Massachusetts. Higher Education Facilities Commission

The Higher Education Facilities Commission was established by St 1964, c 388 to administer programs and funds provided through Title I of the federal Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963 (PL 88-204). The purpose of Title I was to assist eligible colleges and universities through grants and loans in order to finance the construction of certain types of academic facilities needed to expand enrollment capacity. The U.S. Office of Education in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was designated as the administering agency.

The commission was responsible for administering the program at the state level and was placed within the Department of Education but not subject to its control. It consisted of the commissioner of education and twenty gubernatorial appointees representing the interests of institutions of higher education and of the general public, with a chair appointed by the governor from among commission members. While members served without compensation, they were authorized to employ staff to carry out the work required by the commission.

The enabling legislation directed the commission to collect, correlate, and analyze data relating to the extent and character of facilities within the Commonwealth used for higher education; to assemble and keep current statistics detailing the number and character of full- and part-time students enrolled in each of the several types of institutions of higher education; to prepare, maintain, and administer a state plan for higher education facilities to be submitted to the federal Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in connection with the Commonwealth's participation in programs authorized by the Higher Education Facilities Act; to receive, evaluate, and approve applications for federal aid submitted by public and private institutions in the Commonwealth for the improvement or expansion of their facilities and to develop criteria for processing such applications; to issue, revise, and amend rules and regulations for the implementation of the federal act; to make investigations and hold hearings; and to apply for, receive, administer, expend, and account for federal funds.

When the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (PL 89-329) was passed, the commission was designated by the governor to administer Title I, which provided for community service and continuing education programs, and Title VI, which provided for equipment for undergraduate instruction. In 1968 responsibility for Title I was transferred to the Board of Higher Education.

The commission ceased activity and was no longer funded after 1974.