Advanced manufacturing, an industry with strong growth potential in New England, currently faces a shortage of talent. In response some of the region’s colleges and universities have developed cutting-edge programs to prepare qualified graduates.
Central Connecticut State University’s new bachelor’s degree program in Robotics and Mechatronics is one example, and it is unique among New England public colleges. (Mechatronics, for those not in the know, is the combination of mechanical engineering, computing and electronics, as used in the design and development of new manufacturing techniques.)
Because it is unique, residents of the five other New England states who enroll in CCSU’s program will be charged a special “regional” tuition rate, instead of the much higher out-of-state tuition rate—thanks to the NEBHE’s Regional Student Program (RSP), Tuition Break.
CCSU’s high-tech program follows a trend of similar programs started in recent years by New England community colleges—like Robotics at Springfield Technical Community College in Massachusetts and NHTI-Concord’s Community College in New Hampshire; Mechatronics at Quinsigamond Community College in Massachusetts; Integrated Manufacturing and Precision Manufacturing Technology at Asnuntuck Community College and Naugatuck Community College in Connecticut as well as Nashua Community College in New Hampshire, Northern Maine Community College and Southern Maine Community College. All of them are offered through the RSP Tuition Break.
Specialized programs, in STEM and other fields
The RSP Tuition Break provides New England residents with affordable access to specialized degree programs—in all areas of study, not only technology—at out-of-state public colleges within the region. Instead of being charged the regular out-of-state tuition rate, eligible students are charged a lower, regional (RSP) tuition rate.
In all, more than 750 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered by New England public colleges and universities under the RSP. Eligibility under the RSP depends on whether the student’s home state’s public colleges offer their program of choice. Eligibility in each state is determined through an annual program review. Students are also eligible for additional programs in some cases under proximity—when they live closer to an out-of-state college than to an in-state college.
This year’s review culminated in the approval of 27 additional new programs for the RSP effective for Fall 2015. Programs in the area of sustainability and (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) STEM fields include: Associate degree programs in Energy Utility Technology and STEM Studies; Bachelor’s degree programs in Actuarial Science, Community Health and Wellness, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Food Safety, Green Building Design, Landscape Design and Sustainable Horticulture, Renewable Energy, Robotics and Mechatronics, Sustainable Food and Farming, and Sustainable Land Use. Graduate programs in Bioinformatics, Direct-Entry Nurse Practitioner, Direct-Entry Family Psychiatric Nursing, Engineering and Business, and Forestry.
Other newly approved programs include: Bachelor’s degree programs in Community Development, German, Interactive Media, Linguistics Speech and Language Science; and Graduate programs in Digital Media and Design, Human Resource Management, and Education Specialist programs in Elementary Math Specialist, International Education, School Counselor Education and Social Justice Education.
New RSP programs: offering institutions and eligible states
New associate programs:
- STEM Studies; Offered by: Community College of Vermont; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, MA, RI
- Energy Utility Technology; Offered by: North Shore Community College, Massachusetts, Middlesex Community College, Massachusetts, Community College of Rhode Island; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, NH, VT
New bachelor’s programs:
- Actuarial Science; Offered by: University of Maine Farmington & Central Connecticut State University; Eligible residents are: MA, RI, VT
- Community Development; Offered by: University of Massachusetts Boston; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, NH, RI
- Community Health & Wellness; Offered by: Rhode Island College; Eligible residents are: ME, NH, VT
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Offered by: Rhode Island College; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, MA, NH, VT
- Food Safety; Offered by: Rhode Island College; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, MA, NH, VT
- German; Offered by: University of New Hampshire; Eligible residents are: ME
- Green Building Design; Offered by: Vermont Technical College; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI
- Interactive Media; Offered by: University of Maine Farmington; Eligible residents are: NH, RI, VT
- Landscape Design & Sustainable Horticulture; Offered by: Vermont Technical College; Eligible residents are: MA
- Linguistics: Speech & Language Science; Offered by: University of Southern Maine; Eligible residents are: MA, RI
- Renewable Energy; Offered by: Vermont Technical College; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI
- Robotics and Mechatronics; Offered by: Central Connecticut State University; Eligible residents are: ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
- Sustainable Food & Farming; Offered by: University of Massachusetts Amherst; Eligible residents are: CT, RI, VT
- Sustainable Land Use; Offered by: Vermont Technical College; Eligible residents are: CT, MA, RI
New graduate programs:
- Bioinformatics (prof. MS); Offered by: University of Maine; Eligible residents are: CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
- Digital Media & Design MA, MFA); Offered by: University of Connecticut; Eligible residents are: NH, RI, VT
- Elementary Math Specialist (MEd); Offered by: Rhode Island College; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, MA, NH, VT
- Engineering and Business (prof. MS); Offered by: University of Maine; Eligible residents are: CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
- Forestry (prof. MF); Offered by: University of Maine; Eligible residents are: CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
- Human Resource Management; Offered by: University of Connecticut; Eligible residents are: ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
- International Education (EdS); Offered by: University of Massachusetts Amherst; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, NH, RI, VT
- Nursing: Direct-Entry DNP); Offered by: University of Massachusetts Worcester, University of Vermont; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, NH, RI
- Nursing: Direct-Entry Family Psychiatric (MS); Offered by: University of Southern Maine; Eligible residents are: CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
- School Counselor Education (EdS); Offered by: University of Massachusetts Amherst; Eligible residents are: RI, VT
- Social Justice Education (EdS); Offered by: University of Massachusetts Amherst; Eligible residents are: CT, ME, NH, RI, VT
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