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Advocating for the Future of UMass Amherst
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December 8, 2009
To UMass Amherst Students,
As the semester and the year draw to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what has occurred on campus and also to engage you in advocating for the future of UMass Amherst.
Years from now, we will look back on 2009 as a year of great change, much of which was positive, but which was marked by tumult and strife. This period will be associated with the “Great Recession” – a nearly unprecedented downturn in the global economy. We at UMass Amherst, of course, were not immune from the impacts of this financial stress to the Commonwealth and the nation. Indeed, in many ways we have not yet confronted the deleterious impacts of the crisis.
When our institution’s state support was slashed, the university administration worked hard to secure federal stimulus funding made possible by the Obama administration. As a result of Governor Deval Patrick’s decision to provide federal stimulus funding to higher education, we were able to keep our commitment to rebate up to $1,100 to in-state students.
While we will continue to advocate forcefully in Boston and Washington for support of public higher education, we will very likely be facing what the Obama administration has termed a “funding cliff” in the coming fiscal year. We currently project a deficit of $50 million or more for the campus. A cut of this magnitude will have devastating implications and could negatively impact the quality of education; we are therefore working on several strategies to mitigate the severity of the budget reductions.
My message to you today is one of advocacy. As you plan to head home for the semester break, I ask that you become advocates for your university, speaking passionately about the value of your education and the need to support UMass Amherst. In delivering this supportive message you will be advocating for the Commonwealth to provide the necessary funding to preserve this valuable state resource.
We will continue to do our part to support your advocacy. We will once again support a student-organized trip to Boston and the Statehouse in the spring to allow you to engage directly our state leadership, and to speak personally about your support for a strong, vibrant flagship institution in the Commonwealth. Although we are engaging our alumni and friends to oppose additional cuts to UMass Amherst, we are eager to have students speak about the need to preserve the quality of, and accessibility to, a first-class education at New England’s foremost public research institution. We want to help you make your case effectively, and to that end I encourage all students to join UMass Amherst’s advocacy network. You can find information on how to contact the Governor’s office, your hometown legislators, and on other aspects of the budget at http://www.umass.edu/advocates/.
In January Governor Patrick will promulgate his budget recommendations and shortly thereafter the legislative process for establishing the budget for 2010-2011 will begin. We want to be certain that your voice is heard, and that we assist you in any way we can in building critical support for UMass Amherst. We live, no doubt, in challenging times, but by working together now and in the future, we can weather these challenges and emerge a stronger institution.
I know this time of the semester is especially busy for you as you prepare for finals. I wish, however, to thank you in advance for joining the chorus of supporters who appreciate the value a UMass education provides to you, and to the state, the nation, and the world. I pledge to continue to share information with you and to seek your ideas, thoughts, and support.
Best of luck with your exams! I hope you and your families have a safe and happy holiday season.
Chancellor Robert Holub
