PHENOM invites you to the 2008 Higher Education Summit

All day event

PHENOM invites you to the

 

2008 Higher Education Summit

November 14-15, 2008

at UMass Boston

Friday  6:30 - 9:30 PM

A dinner and social, with inspiration and motivation

 

Saturday  9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Morning:  2 blocks of workshops (see back for current listing)

Lunch:  with lots of time for networking and informal discussions

Afternoon:  discussion, debate, and decisions about PHENOM's           priorities and campaigns, followed by a short business meeting
         

 

Are you

Ø     a student who worries about affording college?

Ø     an alum who cares about what's happening to our public colleges?

Ø     a parent or teacher who wants the best education for your kids?

Ø     a worker on a public campus who is worried about jobs?

Ø     anyone who believes Massachusetts deserves an affordable and accessible public higher education system?

                                                then the Summit is for you!!

 

 

massphenom@gmail.com or 413-577-4121 for questions.

 

www.phenomonline.org for more detailed information as it is available.

 

WHAT IS PHENOM? 

 

The 500,000 people who make up the Massachusetts public higher education community are the sleeping giant of Massachusetts politics.  By mobilizing a large and engaged grassroots network, the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) is waking up this sleeping giant so we can get the resources to create the public higher education system we and our children deserve.

 

For the first time, all the constituencies in Massachusetts public higher education can speak with one powerful voice.  PHENOM unites students, faculty, staff, alumni, and others from community and state colleges, the UMass campuses, and the broader community around 5 key principles:

1.  Fund public higher education so it can serve the Commonwealth

2.  Make higher education affordable

3.  Make higher education accessible to all

4.  Hire more teachers, researchers, and staff

5.  Honor and expand democratic institutions of governance for public 

     higher education

 

PHENOM is a grassroots organization here for the long term!  PHENOM has strong and respectful relationships with politicians and other opinion leaders, advocates and mobilizes for specific legislation that can advance the five principles, is forging alliances with community organizations, researches and publishes reports, and is the leader in the fight for more affordable, well-funded public colleges.

 

Last year, PHENOM published an influential report on the Affordability Crisis, led a successful grassroots campaign to increase funding for need-based financial aid by $3 million, held public hearings around the state, and expanded its scope and influence dramatically.  In today's gloomy economy, our work is even more important and, with your help, we look forward to another successful year.

 

The Summit

 

This is the 3rd annual Higher Education Summit.  The first two generated a lot of enthusiasm and helped determine PHENOM's direction.  We expect this one to be very relevant to anyone advocating for public higher education, and we invite you to submit proposals for PHENOM's work this year.  Workshops currently scheduled:

 

Ø      PHENOM 101

Ø      Innovative Financial Aid Programs

Ø      Public Higher Education Advocacy: What Role for Alumni?

Ø      Improving College Access: What Strategy for PHENOM?

Ø      What's Up with the State Budget: Impact on Public Higher Education

Ø      Free K-14: From Rhetoric to Reality

 

 

For more information, contact PHENOM at 413-577-4121

or massphenom@gmail.com