Rep. Courtney Urges UCONN to Expand Academic Programs, Student Housing at Avery Point Campus
NORWICH, CT – Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) sent a letter to University of Connecticut (UConn) President Maric expressing his strong support for expanding both academic offerings and student housing at the Avery Point campus.
“UConn Avery Point is uniquely positioned to not only benefit but also to contribute to the economic boom that we are experiencing in the region,” Courtney wrote.
Southeastern Connecticut’s economic boom is fueled by Electric Boat’s record hiring that will continue into the late 2030s, as well as the trilateral AUKUS security agreement that has put all eyes on the region.
“UConn’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Adelaide in Australia will build mutually beneficial academic and scientific capabilities, and this collaboration will result in increased visits and exchanges between our research institutions. Furthermore, the U.S. State Department has already recognized the potential for this type of cooperation with UConn’s award to develop Navy STEM partnerships to support AUKUS,” said Courtney. “Expanding the engineering, business, and other four-year degrees offered at Avery Point will enable more young people in our region to fill these critically important job positions.”
To meet the moment and advance Avery Point, more student housing is desperately needed.
“The lack of housing has been a concern for many students and their parents. Combined with the highly competitive and costly local housing market, this could make attending Avery Point more challenging or financially unfeasible -- resulting in the loss of a talent pool required to meet the demands of the region’s workforce needs,” Courtney continued.
Rep. Courtney’s letter comes as UConn is developing each of its regional locations – except Avery Point – into world-class campuses as part of the University’s ten-year strategic plan.
“UConn is now developing these regional locations into world-class campuses as part of our 2024-2034 strategic plan, developed with input from over 10,000 people. Each campus will offer signature regional academic and research programs that are destinations within our university system, while also facilitating synergistic academic, research and outreach programs between campuses,” wrote UConn Board of Trustees Marilda Gandara and Tom Ritter. “This effort is already underway at each regional campus except Avery Point… Now is the time for Avery Point to join them.”