June 20, 2001

Dear Colleagues:

At yesterday's Board of Higher Education meeting, held at the Mass Maritime Academy, the event most notable was one that did not occur. As reported by Patrick Healy in The Boston Globe last week, the BHE has shelved a plan to use MCAS scores in place of SAT scores for admissions to the state colleges and universities. No mention was made of the issue at all, in contrast to the prominence it had at the April 17th BHE meeting.

Chairman Tocco reported that the state colleges could expect no increases in state support, apart from collective bargaining increases, until there are dramatic improvements in the quality of teachers being "pushed out the door" from our programs. Dealing with the costs of technology and facilities at the state college would have to come from zero-based maintenance accounts as well. It was a discouraging message to hear from a person in an ideal position to advocate for the system of public higher education, rather than serving as the administration's bearer of bad news.

Members have continued to ask about the status of HB4148, the funding bill for the state college contract. The status is unchanged; the bill will not be considered until after the FY 2002 budget has been finalized and adopted. I travel to the State House about once a week and I am in constant contact with the MTA's lobbyists as well as the presidents' lobbyist and anyone else who might hear any information about action on this bill. Passage of this bill is my highest priority this summer. If and when the membership needs to take action, I will inform you immediately by as many methods of communication I can think of.

Pat Markunas
MSCA President

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