors noted in their study, but the reporter failed to mention, this data set only includes full time, first time students that have received a federal loan.  This accounts for less than 40% of the undergraduate students enrolled at these institutions.  There is no accounting for students that transfer, in or out, or a student that has taken a semester off and returned.  Given the evolution of how people access higher education, this is a significant omission.

Graduation rates are complicated and hard to calculate given limited access to good data but the National Student Clearinghouse is the most complete data set available as it does have the capacity to track transfer students.  As illustrated in Figure 1 below, it recently calculated the 6-year completion rate for students that began at a four-year private, non-profit institution in Connecticut at 84.72%.   This is the second highest completion rate in the country and ten points above the national average for the sector (20 points above the national average for the 4-year publics).  Connecticut’s private, non-profit institutions are some of the most productive in the nation.

Further, the authors misappropriated the term “dropout factories” by applying it to institutions with graduation rate of 75% or less.   This is a threshold used for K-12 schools by the U.S. Department of Education.   If all higher education institutions with a graduation rate of less than 75% using data compiled by the College Scorecard were considered “dropout factories” nearly all institutions in Connecticut, public and private, would fall into that category.  See for yourself here.

Nuances with the data and terminology used in this particular report aside, average completion rates in all sectors of higher education across do need to be improved.   While Connecticut’s higher education institutions have some of the highest completion rates in the country, our state faces one of the largest post-secondary degree attainment gaps between whites and minorities.  The authors of the Third Way are right to point out that high-risk populations need greater access to higher education.   We agree.

This has been a priority, and always will be, for Connecticut’s independent colleges.

CCIC’s member institutions have redoubled efforts to focus on this challenge by providing more resources to student support services, increasing financial aid to unsustainable levels and creating innovative programs that support a diverse student body to enroll, persist and complete college.

The state, on the other hand, also needs to play a greater role in this area. Why?  Connecticut’s Strategic Plan for Higher Education lays it out perfectly.  In essence, our economy will increasingly require a talented, well-educated workforce to thrive and the only way to guarantee this talent pool exists is to ensure our state residents have access to and complete a post-secondary education.  While severe budgetary constraints exists given shrinking revenues, we cannot afford not to do a better job in coordinating this work across all sectors of higher education and the workforce.

Connecticut is fortunate to have some of the best, most productive and diverse public and private higher education institutions in the country.  Labeling them inappropriately is untrue – and even worse unproductive.  These institutions are some of our state’s greatest assets.  If we want to see Connecticut grow and thrive again we have to capitalize on our strengths and put these institutions to work.

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Jennifer Widness is President of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges. 

PERSPECTIVE commentaries by contributing writers appear each Sunday on Connecticut by the Numbers.

Also of interest… Do Community College Students Go Begging?

Former UConn QB Cochran Says Football Puts Players in Harm’s Way, Urges End to "Cycle of Silence"

Former UConn quarterback Casey Cochran, who retired from the sport at age 20 after suffering his 13^th concussion, said this week that “There are problems with the game that need to be addressed. As it is played right now, tackle football — with its pads and helmets — puts players in harm’s way, all of the time, regardless of age and ability.” Cochran, writing a first-person story about his experiences with football and concussions in The Players’ Tribune, an online site founded by Derek Jeter, issued an alert to others who’ve journeyed through the sport, or continue to compete:

“I want to say to all former, current and future athletes who have or will suffer a concussion: Do not hide it. Tell your coaches, medical staff, parents, friends and teammates. Get treatment. The cycle of silence hurts more and more people each year.”

Cochran, from Monroe, explained that in the 18 months since his decision, after suffering a concussion on the last play of the first game of UConn’s 2014 season, against Brigham Young University, “I still feel the lingering effects from my many concussions. Life is a balancing act now. Some days it’s hard to wake up before noon. Sometimes I don’t want to leave my bed at all. In high school, I had a 3.9 GPA. Now I have trouble focusing and performing well in my graduate-school classes.”

He warned that “Those who play football, particularly those who begin in their youth, are given a glamorized version of the sport – one where camaraderie, discipline, toughness and leadership are highlighted and the wretchedness is ignored and swept under the rug. As a result, we fall in love with and value the good and push aside the bad.”

