Conference panel takes up budgets
The fiscal 2004 state budget is in the hands of a six-member, joint legislative conference committee following the Senate's passage of a $22.7 billion spending plan on May 30.
Overall, the Senate cut funding for public higher education by nearly $108 million or 11.1 percent.

Measures differ on early retirement and health costs
Among the many issues to be resolved by the six-member legislative conference committee on the budget are early retirement incentives and the share of health insurance costs paid by state employees.

$15.8m in reductions outlined by chancellor
After nearly two weeks of posting numbers and receiving and responding to comments on his projected budget cuts, Chancellor John V. Lombardi announced the final reductions in non-academic budget cuts. The first round of cuts, commonly referred to as "Category I," which includes estimated savings from early retirement, was finalized June 3. Final cuts in "Category II" were posted June 10.

Vice chancellor for Student Affairs named
Michael Gargano Jr. was appointed last week to be the next vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. Gargano is currently associate vice president of student and academic support services at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Campus expecting large class in Fall '03
A larger than expected class of incoming students may be headed UMass Amherst's way, according to Joseph Marshall, assistant vice chancellor of Student Affairs and dean of Enrollment Services. More than 4,400 people have put deposits on a place in the Class of 2007.

Romney may pressure trustees on Bulger
With President William M. Bulger vowing to stay at the helm of the five-campus University system until his contract expires in mid-2007, Gov. Mitt Romney's ongoing effort to force Bulger out is taking a new tack after lawmakers rejected his proposed reorganization plans.

Retired marine biologist attempts to establish new algal order
More than a dozen years after retiring from his career as a professor of Biology, Robert Wilce has received a National Science Foundation grant to study brown algae in the Arctic. Wilce, 78, will travel to Ragged Channel, off the northern tip of Canada's Baffin Island to dive into 28-degree water and collect samples of the seaweed in September.

Cleanup complete at site of Foundry fire
The campus moved quickly to clean up the remains of the Foundry after an April 25 fire destroyed the building. Physical Plant director Pat Daly said the former location of the structure has been covered with six inches of loam and seeded for grass.

Quaboag chamber names Sorel Citizen of the Year
The Quaboag Chamber of Commerce celebrated the community achievements of Maggie Sorel, clerk IV at Commonwealth College, at a May 3 gathering where she was named the region's first-ever Citizen of the Year.

Final edition set for June 27
Due to budget reductions implemented by Chancellor John V. Lombardi as part of campus-wide cost-cutting measures, The Campus Chronicle will cease publication with its June 27 issue.