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
FY 2010 Higher Education Budget PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Tuesday, 23 June 2009 10:49

This article summarizes the impact on public higher education of the FY 2010 budget passed by the Legislature on June 19, 2009.

On the surface, it appears that the FY 2010 budget, by using federal stimulus funds, reflects the same level of funding as in FY 2009 (before the 9C cuts). There are a number of reasons why this is not the case, and why colleges will have to make significant cuts or raise student charges...

Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 08:37
Read more...
 
PHENOM Files Federal Complaint Over Use of Mass. Stimulus Money PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 19:23

 

            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.

            The Patrick Administration has sought and received approval for a waiver of the requirements of the ARRA, which stipulates that the state must use stimulus money to preserve funding for public education over the next three years.  (The waiver application is available at

http://www.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/stateapps/ma.pdf). 

Last Updated on Monday, 01 March 2010 14:28
Read more...
 
Fighting to Restore State Taxes PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Thursday, 23 April 2009 13:13

            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.

Last Updated on Monday, 01 March 2010 14:32
Read more...
 
House Budget: Good News and Bad News PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Thursday, 16 April 2009 08:01
The House Ways and Means Committee issued its proposed FY 2010 budget on April 15.  As expected, it includes massive cuts, especially to local aid to cities and towns.  Here are some of the highlights as they affect higher education.

 1.  Campus operating budgets: Good News

The budget adopts the Governor's proposal (endorsed by PHENOM) for using the federal stimulus funds to restore funding to FY 2009 levels for next year.  The Ways and Means summary says:

As a result of mid-year budget reductions, the University of Massachusetts and our state and community colleges sustained cumulative losses of $53.4M over the course of the current fiscal year.  The Committee recognizes the burden that these reductions have placed on the Commonwealth’s public institutions of higher learning.  We anticipate and fully support the Governor’s allocation of federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to restore higher education to the original appropriations of the current fiscal year.  The Committee expects that these funds will prevent layoffs, reinstate services, and, most importantly, keep higher education affordable.

Last Updated on Friday, 14 May 2010 12:36
Read more...
 
Successful Rally and Lobby Day PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ferd Wulkan   
Tuesday, 14 April 2009 13:53

April 8 was a chilly day in Boston, but temperatures around the Boston Common and State House rose noticeably with the energy of PHENOM's rally, march, and legislative visits.  See video at http://www.abc40tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10153485

300 people (mostly students) rallied, marched, and advocated for PHENOM's 2009 agenda:

  •     increased funding for MassGrant
  •     funding for the Educational Rewards program
  •     funding campus operating budgets at FY 2009 (pre mid-year cuts) levels
  •     passage of Education Equality: in-state tuition for all Massachusetts high school graduates
  •     raising taxes in a progressive manner so public higher ed and other important services can be properly   funded 

 Speakers included: 

Beth Babcock, President, Crittenton Women’s Union

Quin Gonell, Student Government Association President, Salem State College  

Nick Medico, Student Government President, North Shore Community College

Stacy Williams, student at Bunker Hill Community College

Cris Lagunas, Organizer, Student Immigrant Movement

Randy Phillis, President of the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst

Aggie Mitchkoski, Executive Board member, University Staff Association, UMass Amherst

Bliss Requa-Trautz, PHENOM’s Organizing Intern

Alex Kulenovic, Student Trustee, UMass Boston

This was PHENOM's largest event ever, and definitely made an impression on Beacon Hill. 

 

Last Updated on Sunday, 28 March 2010 15:29
 
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