We're excited to announce that applications for the Governor's Summer Internship Program are now open! If you're a @UMBC student looking to leave your fingerprints on our state and work with our Administration, submit your application between now and March 1.

Today I signed an executive order to launch a new Government Modernization Initiative for the State of Maryland. We will fix the things that are clearly broken in government, but haven’t been touched yet – Not because they can’t be solved, but because ‘it’s just been that way.’

Happy Opening Day to all of our partners in the General Assembly! Our administration is excited to work with you over the next 90 days to grow Maryland's economy, address the budget crisis, make our state more competitive, and continue to deliver for Maryland's working families.

Check out @MDMHEC's interactive data dashboards, which offer insights into financial aid, enrollment, student outcomes, and more. These tools help legislators, educators, and the public understand trends and inform policy changes. Explore the data here: bit.ly/MHECDashboards

These recommendations send a clear message — whoever you are and whatever your background, you are going to get a high-quality college education in Massachusetts. The Supreme Court's misguided decision doesn't change that. bostonglobe.com/2024/10/16/m…

My favorite governance trio! #BoardsMatter

Early data suggest that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year to strike down affirmative action in college admissions—and none of the other admissions factors that give preferential treatment to wealthier White applicants like legacies and boosts for children of donors—has led to a *significant* drop in the percentage of Black students coming into highly selective colleges this year. Amherst College, a nearly three-fourth drop Black students in the incoming class of 2028: 3% Black students in the incoming class of 2027: 11% MIT, a two-thirds drop Black students in the incoming class of 2028: 5% Black students in the incoming class of 2027: 15% Tufts University, a one-third drop Black students in the incoming class of 2028: 4.7% Black students in the incoming class of 2027: 7.3% The percentage of incoming Latinx students also declined significantly at Amherst and MIT. The percentage of Asian students slightly increased at Amherst and slightly decreased at Tufts. Meanwhile, the percentage of incoming White students rose at both Amherst and Tufts, which appears to have been the goal all along of the Supreme Court Justices and Edward Blum who brought this case before them. The SCOTUS ruling didn’t create an equitable application process for all students no matter their race or class. The SCOTUS ruling further rigged the process to admit more wealthy White students while telling Black, Latinx, Native, MENA, Pacific Islander students—and low and middle income White and Asian students that they didn’t get admitted to that highly selective college because there is something wrong with them. This is the racist American way these days. Claiming the most disadvantaged groups are the most advantaged. Reframing antiracist efforts that create equal opportunity as unjust. Passing measures and making rulings that end up further excluding disadvantaged groups from the most coveted spaces. Telling them they are excluded because there’s something wrong with them (and not the measures and rulings). Calling those measures and rulings and ideas “not racist.” Rinse and repeat. theguardian.com/us-news/arti…

Commissioner Ortega was proud to share MA’s work on college affordability and equity with fellow higher ed leaders at the @SHEEOed annual policy conference. mass.edu/about/whatsnew.asp#…

Filling out FAFSA is ✨very demure, very intentional✨ @M_Dannenberg1

Every investment in education — including higher education — is a bet we’re making on our students and a down payment on the future of our state. Awesome to join @College_Promise for their national convening!

Last year, we created MassReconnect – free community college for students 25 and older – and gave thousands of people another shot at degrees they put on pause. This year, I signed a budget that builds on that success and makes community college free – for everyone.

The progressive free college win in MA is that in addition to tuition & fee free 2 & 4-yr public college, Pell Grant community college students will get an additional ~$2,400 stipend (take up dependent) for books, supplies & transportation. The change we need. #HigherEd #mapoli

Universities and colleges are struggling with enrollment. Could this population be a solution? masslive.com/news/2024/07/un… @BHCCBoston @SalemState @MassCCs @MassEducation @MassDHE @MassBayCommCol

Still dreaming after hearing Dra. @GinaAnnGarcia alongside @MassLtGov & @joseluis_jls at the inaugural New England HSI & MSI Conference at @SalemState. @MassDHE amplified the research of scholars of color AND provided $ to campuses that were willing to translate into practice.

Discussing the “serving” in Hispanic Serving Institution at @SalemState Inaugural Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution Conference with partners @BHCCBoston, @HolyokeCC, and @MassBayCommCol @GinaAnnGarcia @marcela_elisa

UPDATE: Sasse’s predecessor, Kent Fuchs, is expected to be tapped as interim president.

Kudos to BG's @marcela_elisa for her latest column. HSI stands for Hispanic _Serving_ Institutions, not Hispanic enrolling institutions. Feds should update their definition to go beyond enrollment. And we should recognize serving is a shared responsibility bostonglobe.com/2024/07/15/o…

Always be a student in life. Never stop learning and growing. 📍

Meet your new BHE Student Segmental Advisors and Chairperson for the 2024-2025! Niki, Thalles, and Imani will sit on the Board of Higher Education and “weigh in on issues such as funding priorities for the public higher education system and quality of academic programs.”

A message from Commissioner Ortega: There's still time to complete the #FAFSA or MASFA! #FinancialAid