Cochran recalled that “I probably should have stopped playing football in eighth grade after my third concussion, but I was afraid to speak up. Afraid of disappointing people who had invested in my career. Afraid of who was I was without football. I wish I hadn’t hid the three concussions I had in one week during my junior year of high school, but I was afraid that college recruiters would find out.”

Even with increasing awareness of the risks of concussions, Cochran said the near and long-term effects haven’t led to enough changes.  “The only word I know to describe the first few moments after a concussion is limbo — there are a few moments between the world that you were just a part of and your new brain-injured reality,” Cochran explained.  “My head was seized with tremendous pressure, and that same awful, familiar depression from previous head injuries came over me — like a dark, heavy blanket, swallowing me up.”

With it all, he retains optimism: “There is life outside of the white lines. A lot of life. Stepping away from football was one of the scariest things I’ve ever had to do. I felt lost for a long time. For a little over a year, I felt like I was somewhere, deep in the ocean, being pulled by the currents. But what pulled me back from the depths was hope. Hope that things would get better.”

He now finds purpose in being an advocate for player safety, speaking to audiences, doing interviews and writing a book about his experiences.  To those going through what he did, during his 14 years of playing football, he says “If you feel alone, you aren’t. Chances are, there are a lot of people out there who have some idea of what you’re going through. Just keep looking. Reach out.”

Added Cochran: “Sometimes it’s nice to admit that things aren’t O.K.: ‘Hello, my name is Casey, and I have anxiety and depression.’ It may be permanent. It may be just the beginning. I don’t know what the future has in store for me and it will be some time before the medical field can paint a clearer picture for me. I may have CTE right now. I might have dementia at 50. My entire future is uncertain.”

Best Bargain for Retirees? Waterbury Ranks 10th in the USA

Headed towards retirement?  Keep Waterbury in mind.  A new ranking of the best bargains for retirees has the Brass City holding down the final slot on the top ten list.  The list, developed by the website GO Banking Rates and running on the CBS Moneywatch website, ranks Waterbury as the 10^th best town in the country for retirees. The site said of Waterbury: “Waterbury is in New Haven County on the Naugatuck River, close to Hartford and New York City. Waterbury has a colonial history with historic houses, and the downtown is clean and has many trees. You will find art and cultural events, and great health care facilities.”

A 2015 report by the Government Accountability Office found that about half of households led by people ages 55 and older have no retirement savings at all. Among households with retirement savings, the median amount of those savings is just $104,000 for households ages 55-64, and $148,000 for households ages 65-74. Such modest savings make it difficult to keep up with expenses during retirement. Americans 65 years of age or older average nearly $44,686 in annual expenses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And Waterbury, apparently, can make those dollars go further.  The GOBankingRates website ranking considered several local factors, including:

• Housing — rental prices for a one-bedroom apartment, rounded to nearest dollar.
• Percentage of retirees — in the local population as of April 1, 2010.
• Walkability — scores ranging from 25 for Montgomery, Ala., to 65 for Allentown, Pa.
• Safety factors — scores ranging from 6 for Rochester, N.Y., and Louisville, Ky., to 30 for Boise, Idaho.

Each city was given a weighting for each of the criterion and was ranked based on the overall score.  The top 20:

1. Boise, Idaho
2. El Paso, Texas
3. Allentown, PA
4. Grand Rapids, MI
5. Champaign, IL
6. Charlottesville, VA
7. Lincoln, NE
8. Bloomington, IN
9. Cedar Rapids, IA
10. Waterbury, CT
11. Colorado Springs, CO
12. Missoula, MT
13. Rochester, NY
14. Greensboro, NC
15. Fort Worth, TX
16. Billings, MT
17. Phoenix, AZ
18. Lexington, KY
19. Omaha, NB
20. Columbus, OH

The City of Waterbury’s website highlights “the sense of neighborhood identity and pride is so important that Waterbury has some of the most active neighborhood associations in the state.”  The site explains that “their efforts focus on protecting the small-town character and livability of their communities as they plan neighborhood block parties, concerts and beautification projects.  And with over twenty distinct and diverse neighborhoods-- many with their own commercial center, park, school, and sports associations-- there is truly a place for everyone in Waterbury.  These well-preserved and diverse neighborhoods are often recognized as one of the city's greatest assets.”

