Board of Regents Provost Resigns Unexpectedly

By Mike LaPorte

Live Wire Marketing/Advertising Director

Dr. Michael Gargano, the provost for the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education, resigned on Nov. 10. According to BOR spokesman Michael Kozlowski in a press statement, Dr. Gargano had a meeting with system president Dr. Gregory Gray and then “tendered his resignation.”

An email was sent to employees of the Connecticut State College and University system by Elizabeth Caswell on behalf of Dr. Gray stating, “[Gargano’s] resignation is effective immediately. An interim provost is expected to be named shortly, and a search for Provost Gargano’s replacement will follow.”

Gargano was central to the implementation of Gray’s and Governor Dan Malloy’s “Transform CSCU 2020” program revising and enhancing the campuses, programs and transferability of classes at the 12 community colleges, four state universities that the system encompasses. Charter Oak, an online college, is also part of the CSCU system.

The resignation came as a shock to many at Manchester Community College. Catherine Seaver, interim Dean of Student Affairs, said she was surprised by the news.

“He was always pleasant, he seemed to be working for the benefit of the Board of Regents and all of the community colleges and state universities…,” she said. “I can only hope that they find that replacement soon, somebody qualified, somebody who can keep moving forward with all these initiatives.”

Gargano was also very good with CSCU students, said Seaver.

“He always seemed to say the right thing when he was speaking to our students,” she said. “I really, really appreciated that, and I think that is something he should hang on to moving forward.”