1.   For a great state of mind: invest in public higher education. A PHENOM INDEX - 1 Where “education of work force” ranks in reasons corporations give for choosing a location 8 Number of dollars in economic activity generated by every $1 in state investment in UMass 4.3 Total impact of the five UMass campuses on the economy, in billions of dollars  9 Number of states that decreased their support for public higher education between 2005 and 2010 9 Rank of Massachusetts in this group 25.6 Percentage by which Massachusetts decreased its support for public higher education in last 5 years 85 Percentage of Massachusetts public higher education students who stay in Massachusetts to work and pay taxes upon graduation 55 Percentage of Massachusetts private college students who are residents of the state 43 Number of states that have lower average tuition and fees at public 4-year colleges than Massachusetts 46 Massachusetts’ rank among the 50 states in per capita appropriations for higher education 53 Percent decrease in the state’s main financial aid program, MASSGrant, 1989 to 2008 3 Percentage of Massachusetts budget that goes to public higher education 6 National average, percent of state budgets that go to public higher education 4 Number of states that spend a smaller percentage than Massachusetts 49 Percent by which Massachusetts 2-year College cost exceeds the national average 135 Number of dollars that Massachusetts spends per person age 18-24 on financial aid grants 269 Dollars the average state spends 1 Number of states that cut public higher education more than Massachusetts, 2008-2010  1/2 proportion of national average that MA spends on financial aid grants per person age 18-24  5.8 percent increase in enrollment at public colleges from 2008 to 2009



P. O. Box 2281 ● Amherst, MA 01004-2281 ● Phone 413.461-3300 ● Fax 413.545.5798 ● Email:phenom@phenomonline.org ● Webwww.phenomonline.org
Join PHENOM's Campaign for a Great State of Mind:
Ask Every Candidate for Statewide and Legislative Office to Increase Funding for Public Higher Education.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN OUR STATEMENT
PHENOM engages in grassroots organizing, policy analysis, education and advocacy in leading the fight for affordable, well-funded, high quality public higher education in Massachusetts.
Invest in Public Higher Education

For a Great State of Mind is PHENOM’s multi-year grassroots campaign to have Massachusetts dramatically increase its investment in public higher education and lower the costs for students. With the rising cost of tuition and fees, immigrants, the poor, and increasingly the middle class are being squeezed out of higher education, at exactly the same time that college is becoming increasingly necessary for the well-being of our residents and for the economic future of the state. Learn more about the campaign.

Let’s Be Average! Massachusetts is 46th in the country in per capita support for higher education, and cut its support more than any other state in the last 5 years. Since 1990 funding for need-based financial aid declined by 53%, while costs have doubled at 4-year colleges and increased by 60% at 2-year colleges. PHENOM’s campaign goal is get us up to the national average in state support and down to the national average in student costs. If you agree, sign on here. See the campaign brochure – contact us and let us know how many we should send you.

See more data on Massachusetts public higher education.

Latest Articles
Testimony to Ways and Means Committees February 22, 2010 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Monday, 22 February 2010 11:26

 The Governor has submitted a budget that comes close to maintaining current funding for public higher education.  In a difficult economic time, many of us breathed a sigh of relief, and we hope the legislature adopts this same approach since we cannot tolerate any further cuts.  But we have to put this in perspective and show how inadequate this really is. The Legislature just passed a major K-12 education reform package and applied to the federal government for Race to the Top funds.  PHENOM applauds the state’s continuing commitment to improving K-12, but we need to pose a simple question: what if we are successful? 

Last Updated on Friday, 16 July 2010 15:31
Read more...
 
College Students, the New Cash Cows PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 09:26

Nancy Folbre is active with the UMass Amherst PHENOM Council.  Her blog, "College Students, the New Cash Cows" was published in the New York Times on February 15, 2010.  She is also quoted in this important Business Week article that shows how Massachusetts is not alone in cutting support and making higher education less accessible. 

Last Updated on Friday, 14 May 2010 12:59
 
The Numbers Keep Getting Worse PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Monday, 18 January 2010 10:04

A new report documents just how much our state disrespects public higher education.  [See especially pages 3-4.]  The report was prepared by the Illinois State University’s Center for the Study of Education Policy in cooperation with the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO).

From FY 2005 to 2010, only 9 states decreased their support for public higher education.  Massachusetts cut the most of any - by 25.6%. 

Last Updated on Friday, 16 July 2010 15:31
Read more...
 
A Dramatic Proposal from California PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Thursday, 07 January 2010 10:46
California Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a constitutional amendment that would mandate that at least 10% of the California budget must go to the University of California and the California State University.  [Additional funds would go to the community colleges.]  Read the full story here.  By comparison, Massachusetts spends about 3% of its budget on all of public higher education.
Last Updated on Friday, 14 May 2010 13:00
 
For a Great State of Mind: Invest in Public Higher Education PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 16:10
PHENOM is launching an ambitious multi-year grassroots campaign for a dramatic increase in investment in public higher education in Massachusetts.  Read the exciting details!  The goal is to bring Massachusetts up to the national average in state support and down to the average in costs for students.  The campaign will be launched on January 31 at 3:00 PM at UMass Amherst at an inspiring and festive event complete with food, beautiful campaign materials and an exciting keynote speaker, Victor Sanchez, president of the University of California Student Association, who will provide a national perspective.  Please RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you can attend.
Last Updated on Friday, 14 May 2010 12:21
 
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