The New England Board of Higher Education’s 2010 New England Higher Education Excellence Awards dinner will take place on Friday, March 5, 2010 at The Boston Long Wharf Marriott Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.

Hundreds of New England’s business, education, government and nonprofit leaders will celebrate the best in New England higher education.

2010 REGIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Hon. John F. Tierney, U.S. Representative, Massachusetts
The Governor Walter R. Peterson Award for Leadership

James Wright, President Emeritus, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire
The Eleanor M. McMahon Award for Lifetime Achievement

College of the Atlantic, Maine
and
David F. Finney, President, Champlain College, Vermont
The Robert J. McKenna Award for Program Achievement

The Hon. Martha P. Heath, Vermont House of Representatives
and
Robert K. Sheridan, former Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, University of Massachusetts
The David C. Knapp Award for Trusteeship

STATE MERIT AWARD RECIPIENTS

Capital Crossroads to Careers (C3) Program, Capital Community College
Connecticut

Henry Bourgeois, Executive Director, Maine Compact for Higher Education
Maine

Northeastern University Cooperative Education Program
Massachusetts

Energy Services and Technology Program, Lakes Region Community College
New Hampshire

Daniel McKee, Mayor, Town of Cumberland
Rhode Island

Quantum Leap, Bennington College
Vermont

For more information about the event, please visit our website www.nebhe.org.

Now in its 53rd year, the RSP Tuition Break saved a record 8,777 New England residents an estimated $51 million in tuition payments this year alone. For each participating RSP student, that translated to an average $7,000 discount on this year’s tuition bill.

Because of the RSP, New England residents are eligible for a tuition discount when they enroll at out-of-state public colleges and universities in the six-state region and pursue approved degree programs not offered by their home-state public institutions. In some cases, eligibility also extends to students whose home is closer to an out-of-state college than to an in-state college.

The region’s public colleges and universities received more than $52 million in tuition revenue from the RSP students enrolled this year. The RSP helps participating campuses attract and retain out-of-state New England students who might have attended college elsewhere if the RSP tuition discount were not available.

The RSP provides New Englanders with more affordable access to about 700 degree programs. Many RSP programs are in specialized and high-demand fields of study, such as pharmacy, dental medicine, biomedical engineering, aquaculture, design, communications and media, criminal justice and law, meteorology, health care management, Chinese, Japanese and physiology and neurobiology. In 2009, 18 new RSP programs were approved, including an associate degree in Wind Power Technology; bachelor’s degree programs in Asian Studies, Diversified Agriculture, Ecogastronomy and Supply Chain Management; and an MFA in Intermedia Arts.

The majority of RSP students enrolled this academic year were undergraduate students: 50 percent were enrolled at four-year public colleges and universities, and 40 percent were enrolled at community and technical colleges. Ten percent of RSP students were graduate students.

To view the report as a pdf please visit: http://www.nebhe.org/info/pdf/programs/TuitionBreak/2009-10_RSP_Annual_Report.pdf

To read more about NEBHE’s Regional Student Program, Tuition Break and see which majors are available, please visit: www.nebhe.org/tuitionbreak

Michael K. Thomas

With its blessed regularity, fall has come again to New England. Despite concerns among college and university leaders about the impact of the economic downturn on admissions and student decision-making, the students have come again to New England, as well. Though many institutions had to increase the level of “tuition discounting” needed to help students and parents commit, a small sense of relief is apparent—a collective sigh to acknowledge making it through another period of uncertainty.

The reality, of course, is that the admissions cycle never ends, so colleges are back to work quickly. And while the chairman of the Federal Reserve recently pronounced the “technical end” to the economic recession, higher education leaders know that significant challenges linger. With no more federal stimulus funds to back-fill higher education appropriations, many observers agree that if the FY10 state budget cycle was bad (and it was), the next cycle will be worse.

Higher education will make it through another round of budget cuts, staff reductions and tuition increases to welcome another fall and another generation of students, young and old.

Year-to-year and budget-to-budget survival must not overshadow the need for significant reinvention however. The imperative facing higher education leaders is to look at the major trends confronting us—fiscal, demographic, financial and other— and to question whether the enterprise as we know it can be sustained. Moreover, state and federal governments must give institutional leaders greater cause and incentives to look beyond annual survival to the critical role of generating degree-holders. Consider these key challenges:

First, for the region to maintain its higher education attainment advantage and for the U.S. to regain its leadership role in having the highest percentage of 25- to 34-year-olds with postsecondary degrees, New England would have to generate an additional 665,000 college degrees by 2025—41,500 additional degrees on an annual basis. This must occur despite having 20,000 fewer high school graduates during the same period due to demographic shifts. Moreover, even projecting significant increases in high school graduation, college-going and postsecondary completion rates, over 65% of new degree-holders will have to be adult students.

