Bill Text: CT SB00536 | 2018 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Various Initiatives At The University Of Connecticut.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-04-23 - File Number 632 [SB00536 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2018-SB00536-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
||
February Session, 2018 |
*_____SB00536FIN___040618____* |
AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS INITIATIVES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 10a-102 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) The University of Connecticut shall remain an institution for the education of [youths whose parents are] citizens primarily of this state.
(1) The leading [object] objective of said university shall be to educate the population at large, with an eye towards current and emerging state, national and world economic dynamics and labor force trends.
(2) The secondary and supporting objective of said university shall be to facilitate knowledge transfer of the academic insights of the faculty and student body into for-profit and nonprofit ventures, thereby promoting the growth and health of the state economy.
(3) The further objectives of said university shall be to offer a wide selection of courses, without excluding scientific and classical studies or other well-considered areas of knowledge, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts [,] and to encourage cross-disciplinary studies.
(b) Such objectives shall be taught in such manner as the General Assembly prescribes, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in accordance with the provisions of an Act of Congress, approved July 2, 1862, entitled "An Act donating public lands to the several states and territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts", and also in accordance with an Act of Congress, approved August 30, 1890, entitled "An Act to apply a portion of the proceeds of the public lands to the more complete endowment and support of the colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts established under the provisions of an Act of Congress, approved July 2, 1862".
(c) The number of students who are to reside in university dormitories shall be determined by the board of trustees. [, preference in enrollment in the university being given to qualified students taking the full agricultural course.] Said university is authorized to confer the academic and professional degrees appropriate to the courses prescribed by its board of trustees. The board shall establish policies which protect academic freedom and the content of course and degree programs.
Sec. 2. Section 10a-103 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) There shall continue to be a Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut to consist of twenty-one persons, twelve to be appointed by the Governor, who shall reflect the state's geographic, racial and ethnic diversity and fulfill the qualifications set forth in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection; two to be elected by the university alumni; two to be elected by the students enrolled at the institutions under the jurisdiction of said board; and five members ex officio.
(1) (A) On or before July 1, 1983, the Governor shall appoint members to the board as follows: Four members for a term of two years from said date; four members for a term of four years from said date; and four members for a term of six years from said date. Thereafter, the Governor shall appoint trustees of said university to succeed those appointees whose terms expire, and each trustee so appointed shall hold office for a period of six years from the first day of July in the year of his or her appointment, provided two of the trustees appointed for terms commencing July 1, 1995, and their successors shall be alumni of the university, one of the trustees appointed for a term commencing July 1, 1997, and his or her successors shall be such alumni and one of the members appointed for a term commencing July 1, 1999, and his or her successors shall be such alumni.
(B) Each member appointed by the Governor for a term commencing on or after July 1, 2018, shall have experience recognized by said university as an entrepreneur or an investor in business ventures, until at least four of the twelve trustees appointed by the Governor fulfill such qualification. At least two of the four members shall be less than forty years of age at the time of such member's initial appointment. Not later than July 1, 2023, at least two of the twelve trustees appointed by the Governor shall have academic qualifications or significant professional experience in the economic growth of the state and a demonstrated understanding of said university's role in such growth.
(2) The Commissioner of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the chairperson of The University of Connecticut Health Center Board of Directors shall be, ex officio, members of the board of trustees. The Governor shall be, ex officio, president of said board.
(b) (1) The graduates of all of the schools and colleges of said university shall, prior to September first in the odd-numbered years, elect one trustee, who shall be a graduate of the institution and who shall hold office for four years from the first day of September succeeding his or her election. Not less than two or more than four nominations for each such election shall be made by the alumni association of said university, provided no person who has served as an alumni trustee for the two full consecutive terms immediately prior to the term for which such election is to be held shall be nominated for any such election. Such election shall be conducted by mail or by electronic means approved pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection prior to September first under the supervision of a canvassing board consisting of three members, one appointed by the board of trustees, one by the board of directors of the alumni association of the university and one by the president of the university. No ballot in such election shall be opened or accessed until the date by which ballots must be returned to the canvassing board. In such election, all graduates shall be entitled to vote by signed ballots which have been circulated to them by mail or by electronic means approved pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection and which shall be returned by mail or such electronic means. Vacancies occurring by death or resignation of either of such alumni trustees shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by special election, if such unexpired term is for more than eighteen months. When the unexpired term is eighteen months or less, such vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the board of directors of said alumni association.