The original settlement of Waterbury – the 9^th largest city in New England - dates back to 1674 and the city's name is reference to its proximity to the Naugatuck River and its many tributaries which flow through the heart of the city.

https://youtu.be/4MZDO2vFPjA

Connecticut is Finalist to Host 2021 Solheim Cup, Prestigious Women’s U.S. vs. Europe Golf Event

Connecticut is in the running to host the 2021 Solheim Cup, often described as the most exciting event in women's professional golf, in what would be a significant coup for the state’s sports fans. The female equivalent of the men’s Ryder Cup, the tournament is held every odd-numbered year and matches the best players from the United States against the best from Europe.

Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield is one of six finalists to host the 2021 Cup, along with Inverness in Toledo, Scioto Country Club outside Columbus, Oak Tree National in Edmond, Okla., Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club, and a to-be-determined course in San Antonio, Texas.

The 2017 edition is slated for play at the Des Moines Golf & Country Club on August 14 – 20, 2017.  Scotland recently won the right to host The Solheim Cup in 2019.   The 16th edition of the team event will be played at the world famous PGA Centenary Course at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire.

Officials at the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau recently confirmed that conversations are underway that may result in the event being played in Fairfield County in 2021 – if Connecticut is selected from the field of finalists. Presentations by competing cities are being made on July 19 in Chicago.  The state should learn of the selection decision by the end of the year. Connecticut’s elected officials, at the state and federal level, have provided support for the Brooklawn bid.  

Brooklawn Country Club was formed in 1895 and from its earliest days, was conceived as a family club. Rich in history, Brooklawn was one of the first dozen or so clubs to join the United States Golf Association in 1896. Brooklawn has been the site of numerous amateur and professional championships including the 1974 USGA Junior Championship, the 1979 U. S. Women’s Open, the 1987 U. S. Senior Open and the 2003 USGA Girls Championship.

Although more than a year away, Des Moines is already spreading enthusiasm and selling tickets to the week-long event.  The August event traditionally draws some 200,000 fans for the three days of competition and preceding practice rounds.

“The support that the Des Moines community has shown for golf events in the area has been tremendous. Based on the incredible welcome that we’ve already seen from the city, state, and local organizers, I have no doubt that the 2017 Solheim Cup is already on track to be one of the best event we’ve ever staged,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “From the very first time we met the Des Moines Golf and Country Club leaders, we realized that we were able to think big, rally the support of the community, and facilitate corporate and fan experiences that will take The Solheim Cup to a new level.”

Des Moines Golf and Country Club was the site of the 1999 U.S. Senior Open Championship which drew a record 252,800 spectators.

After an extensive and very competitive bidding process for the 2019 event, the final decision saw Scotland edge out a strong bid from Sweden, according to published reports.  There were 10 countries - Denmark, England, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Wales – that submitted expressions of interest in hosting the 2019 event, the next time it is to be held in Europe.

Ivan Khodabakhsh, chief executive of Ladies European Tour said: “The competitive nature of the bidding process for the 2019 event is testimony to the growth in interest in women’s professional golf and women’s sport in general. The Solheim Cup has grown to be the biggest event in the women’s game delivering outstanding value to its partners at a local, national and international level.”

There is no early word on what impact the recent “Brexit” vote that is expected to lead to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union might have on the event.

Last month, the victorious 2015 U.S. Solheim Cup team visited Washington D.C. to be recognized for their accomplishments last September in defeating the European Team and winning back the Cup after back-to-back losses. The team sported matching red, white and blue sneakers for their Oval Office meeting with President Obama.

Scotland’s bid, which was led by the EventScotland team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate and backed by The Scottish Government, was submitted in August and received huge support from stars across the golfing, sporting and media spectrum.  John A. Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO, commented: “I am excited that the Solheim Cup will be returning to Scotland, home of Europe’s first win.  Gleneagles is certainly one of the great venues in golf and I’m sure that the members of the 2019 Solheim Cup teams will be up to meeting the challenges of this exceptional golf course.”

In the 1930’s, A. W. Tillinghast, one of history’s premier golf architects who also designed, among others, the courses at Winged Foot Golf Club, Baltusrol Golf Club, Bethpage State Park and Quaker Ridge Golf Club, redesigned the Brooklawn course in Fairfield into its present form.  Des Moines Golf and Country Club is the second Pete Dye-designed venue to host The Solheim Cup following the 2005 tournament at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Indiana.

