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House passes college closure bill
Earlier this month, I took the House floor as Chair of the Higher Education Committee to advance a bill that will improve financial stability in higher education. Designed as a response to the closing of Mt. Ida College in 2018, and a wave of other higher education closures, the legislation requires schools to post financial information online in a publicly accessible fashion, undergo regular budgetary screening, alert state officials if they face imminent closure, and more. The new accountability measures will foster the resilience of our institutions of higher learning and ensure that our students have access to the opportunities they are counting on. This legislation supports and strengthens our higher education system and these vital engines of opportunity, and in so doing, protects the interests of students and families. I was proud to stand up for students, their families and the education community. When students invest in their future, they deserve to know that their college stands on a solid foundation. You can view the text of the legislation by clicking here. You can view the video of the speech I delivered by clicking here. You can read the Milford Daily News report on the bill by clicking here 
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Public Higher Ed Campus Tours
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The Joint Committee on Higher Education began started on its mission to visit all 29 public colleges and universities in the commonwealth on Friday, September 27. The tour began in North Adams at the beautiful Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, tucked in the Berkshires in northwestern Massachusetts. Over the next several months, the Committee will be visiting each campus to get a first-hand look at the facilities, meet with faculty and administrators, and hear from students about their experiences. The tours will include meetings with campus leaders, faculty, staff, and students at each of the institutions. So far, we have also toured Berkshire Community College, UMass Amherst, and Greenfield Community College. On Friday, October 18 we head to Salem State University and North Shore Community College. "It's ambitious, but when appointed to chair this committee, one of the very first things I did was to print out a map of the 29 public institutions in the Commonwealth to plan the trip," said Representative Roy. "We want to experience what life is like on these campuses which should provide a better context for the budget and legislative decisions we make. And the tours will provide an up close and personal view of each campus to give us a better perspective on the issues faced by those in each academic community." You can see photos from our tours on Facebook by clicking here. Read More
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