Connecticut State Community College Asnuntuck is a public community college in Enfield, Connecticut. It offers associate degree and certificate programs as well as healthcare certificate programs and business and industry programming. It formed in 1969 and adopted its current name in 2023 as part of a merger that created the twelve-campus Connecticut State Community College.
Other name | CT State Asnuntuck |
|---|---|
Former names | North Central Connecticut Community College (1969–1972) Asnuntuck Community College (1972–1993) Asnuntuck Community-Technical College (1993–1999) Asnuntuck Community College (1999–2023) |
| Type | Public community college |
| Established | 1969 |
Parent institution | Connecticut State Community College |
| Accreditation | New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
Academic affiliations | Space-grant |
| President | Joshua Moon-Johnson |
| Students | 1,945[1] |
| Location | 170 Elm Street , , , United States |
| Campus |
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| Website | ctstate |
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History
editConnecticut State Community College Asnuntuck is a public institution established in 1969 as North Central Connecticut Community College, the twelfth institution in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (CSCU).[2][3] It was created to serve the towns of Enfield, Somers, Windsor Locks, Suffield, East Windsor, East Granby, Stafford, and Ellington.[2] Its first president was Daniel McLaughlin.[3]
Classes began in 1972 with an initial enrollment of 251.[3] The college award twelve Associate in Science degrees and twenty Associate of Art degrees to the first graduating class in 1974.[3] The college operated under provisional approval until it was accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in 1977.[3]
In 1972, the board of trustees officially renamed it Asnuntuck Community College.[3] "Asnuntuck", Native American for "fresh water", refers to the Podunk tribe that once resided in the area, to the nearby Connecticut River and Freshwater Brook, and to a strong interest in the environment and ecology.[3] The campus is on land that was purchased from the Podunk Tribe of the Asnuntuck River in 1689.[3]
The college has had three locations since its founding.[3] It opened in the former North School building in the Thompsonville section of Enfield, Connecticut.[3] The college moved to a leased warehouse on Phoenix Avenue in 1974, but it gradually outgrew that location.[3] The college moved to its current location in 1983, the former Kosciuszko Junior High School at 170 Elm Street.[3] The years between 1989 and 1994 saw extensive renovations to improve classroom and laboratory space, revamp the auditorium, and add an annex to house the Learning Resource Center.
The college has been an autonomous institution throughout most of its existence, except for a period from 1985 to 1989. During those years, it was part of the Capital Region Community College District with Greater Hartford Community College and Tunxis Community College in Farmington.[3]
In 1992, the Connecticut legislature mandated merging the state's community and technical colleges. While there was no area technical college for an Asnuntuck merger, the legislature also required each community college to complement its general education with a technical focus, bringing about several programmatic changes, as well as the change to the name, Asnuntuck Community-Technical College.[3] The technical focus remains, particularly in a recently established manufacturing technology program, but the state community colleges dropped the word "technical" from their names in 1999, returning to the simpler name, Asnuntuck Community College.[3]
In 2023, Asnuntuck Community College merged with twelve other community colleges to form Connecticut State Community College. It became the Connecticut State Community College Asnuntuck.
Campus
editConnecticut State Community College Asnuntuck has a suburban campus located at 170 Elm Street in Enfield, Connecticut which is within the Springfield, Massachusetts area.[4][5] Its 35 acres (14 ha) campus includes the former Kosciuszko Junior High School and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center.[6]
In 2016 Asnuntuck received state bond funding for campus improvements. The college was approved to receive $11.4 million for renovations and improvements including replacement of the roof; construction of a new building entrance; and the construction, renovation and improvement of student senate offices, conference areas, lounge, bookstore, a food service area with indoor and outdoor seating, and a community function area.
Academics
editPrograms and degrees
editAsnuntuck is a two-year college that is a branch of the Connecticut State Community College.[4] The majority of students complete their studies at Asnuntuck and transfer to a four-year institution. The college offers associate degrees and certificate programs in 28 fields, including accounting, biological and biomedical sciences, business, communication and media studies, criminal justice/police science, early childhood education and teaching, engineering, general studies, fine arts, liberal arts and sciences, massage therapy, medical/clinical assistant, psychiatric/mental health services, and psychology.[7][5][8]
It also provides short-term workforce training.[9] It provides training in machine technology, robotics and mechatronics technician, and welding and fabrication technologies. through its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center.[6] Students are earn certification from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills and the American Welding Society.[6]
Accreditation
editAsnuntuck is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The college has ISO 9001 and National Institute for Metalworking Skills accreditation.[6]
Faculty
editThe campus president is Joshua Moon-Johnson.[10]
Students
editIn 2025, the college had 1,264 undergraduate students, of which 454 are full-time and 810 are part-time students.[4] The students are 56 percent male and 44 percent female, as well as 70 percent White, 13 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Black, 5 percent mulit-racial, 2 percent Asian, and 1 percent unknown.[4]
There are ten students for each faculty member.[4]
Student life
editAsnuntuck has its own radio station, WACC-LP (107.7 FM).
First Amendment controversy
editOn October 23, 2013, Asnuntuck Community College student Nicholas Saucier videotaped an on-campus conversation about gun legislation that he had with Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy.[11] At the end of the conversation, campus security escorted Saucier off-campus.[11] The college charged Saucier with harassment and making threats.[12] When Saucier challenged the charges at an official hearing, the college refused to review the video evidence of the incident; as Saucier video taped without permission.[12] Saucier was laced on probation after initially being dismissed from the college.[13] The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression wrote a letter in January 2014 asking Asnuntuck Community College to reverse their dismissal of the student and uphold the student's free speech and due process rights.[14] As of April 4, 2014, FIRE had not received any dispute directly from Asnuntuck Community College.[12]
References
edit- ↑ As of fall 2016. "College Enrollment and Full Time Equivalency". State of Connecticut. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- 1 2 "About". Asnuntuck Community College. Archived from the original on December 31, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "History". Asnuntuck Community College. Archived from the original on December 31, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Connecticut State Community College - Asnuntuck Campus". Niche. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- 1 2 "Asnuntuck Community College Overview". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Russell, Don (January 2, 2025). "CT State Asnuntuck – Enfield, Connecticut". Business View Magazine. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "CT State Community College - Asnuntuck". 211 Connecticut. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Asnuntuck Community College Degrees and Certificates". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Asnuntuck". CT State University. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Organizational Charts". Connecticut State Community College. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- 1 2 Cushing, Tim (April 8, 2014). "College Violates Student's Rights, Follows It Up By Deleting Critical Comments From Its Facebook Page". Techdirt. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Kruth, Susan (April 4, 2014). "Asnuntuck Censors Facebook Criticism of First Amendment and Due Process Violations". Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "College Suspends Student for Asking Questions About Gun Control". The College Fix. April 3, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Letter from FIRE to Asnuntuck CC Interim President James P. Lombella - FIRE". January 13, 2014.