Connecticut to Join The Boston Fed's "Working Cities Challenge" to Help Communities Improve Economic Outcomes

Connecticut will be the latest state participating in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Working Cities Challenge competition, an economic development effort that builds cross-sector collaboration and leadership to solve challenges affecting urban communities. Businesses and organizations from the private sector throughout the state, along with state government, have played a significant role as a catalyst in bringing the Working Cities Challenge to the Land of Steady Habits. As part of this initiative, cities in Connecticut will have the ability to apply for competitive funding to be used toward addressing local issues in a sector of their choosing, be it education, workforce development, small business development, or other areas that can improve economic outcomes for residents. This summer, the Boston Fed will begin conducting meetings across Connecticut to provide more information about the Working Cities Challenge. Cities will be able to apply for design grants in the fall of 2016.

The Boston Fed will lead the competition, providing technical support and staff resources.  A steering committee composed of local and national partners will determine the cities in Connecticut that will be eligible to apply.  An independent, expert jury that does not include the Boston Fed will select winning cities.

The Boston Fed launched the program in Massachusetts in 2013, building on research that identified cross-sector collaboration and leadership as the key ingredients in resurgent smaller cities across the county. The State of Rhode Island has also joined Massachusetts as a participating site of the Working Cities Challenge.

Funding for the competition prize awards will be provided both by the State of Connecticut, which has committed $1 million, and an additional $2 million commitment from private partners.  The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Living Cities, NeighborWorks America, The United Illuminating Company, Stanley Black & Decker, Boehringer Ingelheim, Travelers Companies, Inc., The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Webster Bank, Eversource Energy, Liberty Bank Foundation, Hartford HealthCare, Barnes Group, Hoffman BMW of Watertown/Hoffman Auto Group, United Technologies Corp., Charter Communications, and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation have all committed to participating in the challenge.

“This Working Cities Challenge is about delivering collaborative, transformative projects that will improve the economic outcomes in our cities, creating strong, resilient, and inclusive communities,” Governor Malloy said.  “To build a stronger Connecticut, we must build upon the strengths of our urban areas, and I commend the Boston Fed for their leadership on this effort.  We look forward to working with them in support of Connecticut and cannot thank our private partners enough for their participation.”

“We are pleased to bring the Working Cities Challenge to Connecticut and are thankful to Governor Malloy for his support of the effort, as well as the Hartford Foundation, the Doris Duke Foundation, Living Cities, The Kresge Foundation, and many others,” Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren said.  “The partners have come together to make it possible to bring the competition to Connecticut – precisely the model of cross-sector collaboration that forms the basis of the Working Cities Challenge.  This competition focuses on the residents of the state’s postindustrial cities – places with unique assets that taken together can help to build civic leadership infrastructure, which our research shows is a key component of economic resurgence.”

“Collaboration among the nonprofit, private, public and philanthropic sectors and residents is fundamental to ensuring our communities thrive,” Linda J. Kelly, President of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, said.  “We are proud to support the Working Cities Challenge as a proven approach for the coordination across multiple systems and stakeholders that is necessary to strengthen our urban centers and benefit the entire state.”

 “It’s gratifying to see the strong support from Connecticut companies, foundations, and the Malloy administration for the Working Cities Challenge under the thoughtful  leadership of the Boston Fed,”  James C. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Webster Bank, said.  “By encouraging the development of civic infrastructure as a prerequisite to physical infrastructure, the Working Cities Challenge promises to revitalize Connecticut’s smaller cities economically and transform the lives of inner city residents.”

“Across the country many, many communities lack cohesive leadership to make use of their disconnected assets,” Rip Rapson, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, said.  “The Working Cities Challenge offers a short-term incentive for smaller communities to come together for a prize.  But its true value will be felt when those communities find the long-term benefits of collaborations that engage citizens to right economic wrongs and provide for widespread opportunity.”

 Working Cities video

PERSPECTIVE: Can Trust be Restored?

by Peter F. Eder The public’s trust in just about everything continues to be at historically low levels and there is every indication this trending will continue its downward slope.  Not just trust in federal government action but all levels and branches of government, as documented by any number of ongoing Pew Research Center and Quinnipiac Polling Institute studies.

