Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey wants the state to spend $18 million on new diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives during the coming fiscal year.
Healey last week released her proposed budget for fiscal year 2024 (which begins July 1, 2023). It includes back-to-back line items for diversity-equity-inclusion.
The line items would establish grant programs for new diversity-equity-inclusion initiatives at Massachusetts universities. However, it does not explain the specifics of these programs.
Here is the description of the “State Universities Student Services & Equity Initiatives” line item:
For recurring expenses for grants to State Universities for innovative programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion; provided, that grants shall support funding for innovative campus initiatives targeted at improving student, faculty and staff equity
And here is the description of the “UMass Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives” line item:
For recurring expenses for grants to the University of Massachusetts for innovative programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion; provided, that grants shall support funding for innovative campus initiatives targeted at improving student, faculty and staff equity
The UMass system had 73,979 students in the fall 2022 semester, according to the UMass system’s web site. If enrollment were similar next school year, this diversity-equity-inclusion program would cost on average more than $135 per student per year.
Meanwhile, all of the other state universities had a combined enrollment of 36,593 students in fiscal year 2022, the year for which the most recent data is available, according to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. At that rate, the diversity-equity-inclusion initiative would cost on average more than $218 per student per year.
Healey’s proposed diversity-equity-inclusion proposals would cost almost as much as the free community college program she has proposed.
MassReconnect, the free community college program Healey proposed, would fund community college certificates and degrees for Massachusetts residents who are 25 years old or older and have not yet earned a college degree, including illegal immigrants, as NewBostonPost previously reported. It would also cover student fees, textbooks, and student supplies. Her budget appropriates $20 million for the MassReconnect program.
Healey’s proposed budget is not yet final. The Massachusetts legislature will develop a budget, taking Healey’s recommendations into consideration. However, given that fiscal year 2024 does not start until July 1, 2023, the budget might not be finalized until the summer.
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