Posts Categorized: Demography

Maine’s 2019 Legislative Session Produces Less Rancor, More Healthcare

Maine lawmakers adjourned the 2019 legislative session, passing a two-year budget of $8 billion for FY20 and FY21, absent the partisan rancor of previous years. The budget contains no tax increases or tax cuts. Senate Majority Leader Nate Libby (D-Lewiston) noted the budget committee cast more than 1,100 votes on budget line items with 99% being unanimous. The budget was the first for new Demo...

New Hampshire Scholars: Ready to Succeed

A former NEBHE chair reflects on a pathway to success ... As a father of three and a grandfather of nine, I could not be prouder of the accomplishments of my loved ones. I am blessed with a tremendous family and it seems like only yesterday my grandchildren were taking their first steps. The milestones come quickly and memories of birthday parties, kindergarten, graduations and learning to ride...

Connecticut Makes Community College Free, while Raising Minimum Wage and OK’ing Paid Family and Medical Leave

Connecticut lawmakers ended their session and sent a balanced budget of $43 billion for FY20 and FY21 to Gov. Ned Lamont. Democrats, who hold a majority in both legislative branches, said the budget erases a deficit without raising tax rates. Progressive Democrats in the General Assembly unsuccessfully pushed to tax the wealthiest Connecticut residents on investment income. The effort to tax th...

Vermont 2019 Session Ends with Wage, Paid Leave Deliberations To Be Continued …

The Vermont General Assembly adjourned the 2019 session in stages as the House and Senate, both with Democratic majorities, were unable to resolve their differences on two major proposals. At issue were proposals to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and a plan to provide paid family and medical leave to Vermonters. Despite broad agreement among Democrats to approve both measures, final agreeme...

A Look at Higher Ed’s Value

NEBHE examines how more education means more benefits for individuals who earn postsecondary credentials and for the general public ... Despite the alarming and unsustainable rise of college tuition and fee rates, the greatest cost associated with higher education is still the opportunity cost in terms of lost wages, according to NEBHE’s latest report What’s the Value of Higher Education? I...

Data Connection: Drugs, Rents, PR

Approximate amount physicians in New England received in payments from drug and medical device companies for speaking, travel, education and food and beverages from August 2013 to December 2016: $620,000,000 NEBHE Analysis of ProPublica data Number of New England states among the 20 U.S. "States with the Biggest Drug Problems in 2019," based on 22 key metrics, including arrest and overdose rate...

Majority of New England Public Colleges and Universities Saw Fall 2018 Enrollment Drops

Including at Regional Student Program (RSP) Tuition Break campuses ... The majority of New England public colleges and universities saw annual decreases in their Fall 2018 headcount enrollment, with a few exceptions. The  following institutions reported increases: University of Connecticut, University of Maine System, University of Massachusetts System, Community College System of New Ham...

¿Habla Español? Nuestras Páginas Web de Tuition Break Ahora Presentan Información en Español!

Speak Spanish? Our Tuition Break web pages now have information in Spanish! NEBHE's Tuition Break, the Regional Student Program (RSP) has been helping New England students and families access academic programs out of state at reduced tuition for more than 60 years. In recognition of the region's growing Hispanic population and advice that those families could benefit from accessing college a...

On the Road Again … Talkin’ Policy with Our Friends

NEBHE’s Policy & Research Team has been on the road this fall sharing current work and gathering valuable insights on these projects from our New England higher education colleagues. Here are just a few of our stops … Street creds? On Oct. 24, Candace Williams, director for strategic initiatives, and Stafford Peat, senior consultant, engaged a full house of online and continuing ed...

Electing a Reflection of America

With votes still being counted and recounted and candidates already pondering their next campaigns, the 2018 midterm elections have left an indelible mark on New England and its representation in Washington, D.C. New Hampshire voters elected at least 42 state representatives under age 40 to the state's 400-member House of Representatives—the third largest legislative body in the English-speak...