MCLA Hurt by Funding Formula
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is projecting reductions in state Department of Higher Education funding next year.
President James Birge informed the trustees at Thursday's meeting that this has to do with change to the funding formula used by the department.
"We will see about $140,000 less in revenue from that," he said. "We're trying to advocate with the state not to implement the change ... It's a difficult argument to make for us, but we are still trying to make it."
In response to questions from trustees, Birge said the larger institutions are benefitting from the formula change. The department has gone back to using 2017 as a baseline and that MCLA, as smaller institution, is getting a smaller portion.
His argument has been that the formula looks at the number of Pell grant recipients and MCLA has a larger rate of Pell-eligible students than the other nine universities. The state, however, is looking at the number of Pell recipients across the entire university system.
"Because we have a smaller number, even though we have a higher percentage of Pell students, that's where we were hurt," Birge said.
Trustee John Barrett III, state representative for North County, said this was the first time he'd heard of the issue. Birge said the funds are not part of the legislative appropriation. The college has been working through the State Universities of Massachusetts Council of Presidents but he would be reaching out to the delegation.
MCLA is forecasting a $320,000 deficit for fiscal 2025, partly from a drop in enrollment, but officials are confident it can be closed. There should be an uptick in revenues in the spring and some grants rolling in, and Birge believes some $685,000 in state SUCCESS Act funding will offset much of the loss.
"Not all of that will be budget relief. Some of it comes with new expenses ... but we will see some budget relief from that," he said. "I think that's going to chip away at that projected deficit."
The Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services funds was originally targeted to community colleges but now some funding is going to state universities. It can be used broadly for student support — from transportation to mental health services to academic advising.
Birge said the funds should be released in January and used by September and staff is working on where they can best be utilized.
"We are advocating with the governor to put this funding into next year's budget," he said, adding the hope is that it will be a three-year program.
A bright spot is the hockey program, which has brought in more than its $500,000 projected cost, although the alumni contributions at $25,000 were less than hoped for.
Birge also reported that the radiological technology program had impressed the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, or JRCERT. The accreditation team spent two days at the college and Birge said they "were surprised" at their own positivity on a program at a small liberal arts institution.
All of the graduates passed their national boards and received at least one job offer. He anticipates a determination letter from JRCERT early next year.
He also pointed to the endorsement of the school's education program by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
"Our education faculty been working on strengthening the program, not only from a curricular perspective, but also in terms of relationship with local school districts," he said, including developing relations with local teachers who will mentor the college's students.
The college also sent 15 staff and faculty members to the Racial Equity and Justice Institute conference at Bridgewater State. The college is working on strategies to better address inclusion, equity and belonging, some of which will be implemented using SUCCESS funds.
In other business, the trustees will take up the strategic plan at their January retreat (when its review by DHE is complete), approved a number of sabbaticals, acknowledged the resignation of Trustee Franklyn Reynolds and bid goodbye to Lisa Lescarbeau, executive assistant to the president, who is leaving for a similar post at Berkshire Health Systems.
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