MCLA Sees Opportunities, Challenges Ahead
 MCLA alums and neighbors Rep. Daniel E. Bosley and Mayor John Barrett III spoke of their experiences at the college. Top, college President Mary K. Grant touts staff accomplishments. |
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 Sen. Ben Downing finds a new name for the Berkshire Delegation — Big Dan's Funky Nation — in the MCLA Presents! brochure. |
All three present challenges and opportunities for the state's westernmost campus, she told the crowded Amsler Campus Center dining room on Tuesday morning, including the spike in student enrollment numbers.
This year, the college will welcome 600 new students and a strong contingent of returning students, the largest student body in a decade. Some 1,000 students will be on campus, the largest number in years. But as enrollment rises, the amount of aid from the state is declining, which means the college will have to do more with less and less.
"These are big challenges but enormous opportunities," said Grant, at the college's annual opening breakfast.
The breakfast is when staff, faculty, legislators, local leaders and student representatives come to together to update each other on their successes and failures, goals and commitments. It's a vehicle for Grant to publicly but sweetly pressure lawmakers for help, for unions to comment on often tense relationships and for student leaders to introduce themselves.
It's a little irreverant, a little nostalgic and, when Grant speaks, very thankful. In other words, it's a lot like a family reunion — it even has vacation slides.
What happened over vacation was $2.3 million spent on 67 capital projects — from cleaning and painting to replacing old chemistry hoods, wiring and heating and cooling equipment and flooring — with the pictures to prove it.
"If you look around this campus, almost every building had work done on it this summer," said Grant, giving kudos to the college's facilities staff for the massive amount of work done. Added to that were the technology improvements, including the college's new Web page.
The college is also hoping bonding set for this October will mean long awaited funds to begin the designs for the new Science and Innovation Center, a science facility that Grant has been pushing for several years.
That was some of the good. The bad revolves mainly around the continuing economic crisis that has seen state revenues plummet — and aid to higher education along with it.
Over the past year, state colleges have seen an 18 percent cut, said Grant, which translated to about $2 million for MCLA. "We are going to see more budget cuts this year ... There are a lot of things I'm worried about. We have to push these guys real hard," she said, pointing to state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley and state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing.
Right now, the college is in good shape because it could use federal stimulus funds to plug some holes, but that may not be around next year, said Grant, nor does that funding cover student financial aid.
"When you send out letters to students and families in May making their financial aid awards, you don't want go out the door and say, 'Oh by the way, we can't honor that commitment,'" she said. This year, the college was able to honor all the commitments but next year will be difficult.
Bosley said the state budget grows by $1.4 billion a year just to cover commitments, yet $5 billion had to be cut this fiscal year.
"The budget process doesn't work in good times ... If we had 8 or 9 percent revenue growth we couldn't guarantee you more money," said the MCLA graduate. "We promise too many things to too many people and we do things like we did them 20 years ago."
While the state needs to reform its budget process, the Berkshires need to work together create revenue streams independent of Boston, Bosley said, adding that the college's planned science center will be essential to creating that workforce and attracting employers.
The college is already attracting a diversified student body, with enrollment across 16 states and Japan, along with an exchange group from China.
"The message is getting out and the value is getting out and we're seeing the return on campus," said Grant, who credited an aggressive recruiting team with promoting the college's programs and offerings.
The college's three unions were more upbeat this year. Charles Cianfarini, president of the local chapter of the Association of Professional Administrators, said a contract had been agreed to and only awaited the support of the Legislature and the pen of the governor "so we can receive our long overdue raises."
Still uncertainty and layoffs at sister institutions "leaves us insecure and sometimes outright frightened," he said, even if always professional and sincerely loyal.
 Grant speaks with Berkshire Eagle reporter Jenn Smith; at right is college trustee Stephen G. Crowe and James Canavan. |
"What left is there to say?" said President Jeremy Smith of Unit 1, Association of City, State and Municipal Employee, after his colleagues spoke. Rather, he would be "giving out hugs" of appreciation for the enormous amount of work done by the college's many workers.
Also speaking were Mayor John Barrett III, Downing, trustees Chairwoman Jane Allen, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce President Michael Supranowicz and Student Government Association President Jakeem Clovie.
Oh, and the ugly? That would be the looming swine flu pandemic. MCLA is ready, said Grant, who urged the college community to remember what their mothers told them: stay home if you're sick, wash your hands and cover your mouth when you sneeze.
