Massachusetts Board of Higher Education

This document outlines the strategic priorities guiding the Department of Higher Education's work towards an overarching Equity Goal. The plan, approved in January 2025, focuses on four main pillars: Student Success and Financial Aid, Economic Mobility, Public Good, and Innovation. Its primary aim is to significantly raise the enrollment, attainment, and long-term success outcomes among under-represented student populations over a five-year period.

The retreat focused primarily on reviewing and approving the Board's four proposed strategic priorities: Student Success and Financial Aid, Economic Mobility, Public Good, and Innovation. Key discussions included framework endorsement for the Innovation and Economic Mobility priorities, emphasizing goals like establishing an innovation function and analyzing post-graduation earnings data. Furthermore, the Board addressed key equity goal measures, including matriculation and completion targets, and discussed targeted strategies like expanding Early College programs. A significant portion of the meeting involved governance restructuring, resulting in the approval to rescind the Advisory Councils in favor of four new, ad hoc Task Forces aligned with the strategic priorities. The Board also approved amendments to its By-Laws and appointed a new Vice Chair.

The Executive Committee meeting focused on three primary motions. The first motion involved the approval of Bristol Community College's Letter of Intent to award an Associate of Applied Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence, including details on the degree's focus on workplace outcomes, integration of industry credentials like Cisco and CompTIA, and potential transferability to UMass Dartmouth. The second motion concerned the approval of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority Henry E. Warren Barn Project for Framingham State University. The third, and most extensive, motion was the approval of the Board of Higher Education Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Recommendations. Discussions around the budget included ongoing investments in free community college and financial aid expansion, the utilization of Fair Share Amendment revenue, infrastructure funding, and affordability priorities. Specific clarification was sought regarding the SUCCESS funding allocation and the Higher Education Bond Bill process for capital investments.

The Board Retreat focused on aligning the Board's strategic priorities with the Department of Higher Education's (DHE's) priorities across innovation, financial aid, and socioeconomic mobility, with the goal of bringing formal plans forward in January 2025. Discussions centered on the strategic priorities plan, which is built upon an equity-minded goal of reducing socioeconomic disparities by at least half. The Innovation Priority section detailed plans to incubate system-level innovation through a dedicated DHE Innovation Unit and a BHE Innovation Task Force, focusing on piloting and evaluation across key learner periods. The Financial Aid and Socioeconomic Mobility section addressed proposals for financial aid redesign, student success initiatives, and clarity on the cost of attendance, alongside determining key metrics and policy levers for socioeconomic mobility measurement. Finally, the Board discussed evolving governance structures, proposing a transition from Advisory Councils to four dedicated Task Forces: Financial Aid, Socioeconomic Mobility, Innovation, and Public Good.

The Executive Committee meeting addressed several motions. Key actions included the approval of the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Letter of Intent for the Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and authorization for Fast Track Review (BHE 24-47). The committee also approved Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary's application for Degree Granting Authority for the Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies (BHE 24-48) and the approval of Criminal Justice Programs under updated guidelines (BHE 24-49). Furthermore, the committee approved bundling motions (BHE 24-50 through BHE 24-52) related to the renewal of honors programs at Middlesex Community College, Northern Essex Community College, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell for the Board meeting consent agenda (BHE 24-53). Approvals were also granted for Bridgewater State University's Strategic Plan, Massasoit Community College Strategic Plan, Amended Guidelines for the Department of Children and Families Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program, Financing Approval of Massachusetts State College Building Authority Refunding Revenue Bonds (BHE 24-57), and the approval and authorization to review the Community College and State University Funding Formula Allocations for FY2025 (BHE 24-58).