Over 500 students faculty and staff gathered in the Student Center today to celebrate the official designation of the institution as a university.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law legislation granting university status to Massachusetts State Colleges last July, but the change became official, Tuesday, October 26.
The new status will not raise tuition or fees or change admissions standards. “The college you have always trusted will now become a university,” said President Janelle Ashley, who attended the bill signing ceremony at the Statehouse this past summer.
“This is terrific news for our students, alumni and faculty,” said Chair of the Board of Trustees John Brissette, who accompanied President Ashley and a delegation of students, faculty and staff from Worcester to Boston for the bill signing. “Our students are entering a very competitive job market and this will help them. This will also help us attract more federal grant dollars to support faculty research.”
Under the new law, the six comprehensive state colleges have adopted name changes: Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. The three specialized institutions — Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Massachusetts Maritime Academy — will retain their existing names but will refer to themselves as universities and part of the “Massachusetts State University System.”
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