Massachusetts Board of Regents of Higher Education meeting records

The Willis-Harrington Act of 1965 established a system of higher education in Massachusetts with five separate systems: the University of Massachusetts, Southeastern Massachusetts University, Lowell Technological Institute, the Massachusetts State College System and the Massachusetts Board of Regional Community Colleges. Within these five systems are 29 individual campuses (at that time 30) enrolling students in two-year, four-year and graduate educational programs.

“To guide and coordinate the growth and programs of these diversified institutions, the Legislature provided, in 1980, a 15-member Board of Regents. The Legislature gave a broad grant of power to this board so that it may play a forceful and leading role in the continuing development of educational programs maintained by the state.” Powers of the Board of Regents included coordination of services common to all segments of public higher education, approval of new degree programs, review of budgets and capital outlay plans, approval of plans for the expansion of individual institutions and provision of post-high school vocational and adult education programs (source: Donald Levitan, Your Massachusetts Government, 10th edition, 1984). With the passing of Chapter 142, “An Act relative to Public Education in Massachusetts” in 1991 (see Acts and Resolves passed by the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year 1991, pp. 544-591), the Board of Regents were replaced by the Higher Education Coordinating Council, appointed by the governor. The university system’s five campuses were reorganized in 1991 under one board of trustees; coordinated by the Board of Higher Education.