Central Connecticut State University's inclusive, student-centered approach is the key to its long history of success and impressive alumni-among them, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona; U.S. Congressman John Larson; and Ebenezer Bassett, the first African American U.S. diplomat. Founded in 1849, Central is the state's first publicly funded university and the largest in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. The university welcomed its first female president and first Hispanic chief executive, Dr. Zulma R. Toro, in 2017. Central comprises a School of Business; School of Engineering, Science, and Technology; School of Education; the Carol A. Ammon College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; The College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Graduate Studies. As a comprehensive public university, we provide broad access to 148-degree programs at the baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels. We offer an exciting array of majors, including Cybersecurity, Robotics and Mechatronics, Biomolecular Sciences, Criminology, Nursing, educator preparation programs, and many more. By integrating the liberal arts into our academic programs, Central provides the foundation that cultivates an engaged and adaptable workforce. In a landscape of new industries, professions, and student populations, Central embraces a dynamic approach to academics, infrastructure, and student support. The new Applied Innovation Hub and the expanded Barnard and Willard DiLoreto Halls on campus join a list of state-of-the-art facilities that also includes an Esports Center that offers recreational and academic opportunities; a new fitness and recreation center; and a centralized location for student support services, among others. Central also is one of few universities in Connecticut designated as a Community Engagement University by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. To earn and maintain this designation, Central must be a committed partner with the communities it serves by leveraging our resources and expertise to solve their most pressing challenges. This connection to the community is a fundamental part of Central education, and it builds upon our legacy of academic excellence and equity in education. Nearly 80 percent of Central's graduates remain in Connecticut; as such Central is a driving force in Connecticut's economic, social, cultural, and intellectual development.
