Linda Thompson: Innovative funding, strategic planning drive future of public higher education (Viewpoint)
Feb 9, 2026
By Linda Thompson | Westfield State University
Westfield State University is a state-supported public institution dedicated to serving the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Guided by the founding principles of Horace Mann, since 1839 our university has provided an affordable, equitable and inclusive learning environment where diversity is embraced and every individual is valued, respected and supported.
Part of the university’s mission is to strengthen the region by contributing economic and educational resources that foster resilient communities, innovative enterprises and a stable economy. Central to this mission is the preparation of leaders equipped with strong reasoning and communication skills, integrity, empathy, vision, accountability, confidence, resilience and the ability to adapt in an evolving world.
Over the past several years, we have developed our five-year Strategic Plan, Infinite Opportunities, which serves as a blueprint for future success. The plan is grounded in four interconnected goals: fostering innovative learning by aligning institutional resources with relevant academic programs that prepare students for emerging careers and a rapidly changing world; advancing student success by ensuring all students have access to the support, resources and community needed to complete their programs and secure meaningful employment; optimizing stewardship of campus resources through the strategic alignment of human, financial and facilities investments with institutional priorities; and amplifying institutional impact by cultivating an engaged community of scholars who advance innovation, applied research, creativity and transformative partnerships.
As we review and strengthen our academic programs, we remain deeply committed to advancing the health and well-being of our region in ways that align with these strategic priorities.
While uncertainties and challenges persist as the federal government revises its funding priorities, the Healey–Driscoll administration and members of the Legislature have worked diligently to provide critical support for public higher education across the Commonwealth.
Over the past several months, I had the privilege of testifying before two key state legislative committees to advocate for essential investments designed to strengthen our institutional capacity and create lasting value for both our campus and surrounding communities.
In October, I testified before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies in support of the Discovery, Research, and Innovation for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) initiative. DRIVE is Gov. Maura Healey’s $400 million proposal to invest in Massachusetts’ research and innovation ecosystem by supporting research at universities and hospitals while leveraging private-sector investment.
The initiative is designed to secure jobs and talent amid federal funding reductions, drive scientific advancement and maintain the Commonwealth’s global leadership in innovation and the life sciences.
In my testimony, I emphasized that sustained funding for health research — including biomedical discovery, nursing science and public health — is not discretionary; it is a national imperative and a direct investment in the well-being and security of our communities.
Publicly funded research has produced monumental medical advances, from breakthroughs in cardiovascular disease and cancer treatment to the eradication of diseases such as polio and measles and the development of mRNA technology.
In November, I returned to the State House to testify before the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets in support of the BRIGHT Act. In January 2025, Gov. Healey introduced a bond bill originally totaling $2.5 billion to modernize and repair public colleges and universities across the Commonwealth. Subsequent additions expanded the proposal to $3.65 billion. Funded through Fair Share Act surtax revenues, the BRIGHT Act is designed to address critical deferred maintenance, build state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, enhance energy efficiency and create an estimated 20,000 construction jobs statewide.
I stressed to the committee that advancing the BRIGHT Act would represent a critical step toward addressing our substantial deferred maintenance backlog and pressing infrastructure needs.
In Western Massachusetts, where the shortage of health care workers is particularly acute, BRIGHT Act investments would enable Westfield State University to develop a Human Health Hub to address this urgent workforce demand. The proposal focuses on the removal of Bates Hall, which no longer meets the needs of contemporary science education, and would replace it with state-of-the-art laboratories and instructional spaces.
The BRIGHT Act has already passed the House of Representatives with an amendment appropriating $100 million to Westfield State toward the Human Health Hub which is Phase I of our Campus Master Plan. We are pleased to have received support from state Rep. Brian M. Ashe, who has sponsored this amendment within the bill. The bill now advances to the Senate, and I remain optimistic that it will be pass and be signed into law by the governor.
We are confident that these state investments, aligned with our updated strategic plan, will modernize our campus and position us to advance academic programs that meet the evolving needs of our students, communities, employers, and economy.
