CT regents back Kennedy as higher ed chief

The new Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education is advising the governor to appoint its interim president to the permanent position, The Associated Press reports.

The regents voted Thursday to ask Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to appoint Robert A. Kennedy to the board presidency, a spot he has held on an interim basis since September.

Since Malloy had originally nominated Kennedy to that interim position, it's expected he will easily approve the regents' recommendation to make it permanent.

The regents oversee the state's 12 community colleges, the online Charter Oak State College and the four regional state universities: Eastern, Western, Southern and Central Connecticut state universities.

About 95,000 students attend those schools.

Kennedy is a former president of the University of Maine.