What's New
Governor Patrick, Education Leaders To Salute Community College, State University and UMass Graduates for Academic, Civic Achievements
April 25—The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education will kick off the 2013 college commencement season by honoring the winners of the 29 Who Shine Awards, recognizing 29 public college and university students for their academic achievements and civic contributions to the Commonwealth. The students, one from each of the state’s 29 community college, state university and UMass campuses, will be recognized by Governor Patrick in a State House ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 2, 2013, at 12 noon.
Governor Patrick Announces Scholarships to 800 Massachusetts Students Pursuing High-Demand Careers
Students in the chemistry lab at UMass Boston.
March 26—Governor Deval Patrick today joined Education Secretary Matthew Malone, Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland, UMass Boston Chancellor J. Keith Motley and 100 students to announce the Commonwealth’s new High-Demand Scholarships, awarded to students pursuing careers for which the state has an urgent need for skilled talent. The Commonwealth’s knowledge-based economy relies on a high-knowledge, well-skilled workforce for continued growth, and these scholarships will help ensure that Massachusetts has the talent needed to remain competitive in the 21st century.
Former Hispanic College Fund CEO, Former Boston Public Library CFO Join DHE Staff
March 17—The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education announced today that Dr. Carlos Santiago, former Chief Executive Officer of the Hispanic College Fund, will join the Department effective April 8 as Senior Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs. The Department also announced that Sean Nelson, former CFO of the Boston Public Library, the nation’s oldest public library, has assumed the position of Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Finance.
Both Santiago and Nelson will work closely with Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland to advance the goals of the Vision Project, the Commonwealth’s strategic agenda to achieve national leadership among state systems of public higher education.
Board of Higher Education Joins Board of Elementary & Secondary Education in Defining College and Career “Readiness”
Commissioner Freeland speaks at the January 29 joint meeting of the Boards of Elementary & Secondary Education and Higher Education, which featured a collaborative discussion of the draft definition prior to the individual Boards' votes in February and March.
March 12—The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) voted today to accept a new definition of what it takes for students to become ready for life after high school. The BHE action follows a “yes” vote on the state’s new college & career readiness definition taken by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on February 26th.
Voting on the definition marks the first time that the two boards overseeing the state’s K-12 schools and public colleges and universities have partnered in formal agreement on what it means to be prepared for success in college and in the workplace. The three-page definition (.PDF) is intended to provide better coordination between schools and colleges, with the goal of aligning curriculum and expectations for students.
In-State Tuition for DACA Beneficiaries
November 19—Governor Deval Patrick announced today that, under existing Board of Higher Education policy, certain young immigrants who meet criteria under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will be considered eligible for in-state tuition at the Commonwealth’s 29 public college and university campuses, provided that they meet residency requirements.
>> View the fact sheet on In-State Tuition for DACA Beneficiaries (.PDF)
Massachusetts Student Veterans Encourage Fellow Vets to "Go Public!" at Community Colleges, State Universities and UMass
November 2—The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education today announced that Massachusetts community colleges, state universities and UMass campuses will host a dedicated GO PUBLIC! event for prospective students who are military veterans on Thursday, November 8 at 6 p.m. at Bunker Hill Community College. The GO PUBLIC! program is part of a statewide series of events to promote the academic excellence and value of public higher education. The program will be hosted by House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). Veterans Services Secretary Coleman Nee and Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland will also address students during the program.
Enrollments Up at Public Campuses Despite Smaller High School Population
Photo courtesy of Bunker Hill Community College.
New data analysis released by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education confirms that, while the state’s high school population is slowly declining, many public campuses across the state continue to see a rise in undergraduate enrollment. Much of the growth is being fueled by increases in the numbers of Latino students and older students who are seeking college degrees, the data show.
Department of Higher Education Issues "Time to Lead," the First Annual Vision Project Report
September 20—The Department of Higher Education (DHE), joined by state education, legislative and business leaders, released today a new report on the changing role of public higher education in Massachusetts. The first annual Vision Project report, entitled Time to Lead: The Need for Excellence in Public Higher Education, offers the first comprehensive view of where the Commonwealth’s public higher education system stands, in comparison to other states, on a number of key indicators including graduation rates, student learning and workforce development. At a time when more students than ever are enrolling in public higher education in Massachusetts, the Patrick-Murray Administration is committed to ensuring that all students in the Commonwealth have access to a world-class public higher education system.
Why is it "Time to Lead"? Watch the official video:
Governor Patrick, Education Leaders to Honor “29 Who Shine” for Academic Excellence, Civic Achievements
April 27—The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education today kicked off the 2012 college commencement season by announcing the student winners of the 29 Who Shine awards. These awards honor 29 outstanding public college and university graduates—one from each community college, state university and UMass campus in the state—for their academic achievement and community service.
The students will be honored May 10 at a State House ceremony attended by Governor Patrick, state education officials, campus presidents, faculty and students.
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