r/ccsu • u/LynxCreative4041 • Jun 29 '26
What are your thoughts on CCSU turning into a polytechnic university?
I’m sure many of you have heard the news that CCSU is investigating the possibility of transitioning the school into a polytechnic university. What are your thoughts on this? As someone who graduated from CCSU’s computer science program, I like the idea of the university putting more emphasis on the STEM programs. It’ll hopefully give CCSU more brand recognition for employers seeking to hire STEM majors. I know the computer science program is not as demanding as UConn’s because my cousin majored in CS at UConn and I’ve seen how difficult their homework assignments and exams are compared to ours — but I still think the CS program at CCSU is very solid. In fact, most of my friends and I were able to secure software development jobs that pay at least $85K right after graduating.
As a polytechnic university, hopefully the school will make the STEM majors more challenging and rigorous so that Central develops a better reputation for STEM. That and more research of course.
I have to say though, it does make me wonder what the future holds for non-STEM majors at CCSU. Will we see lower quality from those programs due to less focus and resources?
By the way, has there been any news on CCSU changing its name if it does end up actually changing to a polytechnic school? It would be cool if it‘s renamed to Connecticut Institute of Technology or ConnTech haha.
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Jun 29 '26
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u/jest2n425 Jun 29 '26
Thank you for that insight. I remember wondering what Polytechnic meant in a UK sense when I was on a Jesus and Mary Chain kick, and learned about the big riot that happened at their 1985 North London Poly gig. Probably is a drop in status tbh. The pay to play structure was becoming unsustainable.
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u/Kenneth1751 2026 | MIS Jun 29 '26
From what I know as I just graduated, the name won't be changed and I can say that most of the changes planned will be adding aspects to applications of AI into all course work and I actually agree with this in a way because whether you like it or not, you will have to use AI in whatever career path you take one way or another. Additionally, this designation is about funding too, an R2 designation will expand our Doctorate program and increase funding in research too. Southern for example is an R2 school but more focusing in its education nursing and other sciences. We would be the only public Polytechnic with this designation in New England which is supposed to help bring in more people from out of state (WPI is the only other Polytechnic really but they are a private school)
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u/Markvitank Jun 29 '26
Though I'm interested in the changes to come, I doubt I'll see any major changes before I finish my degree.
IMO, the STEM classes I've taken so far have been satisfactory.
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u/Old-Ad-3268 Jun 29 '26
CCSU supports businesses in the state by providing a pipeline of talent. If CT needs more STEM in that pipeline then they should do it.
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u/Khroneski Jun 30 '26
My experience with the graduate program in mathematics (specialization in statistics) so far leaves me exceptionally skeptical. And their entire data science program is R based, which is great for pure statistics but woefully lacking for any machine learning based research and work. Also, the current graduate courses are poorly designed and administered with far too broad of gap in experience and expectations; far greater than anything I experienced in undergraduate mathematics, statistics, and data science courses at SCSU.
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u/E1F0B1365 Jun 29 '26
Sounds more like a rebrand than a meaningful change. If there is to be more emphasis placed on STEM programs, that will be realized through funding increases, new facilities and equipment, and staffing. Id wager a shiny new label and marketing wankery won't effect the experience of students much. I like the ring off ConnTech, or how about New Britain Polytechnic Institute
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u/decorlettuce Jun 29 '26
It’s so ridiculous considering this school has a fantastic image for education but wants to force something that’s really hard to advance in heavily with their profile.