University of Massachusetts Tuition Retention VII
SECTION 195.
Not later than January 31, 2016, the president of the University of Massachusetts shall study and report to the secretary of administration and finance, the secretary of education, the university's board of trustees and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the following matters related to tuition retention and the implementation of sections 36, 37, 72, 73, 174 and 175: (i) calculations and recommendations relative to the value of all tuition waivers authorized under section 19 of chapter 15A of the General Laws or any other general or special law and all collectively bargained for reductions existing on July 1, 2016 and recommendations for procedures and approval mechanisms for changes in the value of student tuition credits; (ii) recommendations for specific budgetary and financial information that may be included in an annual report to be used to develop the annual university budget and increase transparency; provided, however, that the recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, a list of required reporting and auditing of revenue and expenditures supporting operation of the university as presented in the university's consolidated audited financial statements, the 5-year capital plan and all auxiliary functions and quasi-public entities that provide service or support to the university or its campuses in fulfillment of the requirements of section 10 of chapter 75 of the General Laws and the annual reporting required to monitor progress in meeting the goals of and fidelity to such plans as required pursuant to said section 10 of said chapter 75; (iii) the feasibility and relative benefits of including the total cost of fringe benefits for employees of the university paid with state appropriations in the base appropriation of the university beginning on July 1, 2016 and shifting the associated obligation of paying the university's actual fringe benefit costs for all employees of the university to the university beginning on July 1, 2016; and (iv) recommendations for any reduction or increase to the university's base appropriation in fiscal year 2017.