Not one, but two stories this week for PHENOM!
The Telegram & Gazette: UMass, other public colleges, increase fees for next year.
The higher fees were disappointing news for Natalie Higgins, executive director of the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts, which has advocated for more state funding for Massachusetts’ public higher education system.
“The reality is our public colleges and universities are keeping a lot of first-generation students out because of the sticker price,” she said. “Obviously, we’re happy for any (funding) increase, but the reality is we’re just so far behind.”
But Ms. Higgins also remains optimistic that this year will only be a temporary setback, and not a return to prolonged underfunding of the state’s colleges and universities.
“It’s a very exciting time to be working in higher education policy,” she said. “People are finally understanding just how important access to higher education is.”
The Boston Globe: UMass poised to raise fees by 5 to 8 percent.
Natalie Higgins, who directs the Public Higher Education Network Of Massachusetts, an advocacy group, said the likely fee increases were disappointing and would undercut the progress of the past two years.
“Fifty-fifty worked really well,” she said. “We can’t keep pricing students out.”