Just one example would be the Pew Research Center’s November 23, 2015 report, entitled: “Beyond Trust: How Americans view their government.”  The top line finding was that fewer than three-in-ten Americans have expressed trust in the federal government in every major national poll conducted since July 2007 – the longest period of low trust in government in more than fifty years.  The survey reported that increased distrust in government exists for every party, across the demographic spectrum and generation clusters, and extends to diminished belief in government fairness.

And while distrust is perhaps most manifest these days in politics, the same billowing distrust exists when respondents are measured about credibility in media outlets, financial institutions, religious organizations and seemingly any private or public institution.

Living in a digital age also makes it harder to figure out what is trustworthy.  When it is easy to find confirmation for almost anything ordinary, grave or absurd, with contradictory information and rival sources, determining trustworthiness is truly challenging.

All this seems based on the continual distortion of truth, no sense of compromise, and the polarization and self-serving nature of almost all collective and individual behavior.

If we accept this as current reality, the critical question is “How can Trust ever be restored?”  Let me suggest what might have to occur.  First of all, we have to find leaders who will put others first.  It will be individuals who recognize that their neighbors aren’t just the persons who live next to them or who share the same views, values, and interests, but those that inhabit every space around themselves.  We need individuals whose personal experience have guided them through tragedy and triumph, without fostering a mindset that they are championing their own advancement.

To those of us who look to – or up to – them, we need an open, inquiring, compassionate mind.  We need to set aside the rush to judgement, to listen to all sides of an issue, to take the time to search out the truth, to separate the hype from the reality.

In time past, these attributes ensured the common good.  Who will take the first leadership steps and who, as followers, will listen, encourage and emulate them?  Or is it sadly already too late?

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Peter F. Eder is a retired marketing executive, AARP Connecticut community volunteer and a founding board member of At Home In Darien, his community aging-in-place organization.  Throughout his career, he has been involved with local and national organizations within the communications arena and in responding to acute needs of people in our communities.

PERSPECTIVE commentaries by contributing writers appear each Sunday on Connecticut by the Numbers.

Also of interest:  Freedom's Just Another Word For 

Encore Entrepreneurs Look to Start New Businesses in CT

To paraphrase a commercial phrase from years ago, it isn’t your grandfather’s entrepreneurship.  In fact, the new version isn’t only for twenty- and thirty-somethings.  The fifty- and sixty-somethings are, in increasing numbers, looking to launch what AARP describes as “encore entrepreneurship.”  And the infrastructure to give those new entrepreneurial notions a boost is growing too, including in Connecticut. The most recent gathering, at the reSET business factory in Hartford, brought solid attendance and an array of experts to work with individuals with a full career under their belt, but nonetheless looking to start their next career. 

AARP and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) hosted the free educational and networking “Boot Camp” seminar for Connecticut entrepreneurs and small business owners.  reSET, usually populated by a predominantly younger set of entrepreneurs, indicated that age and entrepreneurship are not mutually exclusive, and Community Developer Brandon Serafino went on to explain the availability of working space, expert mentors and consultants is areas ranging from law to accounting to marketing on hand to provide guidance.

Nora Duncan, state director of AARP, led the program presentations and described a strong portfolio of services available – and some surprising numbers that reflect the strength of encore entrepreneurship nationwide.

It turns out, she said, that there is research to show that not only do more older people start businesses but also that businesses started by older people are actually more successful on average.

A study by the Kauffman Foundation found, for example, that the average and median age of U.S.-born tech founders was thirty-nine when they started their companies. Twice as many were older than fifty as were younger than twenty-five.

A recent report in Business Insider indicated that one in three new businesses in the U.S. were started by an entrepreneur age 50 or older.  Describing “running a business as the new retirement,” the news report cited an infographic in easylifecover that highlighted those aged 55-64 in the U.S. have actually had the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity in the last 10 years, noting that the founders of McDonald's, Coca Cola, and Kentucky Fried Chicken – among others - were all over 50 when they established their businesses.

The interactive “Boot Camp” event at reSET – open to people of all ages with a special focus on the 50 and over –included short presentations from local resource organizations, networking opportunities and valuable information on the programs and tools available to potential business owners.  Attendees were updated on the necessary steps and tools to launch a business, and had opportunities to talk one-on-one with local mentoring organizations, lenders, small business advisors and community leaders for advice and assistance.

