About Us

The Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts

PHENOM understands that our ability to create the kind of higher education system Massachusetts deserves depends on bringing students, faculty, staff, alumni and other stakeholders from all the state’s public college and university campuses together around five basic principles, summarized here:

1. Fund public higher education so it can serve the Commonwealth.

2. Make higher education affordable.

3. Make higher education accessible to all.

4. Hire more teachers, researchers, and staff.

5. Honor and expand democratic institutions of governance for public higher education.

Read the full statement of principles and PHENOM’s core beliefs here.  PHENOM promotes these principles through research, education, grassroots mobilization, and engaging its constituents in civic action.  In a very short time, PHENOM has become an authoritative voice in the public higher education policy debates in the state.

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History & Accomplishments

History of PHENOM Formed during a period of growing excitement for education reform after the election of Deval Patrick as Governor, PHENOM began as a small grassroots effort at UMass Amherst during the early winter of 2006 . Winter of 2006 – The Beginning of a Great Idea    On December 1st, 2006, a coalition of …

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By-laws & Policies

Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts – Organizational Bylaws

    PHENOM’s By-laws were amended at the 2010 Annual Meeting to expand PHENOM’s Board and provide for regional representation on it. A Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment policy and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics were also adopted.

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Guiding Principles

The 500,000 people who make up the Massachusetts public higher education community are the sleeping giant of Massachusetts politics. By mobilizing a large and engaged grassroots network, PHENOM is waking up this sleeping giant so we can get the resources to create the public higher education system we and our children deserve. For the first time, all …

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Board & Staff

PHENOM’s Board, July 2011-June 2012 PHENOM’s Board is responsible for directing the operation of the organization and for implementing its policies in between Delegate Assembly meetings. Greater Boston Stephenson Aman (Student, Bunker Hill Community College) Marie Hedrick (Student, UMass Boston) Stasha Lampert (Student, UMass Boston) Central Kim Selwitz (Recent Alum, Framingham State University) (2 vacancies) North Ryan Manita (Student, Middlesex …

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