(2) On or before November 1, 1975, the students of The University of Connecticut shall, in such manner as the board of trustees of said university shall determine, elect two trustees, each of whom shall be enrolled as a full-time student of said university at the time of his or her election. One such member shall be elected for a term of one year from November 1, 1975, and one for a term of two years from said date. Prior to July first, annually, such students shall, in accordance with this section and in such manner as the board shall determine, elect one member of said board, who shall be so enrolled at said university at the time of his or her election and who shall serve for a term of two years from July first in the year of his or her election. The student member elected to fill the term expiring on June 30, 2003, and such elected member's successors, shall be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at a school or college of the university and shall be elected by the undergraduate students of the schools and colleges of the university. The student member elected to fill the term expiring on June 30, 2004, and such elected member's successors, shall be enrolled as a full-time student in the School of Law, the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the School of Social Work, or as a graduate student of a school or college of the university, and shall be elected by the students of the School of Law, the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the School of Social Work and the graduate students of the schools and colleges of the university. Any student member elected after July 1, 2013, shall be enrolled as a full-time student at the time of his or her election and for the duration of his or her term of service. Any vacancies in the elected membership of said board shall, except as otherwise provided in this section, be filled by special election for the balance of the unexpired term.
(3) Students at said university may propose and develop electronic means of casting ballots for the elections under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection occurring on or after July 1, 2020. Any such electronic means shall provide that ballots cast are electronically encrypted or secured by another method or technology. Upon approval by the alumni association of said university, the graduate and undergraduate student government organizations of said university and the president of said university, such electronic means may be used to cast ballots for an election under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection occurring on or after July 1, 2020. Said president shall, from time to time and in consultation with representatives of such student government organizations, promote a contest on at least one of the campuses of said university to encourage (A) student development or refinement of such electronic means of casting ballots, or (B) development of other innovative solutions to the needs of the student body.
Sec. 3. Section 10a-104 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall: (1) Make rules for the government of the university and shall determine the general policies of the university, including those concerning the admission of students and the establishment of schools, colleges, divisions and departments, which policies shall be consistent with the goals identified in section 10a-11c, and shall direct the expenditure of the university's funds within the amounts available; (2) develop the mission statement for The University of Connecticut, and all campuses thereof, that shall be consistent with such goals and include, but not be limited to, the following elements: (A) The educational needs of and constituencies served by said university and campuses; (B) the degrees offered by said university; and (C) the role and scope of each institution and campus within the university system, which shall include each institution's and campus' particular strengths and specialties; (3) establish policies for the university system and for the individual institutions and campuses under its jurisdiction; (4) review and approve recommendations for the establishment of new academic programs; (5) report all new programs and program changes to the Office of Higher Education; (6) make recommendations, when appropriate, regarding institutional or campus mergers or closures; (7) coordinate the programs and services of the institutions and campuses under its jurisdiction; (8) be authorized to enter into agreements, consistent with the provisions of section 5-141d, to save harmless and indemnify sponsors of research grants to The University of Connecticut, provided such an agreement is required to receive the grant and limits liability to damages or injury resulting from acts or omissions related to such research by employees of the university; (9) promote fund-raising to assist the university and report to the executive director of the Office of Higher Education and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education by January 1, 1994, and biennially thereafter, on such fund-raising; (10) charge the direct costs for a building project under its jurisdiction to the bond fund account for such project, provided (A) such costs are charged in accordance with a procedure approved by the Treasurer and (B) nothing in this subdivision shall permit the charging of working capital costs, as defined in the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, or costs originally paid from sources other than the bond fund account; (11) exercise the powers delegated to it pursuant to section 10a-109d; and (12) establish by October 1, 1997, policies governing the acceptance of gifts made by a foundation established pursuant to sections 4-37e and 4-37f to the university or its employees for reimbursement of expenditures or payment of expenditures on behalf of the university or its employees.
(b) The board of trustees shall: (1) Review and approve institutional budget requests and prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management the budget request for the university and all campuses thereof; (2) propose facility planning and capital expenditure budget priorities for the institutions under its jurisdiction; (3) fulfill requirements concerning the auditing and review of projects of UCONN 2000 in accordance with sections 10a-109z to 10a-109bb, inclusive; (4) establish the construction assurance office in accordance with section 10a-109cc; and (5) exercise the powers delegated to it in section 10a-109d. The board may request authority from the Treasurer to issue payment for claims against the university, other than a payment for payroll, debt service payable on state bonds to bondholders, paying agents, or trustees, or any payment the source of which includes the proceeds of a state bond issue.
