The UMass panel included testimony from President Meehan, UMass Chan Chancellor Michael Collins, UMass Amherst Professor Bethany Bradley, UMass Boston Provost Joe Berger, UMass Dartmouth Professor Steve Cadrin and UMass Lowell Professor Neil Shortland. (4/4)

According to a report released by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce last week, the Massachusetts "Eds and Meds" sector generates $156 billion in economic research every year and supports 856,000 jobs in Massachusetts, or roughly one in five. (3/4)

The DRIVE Act would provide bridge funding to Massachusetts research universities and hospitals that have been impacted by federal funding cuts in order to maintain the state's economic competitiveness in key fields. (2./4)

“This visionary proposal will enable the university to accelerate our capital plan, modernizing our campuses and bringing a new generation of world-class facilities to meet the needs of a 21st-century research university.” (4/4)

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s BRIGHT Act is a generational investment in public higher education which will benefit students, faculty, and staff for decades,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. (3/4)

Governor Healey also spoke about the importance of the BRIGHT Act to the future of UMass and the other Massachusetts public institutions. (2/4)