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Make UMass a Senate Sensation

Background: The current recession is driving a budget deficit ranging from $2 - $3 billion for Massachusetts in Fiscal Year 2003 [ July 1, 2002 - June 30, 2003].

As a result, the University is anticipating a 10% budget reduction for next year.

Although the economy is cyclical, the state's investment in the University should not be. Strong steady state support for public higher education is vital to maintain and expand the Commonwealth's commitment to K-12 educational objectives.

Quality public higher education should not be optional for the citizens of the Commonwealth.

UMass graduates remain in Massachusetts and fuel the state's knowledge-based economy. Nearly 80,000 alumni live, work, pay taxes, raise families, and vote in the state.

Budget Timetable

The Senate Ways and Means Committee is composing the Senate version of the budget.

Their budget recommendations are expected to be released the last week in May, with budget debate to begin the first week in June.

You can affect funding decisions during this process by contacting your Senator and letting him/her know that UMass is important to you.

Contact your Senator before May 31, 2002 and ask for full funding for the University's budget needs. Funding public higher education is an investment in Massachusetts' future.

Best Practices

Visits, letters, and telephone calls are the best methods for highlighting your concerns. These personal contacts reflect your time spent in considering the issue and crafting the message. Legislators tend to respond to these contacts.

Although e-mail is convenient, many legislators do not personally read their messages or respond as faithfully as they do to a letter, visit, or telephone call.

Letters, telephone calls, and visits are the most effective ways to send your message.

TALKING POINTS: Funding education is the best investment the state can make.

• Thank your Senator for past support of the University.

• Acknowledge the difficult funding choices legislators face in this challenging economy.

• Ask your Senator to stop the cuts to the University and to protect the investment in quality education.

• Ask your Senator to fund the University's budget needs for FY 03.

• Note your interest in the continued health and well-being of the University.

• Note why you value UMass and how the University impacts your local community.

Take action now to:

• Visit your state Senator during "district office hours." Your Senator's State House staff can tell you when s/he holds office hours to meet with constituents in your area. Tell your Senator how many UMass students and alumni live in his/her district. Make an appointment and explain why you care about UMass — and ask your Senator to make UMass a priority.

• Write letters and make telephone calls. A quick phone call or a thoughtful letter tells your Senator that UMass is a priority. The State House telephone number is 617-722-2000.

  Who is your Senator? To find out:
  

  Click here to find your elected officials.
  

  Call the Ambassadors Network at 800-772-6155.

FOLLOW UP: Thank your Senator for his or her attention to this important matter.

You have contacted your legislators and want to do more for UMass. What else can you do?

• Write a letter-to-the-editor of your local newspaper. Share your support of the University by submitting a letter-to-the-editor or an opinion/editorial piece to your local newspaper. Raise the University's profile in your community by noting your affiliation.

Tips for writing a letter-to-the-editor:

1. Review the letter submissions policy. This is usually located on the editorial page.

2. Remember to include your name, mailing address, and telephone number.

3. Editors will not publish unsigned letters and will verify your information.

4. Keep communications concise -- 100 words or less.

5. Use short familiar words. Use short sentences and paragraphs.

6. Proofread, edit, and manually spell-check your submission before you e-mail or snail mail it. Good presentation makes an impact.

7. Editors retain the right to edit your letters. They will use that right.

Sample Letter to the Editor

This letter was written by UMass Advocate, Russell M. Finer, of Longmeadow, MA for submission to The Longmeadow News. This letter is reprinted with his permission.

Dear Ms. Lyons and Longmeadow Voters:

As a graduate and involved alumnus of UMass, Amherst, I am shocked and dismayed by the recent cuts to the Commonwealth's Public higher education budget. Statistics show that approximately 80% of UMass graduates remain in Massachusetts and become taxpayers after graduation. As a taxpayer, I request that our legislature take a more fiscally responsible stance vis-à-vis the budget rollback process for the next fiscal year. This should include delaying the tax rollback. I further hope that the legislature restores PUBLIC Higher Education to help preserve the quality of public education and keep education both accessible and affordable for our children. Remember, we will be voting on the outcome of this issue.

Russell M. Finer
000 UMass Way
Longmeadow, MA 01234
413-555-5555

• Spread the word. Send this action to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues and encourage them to contact their legislators in support of the University.

• Be a partner. Give to UMass. The legislature provides the largest single share to the University's operating expenses. Donors are important partners in the University's quest for excellence. Tell your legislators that you are partnering with them and investing in UMass. Every gift makes a difference.

• Raise UMass's profile in your home community. Whereever you go, UMass is there. Identify your affiliation with the University when you share your expertise with others. Bring UMass to a Rotary, Elks, PTA, Board of Directors, local school, or garden club meeting. You get the idea. Be proud and notice how many other people are UMass too!

• Show your UMass. Do you have your UMass logo decal prominently displayed? Do you need a UMass logo decal to display or to give to other parents, alumni, friends? Ask and you shall receive. Tell us how many you need, and we'll send them out to you.

  So far over 1,000 UMass logo decals have been requested from UMass supporters in 43 states and 7 countries.

  UMass is where you are.

DON'T FORGET TO CLOSE THE LOOP!

Make your actions count! Report your activities to Cheryl L. Dukes at 800-772-6155 or cdukes@urd.umass.edu. Updated May 28, 2002.