Second, given economic realities, New England will likely remain at the lowest end of public investment in higher education and the highest end in terms of tuition prices and cost per completion. In education and related spending per student completion, New England spends well above the national average at nearly all types of institutions, according to the Delta Project on Postsecondary Education Costs, Productivity and Accountability. At community colleges, for example, New England spends in excess of $52,000 per student completion—nearly $9,500 more than the national average. Even with $9 billion in proposed new federal money to spur community college completions, assuming an additional 5 million community college degree-holders, such funding amounts to an additional $1,800 per completion.

Significant resource misalignment and a tendency to tinker with full-cost, traditional models are significant threats to our success. Only significant reinvention of the New England and U.S. higher education enterprises will suffice. There are innovative and quality-and success-driven approaches to increasing efficiency and productivity. Technology continues to offer compelling and student-centered alternatives that can enhance new academic calendars, innovative program formats, course delivery and counseling and online learning.

New England has numerous pockets of innovation in both public and independent higher education. Student populations are willing to participate and experiment, but a new attitude among higher education leaders, trustees and faculty is needed. Much can be learned from agile independent and for-profit institutions, as well. Lastly, it will require significant reconsideration of the structure of state higher education systems and of the mission, role, function and admissions requirements of two-year institutions.

In political, educational and economic change, New England has often been a leader. As far as higher education is concerned, we must reignite that innovative heritage and recapture our leadership role.

###

Michael K. Thomas is president and CEO of the New England Board of Higher Education and publisher of The New England Journal of Higher Education. Email: mthomas[at]nebhe.org. This article appeared in the Fall 2009 issue of NEJHE.

In an effort to be “green” and economical, NEBHE has published the 2010-11 annual Regional Student Program (RSP) Tuition Break catalog online only. The catalog is available in two versions – 2010-11 Undergraduate Tuition Break Catalog and 2010-11 Graduate Tuition Break Catalog – on our website at http://www.nebhe.org/tuitionbreakcatalog.

New for this fall, NEBHE has produced state-specific 2010-11 Tuition Break Brochures, which provide a quick overview to prospective undergraduate students and a readily available list of bachelor’s degree programs and offering institutions. Printed brochures are being distributed to high school guidance offices and public libraries, as well as to prospective college students at college fairs; the brochures are available on our website at http://www.nebhe.org/tuitionbreak or download the PDFs directly:

2010-11 Connecticut Tuition Break Brochure

2010-11 Maine Tuition Break Brochure

2010-11 Massachusetts Tuition Break Brochure

2010-11 New Hampshire Tuition Break Brochure

2010-11 Rhode Island Tuition Break Brochure

2010-11 Vermont Tuition Break Brochure

Our website features comprehensive Tuition Break information, including the searchable program database at: http://www.nebhe.org/tuitionbreakdatabase.

In all, 17 new programs were approved for Tuition Break eligibility for 2010-11; 11 bachelor’s, 3 associate and 3 master’s degree programs, as follows:

New Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Asian Studies
Eligible Residents: ME, NH, RI
Offered by: University of Massachusetts Boston.

Diversified Agriculture
Eligible Residents: ME, MA, RI
Offered by: Vermont Technical College.

Early Education and Care in Inclusive Settings
Eligible Residents: VT
Offered by: University of Massachusetts Boston.

Ecogastronomy
Eligible Residents: CT, ME, MA, RI, VT
Available as dual major only, eligibility starts no sooner than sophomore year.
Offered by: University of New Hampshire.

Environmental Planning and Policy
Eligible Residents: VT
Offered by: University of Maine at Farmington, University of Southern Maine.

Forest Technology-Business Management
Eligible Residents: CT, RI, VT
Offered by: University of Maine at Fort Kent.

French Language Education
Eligible Residents: NH
Offered by: University of Maine at Fort Kent.

New Media
Eligible Residents: CT, NH, VT
Offered by: University of Maine.

Studio Art (BFA): Metalsmithing/Jewelry
Eligible Residents: NH
Offered by: Rhode Island College.

Supply Chain Management
Eligible Residents: CT, ME, MA, NH, VT
Eligibility starts junior year.
Offered by: University of Rhode Island.

Tourism Management and Policy
Eligible Residents: CT, RI, VT
Offered by: Plymouth State University.

New Associate Degree Programs

Legal Administrative Assistant
Eligible Residents: ME, NH, VT
Offered by: Naugatuck Valley Community College, CT; Bristol Community College, MA; North Shore Community College, MA;
Springfield Technical Community College, MA; Community College of Rhode Island.