(c) The board of trustees may create a board of directors for the governance of The University of Connecticut Health Center and may delegate such duties and authority as it deems necessary and appropriate to said board of directors. The board of directors shall include members of the board of trustees designated by the chairperson of the board of trustees and such other persons as the board of trustees deems appropriate.
(d) There is established a standing subcommittee of the board of trustees responsible for addressing entrepreneurial issues. Members of the subcommittee shall include, at a minimum, the four board members appointed with entrepreneurial experience described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10a-103, as amended by this act, and shall not include more than seven board members. The subcommittee shall be responsible for drafting all initial resolutions for the fulfillment of the board of trustees' responsibilities relating to entrepreneurship at the university. Subcommittee members shall appear annually before the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education, commerce and finance, revenue and bonding to report on the subcommittee's activities and the university's related performance.
Sec. 4. Section 10a-108 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) The board of trustees shall appoint a president of the university. Said president shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the university and of the board of trustees. Said president shall carry out the policies and enforce the rules adopted by the board of trustees and shall have the authority necessary therefor. The board of trustees may employ the faculty and other personnel needed to operate and maintain the institutions under its jurisdiction. Within the limitation of appropriations, the board of trustees shall fix the compensation of such personnel, establish terms and conditions of employment and prescribe their duties and qualifications. Said board shall determine who constitutes its professional staff and establish compensation and classification schedules for its professional staff. The board shall annually submit to the Commissioner of Administrative Services a list of the positions which it has included within the professional staff.
(b) The president of The University of Connecticut, in consultation with the board of trustees, shall establish the position of Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The University of Connecticut. The vice president shall report directly to the president. The vice president's duties shall include, but need not be limited to, assisting the president in the implementation of all of the president's duties and responsibilities relating to entrepreneurship and investment at the university. The president shall not hire any person as vice president under this section unless such person demonstrates extensive past experience as either an entrepreneur in multiple ventures or an investor in multiple new business ventures.
(c) Not later than October 1, 2018, the president of The University of Connecticut, in consultation with the board of trustees, shall designate or hire a person who will have primary responsibility for the direction and supervision of the Innovation Partnership Building at the UConn Tech Park. Such person shall have extensive professional experience as an entrepreneur or as an investor in multiple new business ventures. Such experience shall be given greater consideration than any academic qualifications that may be required for such position. Said president and such person shall ensure that the Innovation Partnership Building is operated to facilitate research collaboration with established businesses and to support the creation and development of new business ventures, in equal measure.
Sec. 5. Section 10a-104c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall develop, continuously maintain and revise from time to time a program to facilitate the recruitment of eminent faculty and their research staffs to the university. Such program shall support economic development in the state through commercialization of faculty research and promote core [competency areas] sectors of the state economy, as identified in the annual economic report issued under section 6 of this act, by accelerating the pace of applied research and development. Such program shall supplement the compensation of such faculty and related costs of personnel and materials needed to secure such faculty for the university. Eligibility shall be limited to scientists who have demonstrated excellence in their field of research and have an interest in working collaboratively with other scientists at the university and [an] a demonstrated interest in past and future commercialization of their research.
[(b) No funds shall be expended under this section until the president of The University of Connecticut certifies to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management that the university or the university's foundation established pursuant to sections 4-37e and 4-37f has received written commitments for financial support from industry or other sources of not less than two million dollars for purposes identified in subsection (a) of this section.]
(b) Not later than November 15, 2018, said board shall develop and implement a plan for the recruitment and hiring of faculty who have experience as entrepreneurs or in the commercialization of research. Such plan shall include related recruitment and hiring goals for each science, technology, engineering and math department of said university.
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2018) (a) Not later than January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, the faculty of The University of Connecticut shall issue an annual economic report, in a manner prescribed by the president of The University of Connecticut and the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut, regarding the economic dynamics and present and emerging labor force trends in the state, including the establishment of new business ventures in the state. Such report shall reflect the collective views of the faculty who develop the report, and include all minority opinions of such faculty. Such report shall be made available to all students enrolled at The University of Connecticut and the general public.
