Commonwealth College Advocacy
How Your Voice Can Make a Difference for Commonwealth College
Thank you for your interest in letting your legislators know why Commonwealth College and UMass Amherst matter to you!
You can be a great Commonwealth College and UMass Advocate if you are a Massachusetts resident and a current student, parent, or alumna/us. We encourage you to preview the UMass Amherst Advocacy Update – a weekly e-newsletter for campus advocates. If you like what you see, you can subscribe with an email to sgr@admin.umass.edu with your name and US postal address.
Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Update
The Massachusetts legislature has completed its debates on the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009. The Commonwealth College line item has been rolled into the overall funding for the University of Massachusetts system.
You can find more information on the university allocation on the UMass Amherst Advocates site
Click here to learn more about the budget cycle and its timing.
Why Advocate for Commonwealth College?
Commonwealth College fact sheet
Because your representative and senator vote on our budgets every year. They listen to you, as a constituent and voter. The state created Commonwealth College to provide an affordable option for the state’s most academically motivated students. The opportunities available are a direct result of the UMass line item (#7100-0200), and your legislators only know that it is important to their constituents if you tell them so.
What Should I Say? Suggestions for Students, Parents and Alumni
- Commonwealth College is a success story that they created and should be proud of. It attracts outstanding students, and its alumni believe that it has served them well. 95% of honors alumni would recommend Commonwealth College to an eligible student. Its students are 85% in-state. These students hold the promise of becoming our state’s community, business, and civic leaders. The College helps keep talented young people in the state, which will drive our economy.
- Tell your own story. See below for suggestions for students, parents, and alumni.
- Keep the message positive (if you have complaints, tell us so we can address them).
- Be sure your legislator knows that you live in his or her district.
- If your legislator is not familiar with it, be prepared to explain that Commonwealth College is the honors college for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at UMass Amherst.
Suggestions for Students:
- Thank you for creating and supporting Commonwealth College.
- I came to UMass Amherst/Commonwealth College because…
- The best part of my educational experience has been…
- I grew up in…
- Because of my education, I hope to…
- I hope you will continue to support Commonwealth College for me and generations of students to come, and that you will continue to support UMass.
Suggestions for Parents:
- Thank you for creating and supporting Commonwealth College.
- My son/daughter chose UMass Amherst/Commonwealth College because…
- From my perspective, the best part of my child’s education at UMass Amherst/Commonwealth College so far is…
- Brag a little about your child’s accomplishments. If the opportunities or prestige of Commonwealth College played a role in your child’s decision to attend/join, say so.
- I hope you will continue to support Commonwealth College and UMass.
Suggestions for Alumni:
- Thank you for creating and supporting Commonwealth College.
- I went to UMass Amherst (and Commonwealth College or the Honors Program, if applicable) because…
- The best part of my experience was…
- My experience prepared me to…
- For Massachusetts to retain its best talent, it is important for the state to have affordable, top-notch educational options available to our most promising high school students. UMass and Commonwealth College are key to attracting and retaining such students. The vast majority of UMass graduates stay and work in Massachusetts.
Call, Write or Visit?
- A visit makes the biggest impression. This is still true if you talk with an aide rather than your senator or representative. Click here for tips about visiting in person. Schedule a visit by calling the district phone number; after your visit, send a thank you note!
- Calls are effective, too. This is particularly true if you have already met your senator or representative, and he or she knows who you are.
- Letters and notes are usually the easiest to fit into your schedule, though they do not give you the chance to get to know your legislator and what he or she thinks is important in your district. See below for the proper way to address your letter and envelope. Email works, too. We recommend treating it as you would any other business communication, with attention to spelling, tone, and detail.
Proper forms of address for letters
Representative
The Honorable (First & Last Name)
Massachusetts House of Representatives
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Salutation: Dear Representative (Last Name)
Senator
The Honorable (First & Last Name)
Massachusetts Senate
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Salutation: Dear Senator (Last Name)
You may use district addresses if you prefer.
How do I find my representative or senator?
Check out www.wheredoivotema.com to input your address and find all your elected officials.
You will find your local representative and senator in the category, “District Representatives.” They are listed as “Senate in General Court,” and “Rep in General Court.” You can also find more details on your state representative and senator such as their district offices, hours, address, phone number, and profile at: www.mass.gov/legis. Under “Legislators,” click on “House,” “Senate,” or “By city/town.”
Let Us Know
Drop us a line to let us know who you have contacted.
Feel free to send us a copy of your letters or tell us
about the conversation [mfeltus@urd.umass.edu]. We also welcome
your recommendations about how we can improve the information
and suggestions on this site.
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