Radiography
Eligible Residents: NH, VT
Offered by: Naugatuck Valley Community College, CT; Northern Essex Community College, MA; North Shore Community College, MA; Springfield Technical Community College, MA; Community College of Rhode Island

Science
Eligible Residents: CT, NH, VT
Offered by: Southern Maine Community College; Bristol Community College, MA; Northern Essex Community College, MA; Springfield Technical Community College, MA; Community College of Rhode Island.

Wind Power Technology
Eligible Residents: CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
Offered by: Northern Maine Community College

New Graduate Degree Programs

Information Systems (MS)
Eligible Residents: CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
Offered by: University of Maine.

Intermedia Arts (MFA)
Eligible Residents: CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
Offered by: University of Maine.

Sound Recording Technology (MM)
Eligible Residents: CT, ME, NH, RI, VT
Offered by: University of Massachusetts Lowell

The New England Board of Higher Education is pleased to present:

After the Crash: A New Reality for Higher Education

Lessons, strategies and innovations for New England

Monday, Oct. 26, 2009
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Special Keynote Address by
Martha J. Kanter
U.S. Under Secretary of Education

Learn how New England colleges and universities have responded to the economic, fiscal and management challenges resulting from the largest economic crash since the Great Depression and how to successfully navigate higher education’s new reality.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Dennis Jones, President, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS)

• Carol Twigg, President and CEO, The National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT)

• Michael K. Townsley, Author of Small College Guide to Financial Health: Weathering Turbulent Times and Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Becker College

• Janet C. Moore, Chief Knowledge Officer, The Sloan Consortium

• Donald J. Boyd, Senior Fellow, Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government

• John Maguire,  Founder & Chairman, Maguire Associates

• Sandy Baum, Senior Policy Analyst, The College Board

This event follows NEBHE’s highly-successful December 2008 conference, Higher Education in a Troubled Economy: How New England’s Colleges and Universities Can Survive the Downturn and Prepare to Thrive.

Hear from top higher education leaders, economists, financial experts and government leaders on:

• Key developments in federal policy, stimulus funding, the Obama administration’s top priorities and the changing landscape of federal financial aid;

• The truth about costs and productivity in higher education;

• The changed world of admissions, tuition and financial aid;

• Lessons for financial management amid heightened scrutiny of college and university finances;

• New England’s economic, fiscal and budgetary outlook.

Learn from national and regional innovators about cutting-edge issues and strategies such as:

• From three-year programs to course redesign:  new delivery models to meet student needs, save money and increase success;

• Alternative real estate development partnerships to expand financial flexibility, campus growth and high-quality facilities.

Join leaders of higher education, business and government to explore the New Reality in higher education.

Please click here to visit our website for further information about registration, payment details and to view a preliminary agenda.

We are excited to let everyone know about the 18 new programs that have been added for the 2010-11 academic year.

Associate Degree Programs

Legal Administrative Assistant
Eligible Residents: ME, NH, VT
Offered by: Naugatuck Valley Community College
Bristol Community College
North Shore Community College
Springfield Technical Community College
Community College of Rhode Island

Radiography
Eligible Residents: NH, VT
Offered by: Naugatuck Valley Community College
Northern Essex Community College
North Shore Community College
Springfield Technical Community College
Community College of Rhode Island

Science
Eligible Residents: CT, NH, VT
Offered by: Southern Maine Community College
Bristol Community College
Northern Essex Community College
Springfield Technical Community College
Community College of Rhode Island

Wind Power Technology (AAS)
Eligible Residents: CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
Offered by: Northern Maine Community College

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Asian Studies
Eligible Residents: ME, NH, RI
Offered by: University of Massachusetts Boston

Diversified Agriculture
Eligible Residents: ME, MA, RI
Offered by: Vermont Technical College

Early Education & Care in Inclusive Settings
Eligible Residents: VT
Offered by: University of Massachusetts Boston

Ecogastronomy
Eligible Residents: CT, ME, MA, RI, VT
Offered by: University of New Hampshire

Environmental Planning & Policy
Eligible Residents: VT
Offered by: University of Maine at Farmington
University of Maine
University of Southern Maine

Forest Technology-Business Management
Eligible Residents: CT, RI, VT
Offered by: University of Maine at Fort Kent

French Language Education
Eligible Residents: NH
Offered by: University of Maine at Fort Kent

New Media
Eligible Residents: CT, NH, VT
Offered by: University of Maine

Studio Art (BFA): Metalsmithing/Jewelry
Eligible Residents: NH
Offered by: Rhode Island College

Supply Chain Management
Eligible Residents: CT, ME, MA, NH, VT
Offered by: University of Rhode Island

Tourism Management & Policy
Eligible Residents: CT, RI, VT
Offered by: Plymouth State University

Graduate Degree Programs

Information Systems (MS)
Eligible Residents: CT, VT
Offered by: University of Maine

Intermedia Arts (MFA)
Eligible Residents: CT, VT
Offered by: University of Maine

Sound Recording Technology (MM)
Eligible Residents: CT, ME, VT
Offered by: University of Massachusetts Lowell

*The New England Board of Higher Education’s Regional Student Program, Tuition Break, provides a discount on tuition to New England residents when they enroll in approved degree programs at out-of-state public colleges and universities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. New England’s 81 public colleges and universities participate in the Tuition Break program.

