Affordable excellence at state colleges
LAST WEEK, the state Senate unanimously approved a bill that contains sweeping changes to public higher education in Massachusetts. Should this legislation -- named the Higher Education Access and Excellence Act -- become law, it would represent a significant step toward the goal of achieving affordable excellence across the 29-campus system.
The bill would provide stable, predictable levels of funding for campuses -- something sorely missing from higher education in the past decade or more. It would also allow institutions to set and retain tuition and fees, rather than keeping fee revenue and turning tuition over to the state's General Fund. Overall increases would be limited, however, so that public higher education remains affordable.
Over the past three years, the state has asked students to shoulder a higher percentage of the cost of attending public institutions. With yearly decreases in state appropriations, public institutions have been compelled to raise fees to cover operating costs. For too many students, the decision of whether or not to attend college and where to go is largely determined by cost.
While affordability is a large and complex issue that cannot be solved overnight, the Higher Education Access and Excellence Act institutes a much-needed cap on tuition and student fees. The cap would be tied to inflation and reviewed by the Board of Higher Education when a campus wishes to exceed the cap.
A strong and affordable public higher education system is vital to the economic future of the Commonwealth and its residents. The Massachusetts economy relies on public higher education's ability to prepare residents for today's knowledge-based economy. If adequately funded, the public higher education system would be in a position to educate our residents effectively and respond quickly to the economy's changing workforce needs.
Earning a living is increasingly tied to earning a degree. For the first time in Massachusetts, employers requiring an associate degree or higher now surpass those requiring a high school or vocational school education. Over the past two decades, all the net job growth in the state has been in occupations that require a college degree. If the state is going to provide opportunity for all residents, access to high quality, affordable higher education is essential.
Overall, there is evidence of the system's relevance to residents. In a state where there are many educational options, more Massachusetts high school graduates are choosing public higher education.
The percent of high school graduates who opted to stay here and attend public colleges has increased from 63 percent to 68 percent over eight years. Last year, 280,000 Massachusetts residents attended public colleges or university campuses, composing 92 percent of undergraduate and 72 percent of graduate enrollment in the public system. Moreover, 85 percent of alumni of Massachusetts public higher education institutions choose to live here.
Increasing the investment in public education is not all this legislation does. In exchange for this investment, the Legislature is requiring greater accountability from the board and the campuses. This is a reasonable expectation, as it enables the system to improve over time by setting goals and holding the system accountable to those goals. Significant new investments must be accompanied by demand for greater accountability. The Board of Higher Education, working together with the state and community colleges, is well-prepared to meet such demands.
The ''2005 Performance Measurement Report," released last week by the Board of Higher Education, ensures that the public higher education system is fulfilling its responsibilities to students and to meeting the educational needs and expectations of the Commonwealth.
The new legislation would require the board to appear annually before the Joint Committee on Higher Education to provide a report on public higher education. The board, working together with the campuses, is committed to providing the Legislature and the taxpayers of Massachusetts measurable results across many important areas so that, together, we can achieve a system that is both affordable and excellent.
Stephen P. Tocco is chairman and Judith I. Gill is chancellor of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. 