AARP state offices and U.S. Small Business Administration District Offices are in the midst of hosting events for Encore Entrepreneurs specifically designed for those age 50 and older who want to start or grow a small business.  Summer of Encore Mentoring events are being conducted during June, July and August, in Connecticut and around the country.  (Next event is June 29 at CCSU)

Among those on hand at the reSET event in mid-June were representatives of the Office of Secretary of State (where new businesses are registered), Hartford Economic Development Corporation, and the Connecticut Small Business Development Center.  SBA Connecticut District Director Anne Hunt outlined the businesses expertise available at offices throughout the state to support business start-ups and help navigate the hurdles that new businesses face.

The SBA-AARP strategic partnership is designed to jointly counsel, train, and mentor encore entrepreneurs on small business creation. For many 50+ individuals, officials say, entrepreneurship training is the toolkit that empowers them to use their experience, knowledge, and skills to become business owners and job creators. Since the partnership began in 2012, the SBA and AARP have educated more than 300,000 existing and budding potential encore entrepreneurs nationwide.

reSET serves all entrepreneurs, but specializes in social enterprise ― impact driven business with a double and sometimes triple bottom line. In addition to providing co-working space and accelerator and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration, and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. The organization’s goal is to “meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level.”

New Haven to Host Regional Economic Development Conference for Northeast

Each year, the Northeastern Economic Developers Association convenes a conference of practitioners and thinkers from throughout the region who learn and do business together. For the organization’s 60^th annual conference this fall, the selected theme of “Transportation at the Crossroads” is designed “to help us bring a big idea to life - increasing economic self-sufficiency and vibrancy for citizens, businesses and communities.” The city selected to host the landmark event is New Haven. “We are broadly defining transportation to include moving people, cargo and data,” explain conference organizers of the event, expected to bring more than 250 professionals in a range of economic development areas to the September 11-13 conference.   

NEDA will offer sessions in New Haven in the priority topic areas related to the transportation theme - a broad array of program topics, professional tools and networking opportunities that will provide high value to conference attendees.

Who is expected to attend?  Organizers anticipate community planners; representatives of banks, specialty lenders and investors; Chambers of Commerce leaders; developers; economic development organizations and consultants; engineering service firms; entrepreneurs; municipal planners, place-makers; policy makers; transportation planners and implementers; and federal, state, regional and local government representatives.

Keynote speakers include state and federal officials, including Governor Malloy; state Economic and Community Development Commissioner Catherine Smith; Transportation Commissioner James Redeker; Alissa DeJonge, Vice President of Research for the Connecticut Economic Resource Center; and New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.   In addition, former Gov. Parris N. Glendening of Maryland, President of Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute and the Governors’ Institute on Community Design, a technical assistance program run in partnership with the EPA-DOT Partnership for Sustainable Communities and Smart Growth America, will address the conference, as will Congressman Bill Shuster, Chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The conference will also recognize outstanding initiatives throughout the region, including the Project of the Year, Program of the Year, Educator of the Year, Member of the Year, and a series of marketing awards in categories including branding, marketing and promotion, and economic development content.  Nominations must be submitted (by NEDA members) by June 24.

Through NEDA membership, economic development practitioners, officials, and volunteer leaders develop and perfect their development tools, network with others in the field, and partner regionally to do the work of economic development, according to organization officials.

The NEDA “core philosophy” will be reflected in the conference sessions.  It reads “We believe economic development is inseparably intertwined with both community development and the leveraging of community assets to drive change. By forming collaborative partnerships with organizations pursuing goals similar to ours, local resources are maximized and the foundation for community sustainability is established from local stakeholders and small businesses committed to their common future.”

NEDA members “build stronger economies throughout the Northeastern United States,” including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia.

https://youtu.be/iphybn4GS8U

Add a Teen Driver to Policy? Rates Double in CT, 8th Highest Increase in Nation

Adding a teen driver to the family automobile insurance policy drives up rates.  That’s true everywhere across the United States, and in Connecticut the increase is among the highest in the nation, almost doubling the policy's premium. A new survey reveals that the average premium increase in Connecticut when adding a teen driver to an existing policy is 96.3 percent, which is the 8^th highest increase in the U.S.  The only states with higher jumps in premiums are New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Arizona, Wyoming, Ohio, Oregon and Maine.