Logo created in 2006 for the 2007-08 catalog:

The Tuition Break logo is being refreshed for the current 2010-11 catalog. We are trying to keep up with design trends. We noticed a lot of companies and organizations are going for a softer look to their logos. Logos are being toned down – block letters are dying, lowercase is becoming increasingly popular. Some may think that capitalizing the first letter or entire word will gain more attention or look professional, but I think it is beginning to look out-dated. But then again, when everyone seems to be changing to a similar design, whatever was done before will look out of place.

We are also changing the colors on the design too; the green will stay, but the red will be replaced by a dark, but softer blue  which has a hint of purple as well. The new logo is easier on the eyes, which we hope translates to looking friendlier. We are using the font, Helvetica and both words will appear in lowercase. This typeface gives the logo a softer, smoother look, without losing the boldness that the previous letters had.

Here is the refreshed Tuition Break logo for the 2010-11 catalog:

Is anyone else experiencing design changes with their logos or publications?

- Erica

Start Date: September 1, 2009 (or sooner)

Reports to: President and CEO

Position Description
Responsible for formulating and executing the New England Board of Higher Education’s (NEBHE’s) policy and research agenda; producing reports and analysis of salient trends and developments affecting higher education and the economy in New England; also responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of programs, workshops, meetings and research reports relating to college readiness and success.

Continue reading for job responsibilities and qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Promotes NEBHE’s policy leadership role on issues related to its missions and to the needs of senior decision makers in education, government and business.

• Develops and implements research activities and program activities relating to college readiness and success, with responsibility for key elements of the College Ready New England (CRNE) initiative.

• Develops policy and research department to support the growth and progress of NEBHE.

• Produces reports and analysis responsive to constituent needs and complementary to conference topics of other NEBHE initiatives, including CRNE.

• Develops state policy resources, information and tools relating to best practices in college readiness and success, serving as an information resource for CRNE, state leaders and the public.

• Keeps NEBHE President and personnel informed of trends and developments affecting K-12, higher education and the economy of New England.

• Develops NEBHE and CRNE meetings, conferences and events, including: the selection of topics and speakers; development of agendas and meeting materials; event communications and logistics; and executing appropriate follow up.

• Assists NEBHE directors by providing research and analysis for their reports or grant applications.

• Assists with fundraising efforts for programs, research and other activities relating to college readiness and success and other key NEBHE initiatives, identifying corporate and foundation prospects, cultivating potential donors, developing proposals and applications.

• Represents the NEBHE President and CEO at meetings and events with external collaborators; serves as a key liaison and ambassador to NEBHE and CRNE partners, stakeholders, funders and collaborators from government, business and both K-12 and higher education.

• Takes a policy and thought leadership role in advancing the goals and strategies of NEBHE and CRNE, providing policy resources, research, best practices, technical assistance, presentations, speeches, etc.; works to raise visibility of NEBHE and its policy and program activities among leaders and the public.

Qualifications

• Completion of a Master’s degree and three-to-five years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Strong knowledge of K-12, higher education, public policy, statistics and research methodology.

• Leadership, planning, managerial, supervisory and organizational skills.

• Ability to form strong coalitions with internal and external constituencies.

• Ability to resolve problems and to develop relevant alternatives and recommendations.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to be detail-oriented.

• Public relations, public speaking skills and publishing.

• Computer skills for research and statistical analysis.

• Ability to recognize organizational priorities and work cooperatively to support their accomplishment.

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; to establish positive public relations for NEBHE; and to interact effectively with a wide variety of people.

• Ability and willingness to travel to New England (state capitals, colleges, universities, etc.)

• Exceptional understanding of various graduate education models and teaching skills.

• Exceptional initiative and vision.

• Ability to think strategically and to develop relevant and realistic plans, programs, and goals for NEBHE and CRNE.

• Ability to help develop organizational-wide priorities and work cooperatively to support their accomplishment.

• Ability to market programs and ideas; to establish public relations, and to interact effectively with a wide variety of people.

• Wide intellectual experience and expertise.

• Commitment to the mission and philosophy of NEBHE with a strong understanding and respect for goals of the organization’s activities.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your resume to Janice Queenan, Chief Operating Officer at jqueenan[at]nebhe.org. Please do not call — email only. For further information on the New England Board of Higher Education visit our website at www.nebhe.org.