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Higher Education

New England is home to some of the nation’s finest higher educational institutions and is historically grounded in pioneering the highest standards of education.

With over 250 institutions and more than a million students in the region, our colleges and universities not only empower learners, they train our region’s workforce to compete in virtually every sector of our economy. Colleges and universities in New England employ hundreds of thousands of New Englanders and play an important role in contributing to the region’s economy.

The New England Council’s Higher Education Committee includes both public and private colleges and universities, as well as high schools, education non-profits, and workforce development organizations. The Committee encompasses a broad spectrum of higher education advocates in the region, bringing together members from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

In recent years, the Committee has focused on initiatives and policy advocacy aimed at expanding access to higher education, developing a high-skilled talent pipeline to meet regional employer needs, investing in research, and supporting students to achieve their educational aspirations.

The Higher Education Committee is Co-Chaired by Daniel Egan, President of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island (AICURI) and Jennifer Grodsky, Vice President for Federal Relations at Boston University.

NEC Higher Education Liason

Please contact Mariah Healy.

 

Update on Comments to Department of Ed on issue of Definition of Professional Degree and Related Issues

On February 27, 2026 the New England Council submitted comments to the Department of Education on the Department of Education’s recent Reimagining and Improving Student Education proposed rule. Our comment letter included our concerns about the recent reconciliation package which made significant changes to federal graduate lending, which NEC members believe will exacerbate workforce shortages in key professions, primarily in the healthcare sector, across the United States, and especially rural areas.

Learn More

NEC and NEBHE Release Updated Fact Sheets on the Economic Impact of Higher Ed Sector

The New England Council and the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) have once again partnered to release a series of fact sheets highlighting the economic impact of the higher education sector in the region.

Learn More
Featured Higher Education News
Read Article Aug 7, 2026Blog | Member News, Financial Services, Higher Education

New England Council Members honored with 2026 Rhode Island Worksite Health Awards

Read Article Aug 7, 2026Blog | Member News, Energy & Environment, Higher Education, Technology & Innovation

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Receives $1.5 Million in Federal Funding to Advance PFAS Destruction Technology

Read Article Jul 8, 2026Blog | Council News, Higher Education

Update on Comments to Department of Ed on issue of Definition of Professional Degree and Related Issues

Read Article May 5, 2026Blog | Member News, Higher Education

New England Board of Higher Education launches second round of prison education grants

Read Article May 3, 2026Blog | Council News, Higher Education

Now Available: Episode 38 of “Inside the Corner Office” with Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN, President of Regis College

View All News

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