PHENOM has endorsed a campaign by the Student Health Organizing Coalition to change this situation, perhaps by allowing students to get coverage through the state Connector Authority’s program of subsidized Commonwealth Care. You can read more in this Boston Globe article.

For more information, please contact: Vivian Haime, SHOC Organizer • (617) 320-1669 • vivianhaime@gmail.com

On October 29, the Governor announced mid-year cuts to many areas of state government.  Funding for state and community colleges and the University of Massachusetts is being reduced by $62 million, but that funding will be replaced by the use of federal fiscal stimulus funds.  While this sounds good, there are still big problems, including:
1.  A lot of salaries previously paid from state funds will now be paid from federal funds.  This means the campuses have to pay the cost of fringe benefits (about 25%). Read the rest of this entry »

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General issued an “alert memorandum” dated September 2009 which documents loopholes in the federal stimulus law that allowed at least 3 states, including Massachusetts, to violate the intent of the law by cutting  rather than increasing spending on public education. This report is, in part, a result of the formal complaint PHENOM had filed. Read the rest of this entry »

In case you weren’t convinced that enrollments at community colleges were way up, and that resources are stretched to the breaking point….Bunker Hill Community College is now offering some classes beginning at 11:45 PM and ending at 2:30 AM!

More details in this article, Last-Minute Additions, from Inside Higher Education.

PHENOM is supporting the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute’s campaign to publicize eligibility rules for food stamps as they apply to college students.  Currently, 1,700 Massachusetts college students receive food stamps, but thousands more may be eligible and not realize it.  Please see this fact sheet and check list and help publicize this on your campus,

You may also read a Boston Globe article about this.

The Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) has filed a formal complaint with the Obama Administration, alleging that Massachusetts is violating the spirit and letter of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) by misusing stimulus money intended for public higher education.  The text of the complaint is at the end of this article. Read the rest of this entry »

The Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) is strongly urging Massachusetts legislators to increase taxes in order to avoid the massive cuts facing education, social services, and other essential government functions.  PHENOM is specifically endorsing Amendment 561 filed in the House by Representatives Gloria Fox and Alice Wolf.  This amendment would raise the state sales tax by one cent in January 2010 and another cent in January 2011, with the proceeds appropriated to early education and care, K-12 education, and higher education. Read the rest of this entry »

PHENOM’s Response to Governor Patrick’s Announcement

of Stimulus Money for Public Higher Education

PHENOM applauds Governor Patrick’s announcement of $324 million in stimulus money for public higher education over the next two years.  PHENOM was active in lobbying to include funding of public higher education in the federal legislation, and has been informing campus and legislative leaders of the requirements of the law:  to prevent layoffs and tuition and fee increases. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to Ravi Khanna, PHENOM’s new interim Development and Administrative Director!  Ravi was hired on January 23 after a thorough search and interviews with 4 outstanding candidates.  Ravi will work primarily on fundraising so that PHENOM can expand its scope and pursue the ambitious agenda required in these times of great difficulty and great opportunity.  He has worked for a number of progressive non-profit organizations and has a tremendous amount of fundraising and administrative experience.  He will make his “debut” at the February 9 PHENOM meeting at Bristol Community College.  We look forward to working with him.