(b) The president and the board of trustees, in developing procedures for the preparation and approval of the report issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall establish supporting procedures to cultivate and share with the entire faculty of the university any relevant opinions of business leaders in major economic sectors of the state, which shall include, but need not be limited to, leaders in new businesses and newly emerging sectors with high potential for growth in the state.
(c) The president and the board of trustees shall certify in an annual report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement that the courses and academics programs offered at The University of Connecticut reflect all opinions reflected in the report issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2018) (a) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut and the president of The University of Connecticut shall conduct all business on behalf of The University of Connecticut in accordance with the objectives set forth in section 10a-102 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
(b) On and after July 1, 2018, the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall include, in all marketing and promotional materials for student recruitment, information that highlights the entrepreneurial activity of the university's students and faculty, including profiles of successful student or faculty-led ventures, entrepreneurial course offerings, services and programming for the support of entrepreneurial student efforts, and the existence of any entrepreneurial clubs or fraternities. The board shall utilize social media for such marketing and promotional efforts.
(c) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall release for open, public use and freely license any and all patents held by the board that have not been utilized for commercialization or otherwise licensed for a period of ten years or more.
(d) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut and the president of The University of Connecticut shall build and foster, through a series of activities, a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among the students enrolled at each campus of The University of Connecticut, in accordance with the objectives of section 10a-102 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. Such activities shall include, but need not be limited to, organizing and hosting regular networking events for student and faculty entrepreneurs, and the support of relevant student clubs and organizations.
(e) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut and the president of The University of Connecticut shall seek to build entrepreneurial relationships between The University of Connecticut and other public or independent institutions of higher education in the state that are engaged in entrepreneurial efforts, including, but not limited to, Yale University.
(f) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall design and implement a mentorship initiative to cultivate a robust group of alumni and faculty of The University of Connecticut who have significant experience in entrepreneurship and other prominent entrepreneurs in the state, to mentor and advise students and other faculty of the university in the creation and growth of new business ventures. Such mentorship initiative shall be (1) developed in coordination with and integrated into any entrepreneur-in-residence or mentorship initiatives administered by CTNext, established pursuant to section 32-39f of the general statutes, (2) modeled on comparable programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The board of trustees shall make all reasonable efforts to engage and consult with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to design such mentorship initiative, including making any payments for consulting fees that may be required, and (3) revised subject to, or developed in accordance with, recommendations contained in the final report approved by the board of trustees pursuant to section 9 of this act.
Sec. 8. Section 10a-109oo of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) The University of Connecticut shall develop a comprehensive plan to guide Next Generation Connecticut investments. The university shall develop such plan in consultation with: (1) An industry advisory board selected by the university that shall be representative of the state's science, technology, engineering and math-related industries and shall include, but not be limited to, chief science officers or chief technology officers from such industries; (2) an independent research and development advisory firm selected by the university; (3) university academic leaders; (4) federal and private funding agencies; and (5) research and innovation benchmarks identified by the university and an analysis of the university's progress in meeting such benchmarks in comparison to nationally ranked research universities. Such plan shall identify strategic growth areas for the research, innovation, workforce and economic development needs of Connecticut. The industry advisory board, independent research and development advisory firm and university academic leaders shall seek input from the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, commerce and higher education prior to the completion of the plan. The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall review and approve such plan not later than July 1, 2014.
(b) Not later than thirty days after the date the final report under section 9 of this act is approved by the board of trustees, The University of Connecticut shall revise the comprehensive plan to include the following requirements: (1) All future expenditures of Next Generation Connecticut shall conform with the objectives of section 10a-102, as amended by this act; (2) the recommendations contained in such final report shall be reflected in the revised comprehensive plan; and (3) provision shall be made for the construction or renovation of a facility on each campus of the university, not more than one-quarter mile from the student union or student center of the campus, that is designed to meet the needs of student entrepreneurs and to serve as a gathering place for such students and other persons who support such student's ventures. Such facility shall not be adjoined to a dormitory and shall be designed and located conveniently to attract and encourage its use by student entrepreneurs and faculty affiliated with any and all schools and departments of the university, as well as their guests from outside the university.
