SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2676

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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SENATE, April 1, 2024.

The committee on Higher Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 826) of Anne M. Gobi for legislation to support urgent community college equity through student services, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2676).

For the committee,

Joanne M. Comerford

        FILED ON: 2/7/2024

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2676

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

An Act supporting urgent community college equity through student services..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 15A of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 15G the following section:-

Section 15H. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the commonwealth to support community college student success through wraparound supports and services to improve outcomes for students through a grant program to be known as the Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services program, hereinafter referred to as the SUCCESS program.

Subject to appropriation, the SUCCESS program shall provide grants to community colleges to provide wraparound supports and services to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable student populations including, but not limited to, low-income, first generation, minority, and disabled students and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students.

The grants shall be used for wraparound support activities including, but not be limited to, peer mentors, academic skills workshops, field trips to 4-year schools, and targeted academic, career, transfer, and scholarship advising. Grants shall also be used to assist students in obtaining federal, state, and local benefits including food, housing, income and other supports.

The funds shall be disbursed by the department of higher education based on a formula and criteria developed in consultation with the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges. The department shall promulgate regulations for an application and disbursement system and accountability mechanism.

The department of higher education shall report annually to the joint committee on higher education and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the success of students supported by the fund, including any regulations, guidelines, or criteria used to distribute the funds, and on the final distribution of funds to campuses.