For the operation of the department of higher education; provided, that the department shall recommend savings proposals that permit public institutions of higher education to achieve administrative and program cost reductions, resource reallocation and program reassessment and to utilize resources otherwise available to such institutions; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for the state university internship incentive program established in item 7066--0000 of
section 2 of chapter 139 of the acts of 2012; provided further, that the commonwealth shall contribute funds to each institution in an amount necessary to match private contributions in the current fiscal year to the institution''s internship incentive program; provided further, that the commonwealth''s contribution shall be equal to $1 for every $1 privately contributed to each university''s board of trustees or foundation; provided further, that the maximum total contributions from the commonwealth shall be not more than the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that funds from this program shall not result in a direct or an indirect reduction in the commonwealth''s appropriations to the institutions for operations, scholarships, financial aid or any state appropriation and the department shall promulgate regulations and criteria for the program; provided further, that in order to meet the estimated costs of employee fringe benefits provided by the commonwealth on account of employees of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority and the University of Massachusetts Building Authority and in order to meet the estimated cost of heat, light, power and other services, if any, to be furnished by the commonwealth to projects of these authorities, the boards of trustees of the community colleges, state universities and the University of Massachusetts shall transfer to the General Fund, from the funds received from the operations of the projects, the costs, if any, as shall be incurred by the commonwealth for these purposes in the current fiscal year as determined by the appropriate building authority, verified by the commissioner of higher education and approved by the secretary of administration and finance; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for a campus violence prevention administrator and such other activities as are needed to fund the full implementation of
chapter 337 of the acts of 2020 to advance statewide campus safety initiatives, including sexual violence prevention; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for Thrive Scholars to support college to career services; provided further, not less than $100,000 shall be expended to Fitchburg state university for an admissions position focused primarily on recruitment to the police program; provided further, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended to Quincy college to provide student supports and services; provided further, that funds shall be expended to meet existing statutory requirements and provide orientation, professional development and support for the boards of trustees in areas including, but not limited to, recruitment, training and accountability; provided further, that funds shall be expended for the training resources and internship networks, or TRAIN, grant program established in
section 179 of chapter 46 of the acts of 2015; provided further, that not less than $1,500,000 shall be expended for monthly stipends and other support services for participants in order to facilitate participation in the program; provided further, that not more than $100,000 shall be expended for administrative costs for the program; provided further, that the department shall seek additional proposals to expand the TRAIN grant program to additional community colleges in fiscal year 2026; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any grant administered by the department, including but not limited to those established in this item, item 7100--4002 and item 1596--2439 for fiscal year 2026 shall be distributed no later than September 30, 2025 pursuant to a transfer schedule determined by the executive office of administration and finance; provided further, that not more than $200,000 shall be expended for the department of higher education, in consultation with the office of employee relations and the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, to execute a compensation study of all positions within the collective bargaining unit for full--time faculty and professional staff positions whose exclusive bargaining representative is the Massachusetts Community College Council at the 15 community colleges, as defined in
section 5 of chapter 15A of the General Laws; provided further, that the study shall examine the duties and responsibilities of each such position within the Massachusetts Community College Council collective bargaining unit and the salaries associated with each such position as compared to salary ranges at peer institutions and within the education market as whole; provided further, that not later than July 1, 2026, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on higher education and the house and senate committees on ways and means outlining the findings and recommendations for updated job descriptions and salaries across the Massachusetts Community College Council collective bargaining unit; and provided further, that not less than $450,000 shall be expended for Journey into Education & Teaching, Inc. to strengthen the educator workforce pipeline
