Governor Baker Signs Final FY22 Budget

The budget supports the Equity Agenda through increased funding for financial aid and Early College, and $10.5 million for the Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) grants to community colleges

On July 16, 2021, following his review of the Conference Committee budget, the Governor signed the Fiscal Year 2022 General Appropriations Act which features many significant highlights for the Department and for the Community Colleges and State Universities. Most notably, the budget bolsters the Equity Agenda by providing the highest levels of funding ever for financial aid, student supports, and pathways to college, including $130 million in the scholarship line item (7070-0065), as well as $6M in the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Program line item to support the growth of the Early College program, and $10.5 million for the Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) grants to community colleges.

Additional highlights include increases in the State University and Community College line items by $7.15M and $7.23M for the segments, respectively, reflecting the annualization of the FY21 funding formula allocations. The FY22 budget also maintained funding for both formula funding line items at 2% of base appropriations, continuing the support for incremental funding that accounts for the growth in base costs as well as financial incentives for performance outcomes. In total, the Conference budget proposal represents an additional $26.6M in state funding over the FY21 budget to support the work of the Department and the Community Colleges and State Universities.

Next Steps

The final budget, also known as the General Appropriations Act (GAA), went into effect on July 1, 2021 when the 2022 Fiscal Year began. The FY23 budget process for the Department of Higher Education, community colleges, state universities, and UMass system will resume again in December 2021, when the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education issues its funding recommendations to the Executive Office of Education.