Universities press for fairness, capital investment and support as federal research cuts loom

Leaders from the University of Massachusetts and representatives of state and community colleges told the Joint Ways and Means Committee that recent gains in college affordability and campus capital planning must be protected as federal research funding faces uncertainty.

UMass President Marty Meehan asked lawmakers to sustain a $44 million increase sought in the university’s FY26 request and backed the administration’s Bridal Act proposal, which would dedicate fair‑share surtax revenues to a long‑term capital program for public higher education.

“Our campuses launched initiatives covering tuition and fees for in‑state undergraduates from households earning $75,000 a year or less,” Meehan said, describing the system’s financial‑aid expansions. “We are grateful to the legislature and the governor for establishing the higher education capital working group last year, which ultimately led to the Bridal Act proposal.”

Why this matters: Witnesses said federal shifts — notably proposals that would reduce reimbursement for facilities and administrative costs on federal research grants — could cause immediate pressure on research programs and jobs. UMass and the State University system requested additional state investments to cover collective bargaining obligations and to keep MassGrantPlus and other student‑aid programs fully funded.

Research and federal risk: Dr. Mark Liberatori of UMass Amherst warned the committee that National Science Foundation and other federal agencies had paused approving new scholarship cohorts for programs such as the Scholarship for Service program amid expectations of federal budget reductions. “The funding pause and its knock‑on effects on just this one program are significant,” he said, noting the program had placed more than 40 students into government service since 2017.

Statewide asks: System leaders asked lawmakers to consider maintaining increases for MassGrantPlus and higher education operating support and recommended $125 million a year in Bridal Act resources to unlock a decade of capital funding to modernize labs and classrooms across UMass, state universities and community colleges. Presidents noted that campus deferred maintenance totals are in the hundreds of millions across segments and that improving facilities also supports workforce development and research capacity.

Community college and completion supports: The Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges asked for modest increases to free community college line items to accommodate enrollment growth, a $10 million investment to cover short‑term workforce credential programs that are not eligible for federal financial aid, and $21 million for the community‑college Success program to improve completion.

Ending: UMass trustees and system presidents said they are monitoring federal developments and preparing contingencies. Several members of the committee pressed for quicker budget clarity to allow campuses to plan for collective bargaining and enrollment changes, and they sought more detail on how Bridal Act funds would be allotted across segments.