The study, by insuranceQuotes, found that the average increase in premiums across the country when a teen driver is added to an existing policy is 79 percent.  That is a slight improvement from a few years ago, when the increase nationwide averaged 84 percent.

The study also found that it costs more to add a young male driver than a female driver to an existing policy - adding a male teen to a married couple's policy results in a national average premium increase of 91 percent, compared to an increase of 67 percent for a female.  The difference is wider the younger the driver.  For 16 year old male driver is added, for example, the premium cost more than doubles on an existing policy.

Connecticut has consistently been ranked in the top ten, with among the highest increases when a teenage driver is added to an existing policy.  A year ago, Connecticut was ranked 7^th, with a 98.3 percent increase in insurance rates after adding a teen driver.  The previous year, Connecticut ranked 5^th in the annual survey, with an increase of 102.4 percent in the policy cost when a teen driver was added.

According to the data, the largest increases in Connecticut were in New Haven County, more than 11 percent higher than the statewide average.  Tolland, Windham, Middlesex and New London counties were slightly lower than the statewide average; Hartford and Fairfield counties slightly higher.

Laura Adams, senior insurance analyst at insuranceQuotes stressed that states differ considerably when it comes to the cost of insuring a teenage driver – noting that a teen added to a married adult's auto policy in New Hampshire results in an average annual premium increase of 125 percent, while in Hawaii the average increase is just 17 percent.  New Hampshire had the highest increase in each of the past three years.

"Insurance companies have pretty wide lattitude in many states in the reasons for raising rates, and in some states adding a teen really moves the needle," Adams told CT by the Numbers.  As for Connecticut, Adams said she doesn't see any reprieve anytime soon.  "Teen drivers are among the riskiest, and companies take advantage of the opportunity to raise rates."

Perhaps the most significant underlying factor is that each state regulates insurance differently, and those regulatory differences account for some of the variations in the study’s findings, according to insuranceQuotes.  For instance, Hawaii is the only state that doesn't allow insurance providers to consider age, gender or length of driving experience when determining premiums. That means that the cost for teens doesn't differ much from the cost for adults buying auto insurance.  This may also account for lower increases in states such as New York, Michigan and North Carolina, where insurance is regulated more strictly and rating factors are more stringent, insuranceQuotes points out.   The increases in those states when adding a teen to an existing policy were all below 60 percent, among the lowest increases in the nation.

Adams noted that people often notice the difference in rates when they move to another state.  "You are penalized for where you live.  States handle this very differently."

She added that "regardless of the costs to insure your teen driver, safety is the No. 1 priority. We suggest parents educate teens on the dangers of driving, especially when it comes to texting while driving, or driving under the influence.”

Kathy Bernstein, senior manager of the National Safety Council's Teen Driving Initiatives, told insuranceQuotes that the riskiness of teens behind the wheel may be "leveling off."  For instance, in 1978 there were nearly 10,000 teen driver deaths, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That number has dropped every year since then. In 2014, the number of teen driver deaths was about 2,600.  The percentage of teens on the road has steadily declined as well. According to a recent study from the University of Michigan, 69 percent of 17-year-old Americans had a license 30 years ago. Now, less than half have a license - 45 percent.

Adams indicated that as teen drivers get older and gain driving experience, rates tend to come down, unless, of course, they happen to have an accident in which they are at fault.  In those instances, "very high rates" result.

For the annual study, insuranceQuotes and Quadrant Information Services examined the economic impact of adding a driver between the ages of 16 and 19 to a family's existing car insurance policy.  The insuranceQuotes website provides consumers with a free, easy way to compare insurance quotes online for auto, home, health, life and business policies.

Connecticut Students Know Much About History; Stand Out in National Contest

Hamilton.  Say the name these days, and people almost reflexively think of the hit Broadway show.  But for Connecticut students Juliana Rodrigues, Max Bueno, Samantha Gilbert, Emily Strickland, and Joseph Zarif from Memorial Middle School in Middlebury, Hamilton brings to mind more recent history. The students won two Special Awards for their project, Alexander Hamilton Explores a Financial System for the New Nation of America, at the National History Day Competition for middle school and high school students, held this month in Maryland.  They middle-schoolers won the U.S.  Constitution Award and the Special Award in History in the Federal Government.

