As I wrote in my recent Telegram and Gazette column, August is a time when the slower pace of the summer months gives way to the transformation of the fall academic year. This is a time when I reflect on the upcoming semester and consider how I can contribute to building a stronger college community. Yet summer is also a time of rest and rejuvenation and like each of you, I cherish taking some vacation time to reflect, recharge, and reset. At the same time, I do keep in touch with the college and remain active in the daily happenings by getting up early each morning to check emails, make calls, and address any issues that may arise before enjoying the rest of the day with my family.
Shortly before I went on vacation, I was honored to take part in Academic Search’s Leaders on Leadership podcast. During this podcast, I spoke with Dr. Jay Lemons, president and senior consultant of Academic Search on my perspective in higher education, my own leadership journey, and the challenges that leaders in higher education face today.
Additionally, I’m happy to share some positive news with the college community - the budget reconciliation bill that Congress passed earlier this summer also included Workforce Pell legislation. This goes into effect July 1, 2026, and will expand Pell Grant eligibility to include students who are pursuing short-term training programs and certificates aligned with workforce demands. Another encouraging piece of news is the agreement by the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee to fund a compensation study for community college faculty and staff as part of the state budget. This is something that I and the other community college presidents have been advocating for and represents an important initial step toward addressing compensation concerns and promoting fair pay for our faculty and staff.
While this is certainly some encouraging news, we also received some unexpected news... we recently learned that our Federal TRIO funding has not been renewed due to claims that the proposed activities did not comply with current federal requirements and U.S. Department of Education policy. We have asked the Department to reconsider its determination. In the meantime, the College is committed to the continuation of comparable support services and has allocated funds toward this end. I will share an update with the college once a plan is finalized.
Please be assured that the year ahead is filled with new possibilities, new collaborations, innovative ideas, and meaningful progress. Together, let’s embrace the opportunities before us, address the challenges head-on, and continue building a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking academic community.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message. As always, your feedback, comments, and insights are welcome and appreciated.
Until next time, stay inspired and stay involved.
Luis