Connecticut Board Of Regents Announces Leadership Transition For CSCU

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education announced Monday it will not seek to extend the contract of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Chancellor Terrence Cheng beyond its current expiration date of June 30, 2026.

Beginning July 1, 2025, Cheng will transition to a new role as strategic advisor to the Board. Officials said an announcement naming an interim chancellor is expected in the coming weeks.

“I thank Chancellor Cheng for his hard work, partnership, and dedication to the system,” said Marty Guay, chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. “The future is bright for CSCU as we look to set a new direction for the system.”

The transition comes following a report released by the state Comptroller's Office in December 2024 highlighting "controversial spending decisions," on the part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.

Guay said the Board remains focused on creating greater opportunities for students, boosting graduation rates, and aligning academic programs with industry workforce demands.

During Cheng’s tenure, the CSCU system saw a 4.4 percent increase in total student enrollment for fall 2024 and a 6.2 percent increase in enrollment at Connecticut State Community College and the state’s four universities for spring 2025. Cheng also oversaw the consolidation of Connecticut’s 12 community colleges into a single accredited multi-campus institution, which received initial accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education in June 2023.

Cheng prioritized improvements in access for transfer students, expanded dual and concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students, established new workforce development partnerships, and opened healthcare and manufacturing training sites across the state.

“It has been a true honor to serve as Chancellor of the CSCU system and its 65,000 students,” Cheng said in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of the work we have done to eliminate barriers to higher education and increase access, equity, and opportunity for students, particularly first-generation and minoritized students.”

Cheng said he remains committed to supporting the system and its students in his new advisory role.

The CSCU system serves approximately 65,000 students across Connecticut’s public colleges and universities.