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Performance Incentive Fund

The Performance Incentive Fund (PIF) is a competitive grant program that supports public campuses in creating or strengthening programs that advance Vision Project goals. First funded at $2.5 million in the Commonwealth's FY2012 budget, the Fund provided grants to 18 campuses in the 2011–2012 academic year. The Legislature then increased funding to $7.5 million for FY2013 and FY2014, greatly expanding the impact of the funds. With recent declines in the VP-PIF appropriation, grant making has been greatly reduced. In FY2015, campuses were only offered continuation grants for previously funded projects. FY2016 funding allowed for the introduction of only three new campus grants and four new systemwide grants.

>> Learn more about how PIF is funded



2015-2016 Grants

PDF Download the FY2016 Performance Incentive Fund Report

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2014–2015 Grants

Due to funding constraints, the Fund was cut back to $3.25 million, and grants were only awarded to continue projects from FY2013 and FY2014, including the system-wide transfer project.

PDF Download the FY2015 Performance Incentive Fund Report

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2013–2014 Grants

The Performance Incentive Fund was allocated $7.5 million for FY2014.

The $7.5 million Performance Incentive Fund provided:

PDF Read the press release 
PDF View the Performance Incentive Fund FY2014 Award Fact Sheet  for more information, including descriptions of all funded projects

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2012–2013 Grants

The Performance Incentive Fund was allocated $7.5 million for FY2013—$5 million for the community colleges and $2.5 million for the state universities and UMass. The Legislature expanded the purpose of the Performance Incentive Fund for FY2013 to include not only the advancement of the Vision Project key outcomes but also development of operational efficiencies such as consolidation of administrative functions and procurements.

The $7.5 million Performance Incentive Fund provided:

The last $1.05 million of the FY2013 funding was withdrawn by the Commonwealth due to an emergency midyear (9C) funding cut.

>> Read the Governor's press release on the community college grants External link
>> Read the Governor's press release on the state university and UMass grants External link
PDF View the Performance Incentive Fund FY2013 Award Fact Sheet for more information, including descriptions of all funded projects.

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2011–2012 Grants

The Performance Incentive Fund was allocated $2.5 million for FY2012.

The Performance Incentive Fund was allocated $2.5 million for FY2012. Among the 18 campus programs chosen to receive PIF funding:

College readiness and attendance: Quinsigamond Community College will partner with the Worcester public schools to “plug the leaks in the math pipeline,” an effort to improve students’ math skills.

Graduation Rates and Student Success: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will launch 30 in 3, an initiative aimed at helping freshmen complete 30 credits in three semesters in order to remain on track for graduation.

Student Learning: UMass Boston plans to use grant funds to build a program of student learning assessment for both core courses and specific disciplines.

Workforce Preparation: North Shore Community College will launch an academic/career mapping initiative to strengthen connections between workforce training college credit programs.

Closing Achievement Gaps: Worcester State University’s grant will be used to create a Teaching Corps program in its Latino Education Institute.

>> Read the Governor's press release External link
PDF View the Performance Incentive Fund FY2012 Award Fact Sheet for more information, including descriptions of all funded projects.

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