Save UMass

Governor Romney is planning on restructuring the UMass system in order to save between $100 and $150 million dollars in a surprising move that has the potential to radically re-align the system's five member institutions.

Although Romney has denied that the privatization of UMass Amherst -- the most prestigious of the colleges -- is forthcoming, his lieutenant governor has indicted otherwise. Privatization could drastically change the level of state support for Amherst, leaving the college to depend on its own coffers. Just last month, Amherst announced the creation of a foundation that will solicit private funds to support the college.

It is somewhat ironic that Romney's de-centralization of the UMass schools is driven in large part by some perceived government savings. It is precisely for this reason that the Lowell and Dartmouth campuses were absorbed into the UMass system a decade ago, mainly to cut down on the individual pleas for higher funding.

Romney appears to be relying on business to bail out his cash-strapped schools and figures the job will be much easier without the red tape of an all-encompassing board of trustees. Unfortunately, the private sector doesn't appear extremely willing to front the staggering amounts needed to keep schools operating and ensure that tuitions remain low. There is also an inherent conflict of interest in asking those affiliated with businesses and for-profit organizations to shape the curricula of educational institutions.

At a time when Romney needs to be saving every penny he can, the restructuring of UMass is clearly a bad decision. The expense in handling the logistics of separating the once unified schools likely will defeat administrative and other savings for the next few years -- a long term view that Romney doesn't have the luxury of entertaining.