Sec. 9. (Effective July 1, 2018) (a) (1) The University of Connecticut and the CTNext board of directors shall jointly approve the hiring of a consultant, to be paid from the operating expenses funds of The University of Connecticut or from UConn 2000 or Next Generation Connecticut funds, to conduct a study jointly with representatives of said university appointed by the president of said university. Such study shall review the technology transfer policies used at leading institutions of higher education renowned for innovation and entrepreneurship, including, but not limited to, Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The president and the board of trustees of said university shall provide to such consultant any information requested by such consultant for the purposes of this section.
(2) The consultant and university representatives shall be advised and guided by an advisory panel of entrepreneurs and business leaders, appointed as follows: (A) Four members appointed by the board of trustees, and (B) three members appointed by the CTNext board of directors.
(b) The consultant and university representatives shall select those policies such consultant and representatives deem to be the best and develop recommendations for reforming the technology transfer policies of The University of Connecticut. Such study shall include (1) plans to maximize the number of new business ventures formed through the commercialization of faculty and student research, giving greater priority to the financial interests of such business ventures than to the recoupment of patent-related or other royalties or profit for The University of Connecticut, (2) plans to focus The University of Connecticut's technology transfer policies on start-up business formation rather than patent licensing, (3) recommendations for staffing levels and staff organization to achieve such plans, and (4) any other recommendations requested by the board of trustees or the CTNext board of directors. Any remuneration paid to The University of Connecticut as a result of such new business ventures shall be used to encourage further formation or growth of other new business ventures.
(c) The consultant and university representatives shall conduct a review of (1) the current policies of The University of Connecticut for the fostering of faculty and student entrepreneurship, and (2) the proportion of the total activities of The University of Connecticut School of Business that is oriented towards the creation and support of new business ventures.
(d) The consultant and university representatives shall prepare a report for submission to the CTNext board of directors and shall solicit input from the Higher Education Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee established pursuant to section 32-39t of the general statutes and, at not less than one meeting of the working group established pursuant to section 32-39s of the general statutes, from members of such working group. The report shall include:
(1) Recommendations for (A) the continuous improvement of the policies set forth under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, taking into consideration the best practices of entrepreneurship at institutions studied under subsection (a) of this section, and (B) actionable measures to make the creation and support of new business ventures a primary consideration in all activities of, and for all degree programs offered at, The University of Connecticut School of Business;
(2) Recommendations, if any, of changes to the recruitment and hiring plan and goals set forth in subsection (b) of section 10a-104c of the general statutes, as amended by this act;
(3) Consideration of all funds available to The University of Connecticut and legislative recommendations, if any, to changes in funding levels of said university;
(4) Development of a comprehensive plan of metrics to be used for the tracking and analysis of said university's success in facilitating the creation of new business ventures based on faculty and student research. Such metrics shall (A) be identified in part through a review of similar metrics tracked by leading institutions of higher education renowned for innovation and entrepreneurship, including, but not limited to, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University and the University of Michigan, and (B) include methods to track the economic impact of entrepreneurs who are among the faculty and alumni of The University of Connecticut; and
(5) An analysis of comparative rankings made by qualified experts of institutions of higher education in the United States, with respect to such institutions' success in innovation and entrepreneurship, including a ranking of The University of Connecticut, and identification of a ranking or a range of rankings said university shall seek to attain.
(e) Not later than December 1, 2018, the consultant and university representatives shall submit the report to the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut. Not later than December 31, 2018, the board of trustees shall either approve such report or request modifications to such report. The consultant and university representatives shall be provided thirty days after receiving a request for modifications to submit a revised draft report to the board of trustees. Upon final approval of the report, the board of trustees shall submit such report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and finance, revenue and bonding and to the CTNext board of directors. Each said committee shall raise a bill during the 2019 or 2020 regular session of legislative recommendations contained in such report. The board of trustees may adopt a resolution to implement the recommendations for said university that are contained in such report.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2018 |
10a-102 |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2018 |
10a-103 |
Sec. 3 |
July 1, 2018 |
10a-104 |
Sec. 4 |
July 1, 2018 |
10a-108 |
Sec. 5 |
July 1, 2018 |
10a-104c |
Sec. 6 |
July 1, 2018 |
New section |
Sec. 7 |
July 1, 2018 |
New section |
Sec. 8 |
July 1, 2018 |
10a-109oo |
Sec. 9 |
July 1, 2018 |
New section |
FIN |
Joint Favorable Subst. |