Connecticut History Day is a program for students in grades 6-12 that encourages exploration of local, state, national, and world history.  After selecting a historical topic that relates to an annual theme, students conduct extensive research using libraries, archives, museums, and oral history interviews. Students analyze and interpret their findings, draw conclusions about their topic's significance in history, and create final projects that demonstrate their work.

Connecticut History Day is one of 57 affiliate programs of the highly regarded National History Day program. Student projects developed by students in Connecticut are entered into a series of competitions, from the local to the national level, where professional historians and educators evaluate them.

The students from Middlebury were not the only Connecticut students to shine on the national stage this year.

• Mia Porcello, a middle school student from St. Timothy School in West Hartford, captured a national title by winning First Place in the Junior Individual Exhibit Category for her entry Florence Wald: Exploring Medical Boundaries, Exchanging Hospitals to Hospice.
• Shay Pezzulo, a high school student from Classical Magnet School in Hartford, captured CHD’s second national title of the year by winning First Place in the Senior Individual Website Category for her entry Duel and Duality: New Journalism, New York. Pezzulo also attended "Breakfast on the Hill" with members of Congress during her trip to the NHD Contest - an event sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
• The Outstanding Connecticut Entry Award from the Senior Division was awarded to Nicole Wood, Juliana Salamone, Katherine Hurst and Flora Dievenich for their group project, Women Airforce Service Pilots and the Flight for Equality. They are students at Greenwich High School and were also finalists in the Senior Group Performance Category.
• The Outstanding Connecticut Entry Award from the Junior Division was awarded to Hunter Dale and Noah Vasington for their group project, Branch Rickey: Branching Off to New Ideas. They are students at Mansfield Middle School in Storrs and were also finalists in the Junior Group Exhibit Category.
• Rosie the Riveter, an exhibit created by Claire Graham, Hana Previte, Isabel Saltzman, and Lauren White was one of only 57 projects featured at the National Museum of American History’s "National History Night" on Wednesday, June 15. They are students at Wilton High School.

The students, who helped Connecticut stand-out at the national competition, range from first-time program participants to history day veterans and from AP students to students who are struggling in school, according to officials.  The national competition was held June 12-16 at the University of Maryland.

In recent years, the Connecticut program, coordinated by Connecticut’s Old State House with support from Connecticut Humanities, has grow in numbers and in the quality of the students’ work, organizers point out. This year, Connecticut History Day had 10,600 points of contact with Connecticut students, teachers, parents and history professionals, including workshops for 4,500 students—twice last year’s number.

"Good strategic thinking by our History Day team has increased the number of students who learn and grow through this program," said Sally Whipple, Executive Director of Connecticut's Old State House. "Old State House workshops, resources and coaching have helped students develop high quality projects based on sound research. We serve thousands of students through this program, but more important than the number served, is the quality of that service. Students develop critical thinking, writing and research skills, along with increased confidence, curiosity and the ability to ask and find answers to compelling questions. The Old State House staff strives to do this every day through all of its programs. It's great to see student work that we've helped nurture receive the highest National History Day honors possible."

This is the fifth consecutive year that Connecticut students have placed at the national contest and appears to be the first time that Connecticut students have won two first place awards. The initiative in Connecticut is in line with the state’s relatively new Social Studies Framework and helps students build confidence, as well – as does the recognition, both in state and at the national level. 

Earlier this year, state contest winners were determined at a day-long event hosted at Central Connecticut State University.  That followed regional contests held in Torrington, New Haven, Fairfield, Mansfield, Manchester and Hartford. Among the statewide category winners, at the high school level,  were students from Hartford, Farmington, Manchester, Norwich, Weston, Wilton, Westport, Southbury, Woodbury, Greenwich, Ellington, New Haven and Wallingford.  Topics ranged from the Panama Canal to Pequot Ware, Immigration Policy to Women Airforce Pilots, 20^th Century Psychiatry to War of the Worlds, Cheney Brothers to Langston Hughes.

The road to National History Day (NHD) begins in Connecticut’s classrooms and home schools where well over 2,000 students choose topics reflecting an annual NHD theme, conduct research and analysis and create an exhibit, performance, website, paper or documentary that shares their findings. Of these, more than 1,250 students competed in this year’s regional contests, with over 400 of the winners going on to the State Contest, which sends first and second-place winners on to Nationals.

https://youtu.be/6pt2R_5cXQs