Advocacy

We staunchly advocate on behalf of our 58 colleges and universities, an incredibly diverse group of institutions that educate more than 280,000 students annually, employ nearly 100,000 residents, and serve as anchors for communities across the Commonwealth. Our overarching mission is to ensure that Massachusetts remains the beacon of higher education and opportunity for students of all backgrounds, talents and experiences.

AICUM is committed to:

Ensuring all deserving Massachusetts students have access to the financial aid resources they need.

AICUM supports state investment in students, regardless of whether they choose to attend a public and private college or university in Massachusetts.
The MassGrant program, which mirrors the federal Pell Grant, should be robustly funded to enable low-income students to use their state grant at the Massachusetts institution that best fits their academic, social and financial needs. Public policy should focus on the student and empower the student to attend the Massachusetts college or university that is the best fit for them and their family.
AICUM also supports increasing the federal Pell Grant and protecting the federal financial aid programs that benefit thousands of Massachusetts students, including Federal Work-Study and FSEOG.

Protecting the tax-exempt status of independent colleges and universities.

Independent colleges and universities are a cornerstone of the Massachusetts economy – with an annual economic impact of $71.1B - and provide millions of dollars in community benefits across Massachusetts.
AICUM staunchly opposes efforts to impose a state endowment tax or mandatory PILOT programs on independent colleges and universities.
At the federal level, AICUM opposes efforts to expand the Trump endowment tax, cut research funding that fuels lifechanging innovation or eliminate financial aid programs that make a college degree possible for so many families.

Providing opportunities for independent colleges and universities to lead on workforce development.

AICUM colleges and universities annually award the vast majority of bachelor and master’s degrees in Massachusetts
We advocate for legislation to expand pathways to college, increase clinical placements for healthcare students, invest in students entering in-demand professions and align degree production with the state’s workforce needs.
AICUM works collaboratively with the Executive branch and Legislature to ensure that independent colleges and universities can partner with state agencies to access research dollars to innovate on state priorities in climate change, life sciences and artificial intelligence.

Maintaining academic and institutional flexibility for independent colleges and universities.

AICUM comprises a diverse group of independent colleges and universities. It is important that these institutions operate in a manner that best aligns with their unique missions and the needs of their students.
We advocate for institutional flexibility to allow these institutions to set administrative policies and priorities that ensure students receive a high-quality education where colleges and universities can quickly adapt to the changing needs of students and the workforce.

Efforts to limit or restrict opportunities for international students and faculty
An enhanced endowment tax
Threats to research funding
Threats to efforts to ensure that our campus communities are welcoming to all
Threats to financial aid, especially to low-income students.