CT State Colleges General Counsel Placed on Leave Amid Review

### Connecticut’s Higher Education System Under Scrutiny: A Deep Dive into the CSCU Review

Connecticut’s higher education world is buzzing right now. The Board of Regents for Higher Education just made a bold move.

Find Your Ideal Getaway in Connecticut
Explore top-rated stays with no booking fees and instant confirmation. Your dream trip starts here!
Start Exploring Now

Karen Buffkin, who serves as general counsel for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, is now on immediate administrative leave. They’re bringing in a third-party to dig deep into how the system handled a situation involving its former interim chancellor.

This outside investigation aims to look closely at procedures, best practices, and any possible patterns of conduct. The Board says they’re prioritizing transparency and accountability as they work through this mess, which affects schools from Hartford to New Haven.

Understanding the Independent Review: What’s at Stake for CSCU

The Board of Regents kicked off this independent review for a reason. They want to make sure the CSCU system runs with integrity and efficiency—not just on paper, but in practice.

The review will take a hard look at how leadership responded to a previous, still-unspecified issue with the former interim chancellor. Investigators will check if everyone followed policies, handled the situation properly, and if there are any worrying trends in the system.

By bringing in outside experts, the Board is showing they want a fair and impartial process. They seem to realize that public trust matters—a lot—when you’re talking about an institution serving thousands of students and employing so many professionals from Bridgeport to Stamford.

The Process: From RFP to Public Findings

CSCU wants this review handled by real professionals, so they kicked things off with a formal process. They put out a public Request for Proposals (RFP) through the Department of Administrative Services.

This procurement method helps them find a firm with the right expertise and impartiality. They’re not just looking for anyone—they want a team that can dig in and deliver a thorough, fair evaluation.

Ari Santiago, acting chair of the Board, has been clear about the process goals. He really stressed the importance of hearing every perspective to get a full picture of what’s going on.

The review will also help pinpoint where policies or procedures could use some work. That kind of forward thinking matters if CSCU’s going to keep serving communities from Waterbury to Norwalk.

Timeline and Next Steps: What to Expect

The Board of Regents is now in the final stages of picking the external firm for the review. Once they make that call, the investigation will officially get underway.

They’re expecting a big milestone by June 30, when the Board should get an initial report with the independent assessment’s findings. That’ll be a moment a lot of people are watching for.

Transparency is front and center here. The Board says it’ll make the findings public after the whole investigation wraps up.

This commitment should reassure students, faculty, staff, and folks across Connecticut that they’re taking this seriously. People in places like Danbury and Meriden can expect to see those results.

Leadership Transition Amidst Review

At the same time, CSCU is working through a leadership transition. Lloyd Blanchard, who’s been interim VP for administration and CFO for three years, will step up as administrative lead for CSCU.

He’ll keep day-to-day operations steady while the review unfolds. His experience inside the system should help a lot right now.

The Board keeps emphasizing accountability to everyone involved—public, students, faculty, and staff across Stamford and beyond. They’re determined to find answers and make improvements.

As the independent review moves forward, the Board says it’ll keep the Connecticut public in the loop. This is a tough period, sure, but maybe it’s a chance for CSCU to come out of it stronger and more ready to meet the state’s educational needs.

Here is the source article for this story: Regents: CT State Colleges General Counsel Placed On Leave Pending Review

Discover Your Perfect Stay in Connecticut
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now