As a new academic year gets underway and students return to their classrooms, we are reflecting on what was an extraordinary year for the UConn Early College Experience program.
Across Connecticut, our students, instructors, faculty coordinators, site representatives, and university partners have once again demonstrated the power of collaboration in expanding access to rigorous college-level learning.
The 2025–26 academic year was one of remarkable growth and achievement. More than 20,000 students enrolled in over 36,000 UConn ECE course experiences, supported by nearly 1,300 certified instructors across 197 partner high schools. Together, we hosted more than five dozen professional learning opportunities, student enrichment events, campus visits, and program initiatives that strengthened the connections between our high school classrooms and the University of Connecticut.
Last year also marked an important milestone as we celebrated the 70th Anniversary of UConn Early College Experience. For seven decades, UConn ECE has remained committed to providing students with authentic university coursework taught by exceptional high school educators. As conversations about dual and concurrent enrollment continue to gain national attention, our anniversary serves as an important reminder of the role institutions like UConn have played in shaping the field. While today's landscape includes a wide range of college partners, the modern concurrent enrollment model—and the standards by which program quality is measured through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP)—was pioneered by four-year institutions, including the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University. In fact, three of the four largest concurrent enrollment programs in the nation today remain housed at four-year universities. UConn has not simply participated in this movement; it has helped lead it.
That spirit of innovation continues to drive our work. Throughout the year, we welcomed hundreds of new instructors into the program, expanded professional development opportunities, introduced new student engagement events, and strengthened support systems for our schools. We also launched new initiatives to recognize and invest in our educators, including our 70th Anniversary Teacher Wishlist Program, which is providing classroom resources directly to some of our instructors who bring UConn courses to life every day. The response to this effort was a powerful reminder that even small investments can have a lasting impact on teaching and learning.
Perhaps most importantly, this past year reaffirmed what makes UConn ECE special: the people. The success of our program is not measured solely by enrollment numbers or events hosted, but by the dedication of educators who challenge students to think critically, the faculty who maintain academic excellence, the school leaders who champion opportunities, and the students who rise to meet high expectations.
Few professions are afforded the opportunity to begin anew each year. Education offers us that privilege. Each fall brings a new group of students, fresh possibilities, and another opportunity to transform lives through learning. As we look ahead to the 2026–27 academic year, we remain energized by the opportunities before us and committed to building upon the strong foundation established over the past seventy years.
On behalf of the entire UConn ECE team, thank you for your partnership, your commitment to excellence, and your belief in the transformative power of education. We hope you had a restful, relaxing, and rewarding summer, and we look forward to continuing this important work together in the year ahead.
With gratitude,
Christopher M. Todd
Executive Director
