By Franklin Ortiz
Special to the Reporter
Massachusetts prides itself on being a leader in education, and our public colleges and universities should be no exception. Yet, after years of disinvestment, many top-quality educators are fleeing, and without immediate intervention from Beacon Hill, the problem will only get worse. This is happening just as we are launching an effort for debt-free community colleges that we hope will bring more students to our campuses.

Decades ago, our public higher education institutions were praised for their excellence, drawing in educators passionately committed to molding the minds of the next generation. But for the past 20 years, lawmakers have taken a different path, aggressively slashing funding and shifting the financial burden onto students and faculty. The institutions that were once celebrated for their dedication to education have fallen victim to financial neglect.  

The consequences of this disinvestment have reached every corner of our campuses, from college dining services to tuition hikes. Once-thriving institutions now face dilapidation, and the academic environment has suffered. The result is institutions with outstanding staff and faculty, but without the resources to adequately educate and serve our students, the future citizens, and workers of the Commonwealth.

Whether you’re a tenure track professor, an adjunct professor, or a staff person, the compensation and benefits offered by other states often overshadow what Massachusetts has on the table. The choice isn’t just about picturesque campuses or cultural attractions. The salary, the benefits, the continuity, and the stability, just don’t compare.

The challenges extend beyond simply attracting applicants. Our public colleges and universities need to attract high-quality candidates who are not just qualified but are also diverse, equity-minded, and committed to the mission of public higher education here in Massachusetts. While more than fifty percent of private college graduates relocate within four years of graduation, almost three out of four graduates of the state’s public colleges and universities stay and work in Massachusetts. If we want to retain educators who are invested In our communities and our economy for the long term, then they need to earn enough to be able to live here. 

This financial shortfall translates into a struggle to attract and retain educators. Talented faculty members, enticed by more competitive offers from other colleges or good-paying jobs in the corporate world, are choosing alternative career paths. I’ve seen this reality up close. As both a UMass Boston graduate and now an academic advisor, I’ve witnessed the struggle to attract and retain top-notch talent to our state. 

This is why professors support the Cherish Act, a comprehensive bill laying the groundwork for transforming Massachusetts into a hub of world-class public higher education.

The Cherish Act is more than a set of policies; it’s a lifeline for public higher education. It’s about enabling people from all walks of life, in every community, to build successful and fulfilling lives through accessible, quality education. It’s about addressing economic, social, and racial equity gaps that persist within our public higher education institutions and our state.

Recruiting a talented cadre of educators to public higher education in Massachusetts is a critical issue, and the Cherish Act is the antidote. By investing in our public higher education system, we aren’t just securing the future of our students; we are also reshaping Massachusetts as an academic pacesetter, welcoming educators who bring diversity, innovation, and commitment to the classroom and adequately investing in one of our most important engines for opportunity and economic growth.

Franklin Ortiz is a Hyde Park resident, a UMass Boston graduate and academic advisor, and a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.