There shall be a state system of public higher education to consist of (1) The University of Connecticut and all campuses thereof, and (2) the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, which include (A) the state universities, which shall be known collectively as the Connecticut State University System, (B) the regional community-technical colleges, which shall be known collectively as the regional community-technical college system, and (C) Charter Oak State College. “Constituent units” as used in the general statutes means those units in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section.