The Hub of Higher Ed

News from AICU Mass and its member colleges and universities

Winter 2024

We can't lose sight of the transformative value of

our colleges and universities

The mission of higher education and its innumerable contributions to society - on so many levels - was the focus at the annual meeting of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, held last week in our nation’s capital. It was a full agenda with interesting speakers and topics delving into the many issues top of mind in higher education. There were many highlights, among them, visiting members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation and spending time with colleagues from AICU Mass members who also made the trip. Another was listening to comments delivered by Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona , who heard first hand from frustrated colleges and universities regarding delays in the rollout of the new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Every day that the full implementation of this critical application is delayed has dire implications for the students who are in most need of financial aid.

I also got a chance to catch up with former Governor Charlie Baker, current president of the NCAA, who shared his thoughts on college athletics, the issues around Name, Image and Likeness, the recent NLRB ruling recognizing Dartmouth College basketball players as employees, and the mental health of college athletes. Governor Baker also talked at length about how college sports is such a unique and transformative human development program. It's great to see the leadership that so successfully guided the Commonwealth for eight years now tackling the challenges facing college sports.

A theme emerged from our many meetings and conversations: higher ed needs elected officials, business leaders, and other allies, all of whom have - and continue to - benefit from a college education, to stand up for our colleges and universities and the value of a college degree as the sector deals with a seemingly endless array of attacks. The teaching and research missions served by the full breadth of the higher education community are critical to the economic, civic and cultural health of the Commonwealth, if not the nation. With a November election looming, we can’t afford to remain on the sidelines and let more damage happen. Stating the obvious, it’s not an easy time to be a leader in higher education; and there are things we can and should do better. But when we look beyond the haze of distractions and home in on the mission of serving the needs and supporting the dreams of students, and how an education can profoundly change someone’s life, we are all buoyed by the good we know happens across our campuses every day. And equally important to remember, as our economic and social impact study reflects, the members of AICU Mass comprise a $71B industry, supporting nearly 321,000 jobs and generating $2.4B in tax revenues annually for the state, all the while driving innovation and industry in the Commonwealth and training tomorrow's workforce. We cannot stand idly by while others make sport of attacking.

Rob

The Latest from Beacon Hill

The Legislature reconvened in January, marking the six-month sprint to the end of the legislative session, with several big-ticket items on the agenda. In addition to crafting an FY25 budget amid declining revenue projections, the Legislature recently marked Joint Rule 10 Day by announcing possible next steps for legislation pending before most joint committees. Below we highlight a key bill that emerged from the Joint Committee on Higher Education and provide an update on the FY25 budget process.

FAFSA requirements

The Higher Education Committee gave initial approval to a redraft of legislation filed by Representatives Vargas and Tyler that would require all high school students to complete a FAFSA application prior to graduation. The goal of this bill is to increase college participation rates and help students maximize federal and state financial aid options.

AICU Mass supports efforts to increase FAFSA participation rates and is pleased that the Legislature is considering what looks to be a commonsense requirement for high school graduates. Studies have shown that students who complete a FAFSA are 84 percent more likely to enroll in college, yet fewer than 60 percent of high school graduates completed a FAFSA last year. This bill could be an important tool to increase higher education participation rates as colleges and universities double down on efforts to reach non-traditional students in response to the Supreme Court’s overturning of race-conscious admissions policies.

FY25 budget

The Healey administration released its FY25 budget recommendations in January, which comes amid slowing state revenues, prompting some uncertainty regarding FY25 revenue projections. As such, the Governor’s budget includes a modest overall increase in spending of $2.07B over FY24, representing a 3.7 percent increase.

The funding recommendation for the traditional state financial aid scholarship programs is $175M, which is in line with FY24 funding levels. This line-item (7070-0065) funds the essential Massachusetts scholarship programs, including MassGrant and Gilbert Matching Grant.

We continue to strongly advocate for additional funding for the MassGrant program, which mirrors the federal Pell program by allowing low-income Massachusetts students to take state scholarship dollars to the college or university in Massachusetts that best fits their unique needs. The focus needs to always remain on the students. MassGrant provides financial aid to more than 11,000 deserving students who attend independent colleges and universities across the Commonwealth.

The Latest from Capitol Hill

In Washington, DC last week, we joined a group of college presidents and senior staff from our member institutions for the annual meeting of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. In addition to hearing from leading policy makers, AICU Mass led a delegation to meet with Congressmen Richard Neal and James McGovern, along with staff for other congressional offices. The meetings provided an opportunity to share with members of Congress the challenges facing higher education and the need for all voices of influence to speak to the value of higher education. We encouraged our Congressional delegation to weigh in with the Biden administration directly on FAFSA delays and a tsunami of burdensome new reporting requirements that will impact all institutions this summer.

Also last week, over 100 members of Congress, including Senators Warren and Markey, sent a joint letter to Secretary Cardona asking for an update on the FAFSA processing delay and urging the Administration to provide additional resources to colleges and universities. While this is positive step, we are also working with our colleagues from other state higher ed associations to encourage members of Congress to ask the Biden administration to delay reporting requirements for Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment as colleges and universities are dedicating all available resources to ensure that FAFSA applications can be processed as soon as the Department is able to release information in March.

Congressman Richard Neal (fourth from left) meets with (L-R): AICU Mass President and CEO Rob McCarron, Williams College President Maud Mandel, Lasell University President Eric Turner, and Bay Path University President Sandy Doran.

Congressman Jim McGovern (seated at desk) meets with (L-R): Rob McCarron, President Maud Mandel, Williams College, and President Eric Turner, Lasell University.

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“I'm so proud to be a part of this program”:

AICU Mass’ Inclusive Leadership Program Launches its Third Cohort

Nearly 100 stakeholders from private and public college and university campuses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island kicked off the third cohort of the AICU Mass Inclusive Leadership Program, hosted by MGH Institute of Health Professions.

Created in partnership with Suffolk University, the program supports higher education professionals in their quest to expand their impact individually, institutionally and system-wide. It delves into topics such as emotional intelligence, individual and institutional leadership, identifying the skills required to effect organizational change, and self-care and coaching for inclusive leaders.

Confronting Antisemitism and Islamophobia

A safe and welcoming campus is always a top priority for any institution leader. Many of our members are hosting virtual seminars for the higher education community on civility and respect in a time of extreme polarization.

Navigating Antisemitism on Campus and Beyond, hosted by the Brandeis University Presidential Initiative to Counter Antisemitism in Higher Education , is a Spring 2024 virtual learning session geared toward higher education leaders and administrators. Learn more and register here.

Dialogue and Action in a Time of Divide is another series among colleagues from across eight AICU Mass members - Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis University, Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Wellesley College - and the University of Massachusetts.