For an innovation and incentive program for the University of Massachusetts, state universities, and community colleges; provided, that funds shall be distributed by the commissioner of higher education to public institutions of higher education based on priorities determined by the board of higher education in pursuit of operational efficiency and strategic goals, including cost and value optimization strategies that would benefit individual institutions and the system, as a whole, such as shared services and integration of workforce and educational program offerings; provided further, that funding shall be made available for programs that focus on timely or accelerated student completion of associate and bachelor degree programs with lower and more predictable student costs, especially those that serve low income and traditionally under-represented students; and provided further, that for the purposes of this item, appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months
