To the UConn Community:
Earlier today, Governor Lamont released his proposed state biennial budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The governor proposes an appropriation of $234.6 million and $239.8 million for UConn and $123.1 million and $126.9 million for UConn Health, respectively. Both are less than the university requested. The State of Connecticut funds approximately 16% of the combined university budget overall this year.
The university must take the time to thoroughly review the proposed budget to fully understand its implications if enacted as written. Along with other university leaders, Dr. Agwunobi and I look forward to testifying before the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee regarding the proposed budget and related issues on Feb. 19.
Remember that today marks only the beginning of the state budget process and we look forward to working closely with the governor, OPM, and the General Assembly in the months ahead as the process unfolds.
Overall, we have reasons to be optimistic about our university and its future.
This year, UConn has set a record for applications at nearly 62,000, an impressive increase of 5,000 compared to last year’s historic high. This success underscores the unwavering confidence that students and families have in our outstanding faculty, more than 300 of whom rank among the most highly cited scholars worldwide. We are a vital force in building communities and advancing the state of Connecticut and our Husky pride is immense.
Looking ahead, our focus will be building on our distinctive strengths. We are deeply committed to excellence and prioritizing our students, as demonstrated by our exceptional graduation rates. This year, 8,800 first-generation undergraduate students enrolled at UConn. The first-year retention of these students has increased from 86% to 89% in the last several years, an indication of the superb work of our faculty and staff in supporting these students.
We are committed to cultivating a culture of innovation, leveraging technology like AI and data analytics, exploring new educational delivery models like online and hybrid programs, partnering with industry for applied learning, new revenue generation, and optimizing administrative processes to streamline operations.
Our dedication to research is unparalleled and remains a cornerstone of our strength. We have successfully submitted major grants, including the SMART AI initiative, positioning Connecticut as a leader in AI smart manufacturing. In collaboration with Yale, we are pursuing what would be the largest grant in the history of the university: Connecticut Quantum Engine, totaling $160 million.
UConn Health continues to go from strength to strength. Recognized by Newsweek for the last three years as one of the World’s Best Hospitals, UConn John Dempsey Hospital has received eight consecutive “A” patient-safety ratings by the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization focused on quality and safety in American healthcare, and has been named top 15% in the nation for patient experience by Healthgrades.
In addition to being Connecticut’s No.1 producer of physicians, surgeons, and dentists, the UConn Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine at UConn Health are highly competitive, with a year-over-year increase in applications. This year, the School of Medicine received more than 5,700 applicants for 112 available spots, and the School of Dental Medicine received 1,600 applicants for 52 available spots.
As a result of the quality education these schools provide, 25% of physicians practicing in Connecticut and 65% of dentists in the state were trained at UConn Health. Forbes has also named UConn Health as one of the best places to work in Connecticut.
Our fundraising efforts have reached new heights, with an average of more than $130 million raised in the past three years, a significant increase from the previous average of $85 million. We are gearing up to announce an open campaign on April 23, with an ambitious goal of $1.5 billion.
Our crowning achievements will be predicated on successful outcomes for our students. A UConn degree is more than a piece of paper – it is a pathway to lifelong success. Our strategic vision is aligned with state and federal priorities, particularly in creating the “Industry of the Future.” Our research and educational initiatives will focus on the following key areas:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Quantum Information Science
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Biotechnology
- Health
- Humanities and Peace on Earth
- Utilizing natural resources and advanced technologies to ensure clean water, air, and soil for all
- Community prosperity and workforce development
By capitalizing on our strengths, we will attract and retain top-tier faculty to spearhead transformative research efforts and recruit promising graduate students from across the nation and around the globe. We are committed to building and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to support groundbreaking research, fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial environment that drives economic development, particularly in emerging technologies such as AI, quantum science, and health sciences.
As New England’s leading public land- and sea-grant research institution, UConn is powered by robust academics, world-class innovative research, a premier athletics program, and a dedicated community. Our students come from every town in the state, almost every state in the nation, and nearly 120 different countries.
Finally, UConn’s contributions to Connecticut are not limited to the graduates shaped in our classrooms or the research that takes place on our campuses – it is also found in the countless programs and people who provide direct public services and outreach to Connecticut’s communities, making a direct impact in every corner of our state.
UConn recently produced a sort of reference guide outlining many of these services available for use by individuals, communities, schools, municipal governments, and more. It contains important highlights, but it is not a comprehensive catalog of all the ways UConn serves the state and its communities as they are too numerous to list in a single publication.
As always, our success depends on the continued hard work and commitment of our faculty, staff, and students, united as one community with shared priorities, goals, and far-reaching aspirations.
Connecticut and UConn are inextricably linked; there is no Connecticut without UConn, and there is no UConn without Connecticut. By working collaboratively with state and federal partners, parents, donors, and alumni, we are poised to reach unprecedented heights in our mission.
Radenka Maric
UConn President
