Schools
$10M Scholarship Plan At UMass Chan Advances In State Bill
The funding is part of a state spending bill aimed at growing the primary care workforce in Massachusetts.
WORCESTER, MA — A $10 million scholarship program at UMass Chan Medical School is part of a state spending bill aimed at growing the primary care workforce in Massachusetts.
The funding, included in H.5740, would support scholarships for UMass Chan students who pursue family medicine and agree to practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after graduating, the Massachusetts Legislature announced last week. The Legislature enacted the $1.35 billion spending package last week and sent it to Gov. Maura Healey for her signature.
State Rep. Jim O’Day (D-Worcester) said the UMass Chan scholarship funding was among several education and transportation investments he supported through the package, which is funded largely by revenue from the Fair Share Amendment.
“These investments reflect the needs I hear from residents every day. People want stronger schools, better public safety, more job opportunities, and affordable higher education,” O’Day said. “The Fair Share Amendment allows Massachusetts to make meaningful investments in our cities and towns while addressing critical priorities statewide.”
Earlier Senate materials described the UMass Chan funding as a pilot program offering full-tuition scholarships to students pursuing family medicine who commit to remaining in Massachusetts and serving populations in need for 5 years after graduation, according to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. GBH News reported in April that the proposal was intended to help address difficulty finding primary care doctors in Massachusetts.
UMass Chan, based in Worcester, is the state-supported public medical school established by the state of Massachusetts in 1962.
The broader bill allocates $558 million in Fair Share funds to education and $794 million to transportation, according to the Legislature. Education spending includes $152 million for special education reimbursements, $150 million for early education and care and $40 million for literacy programs.
O’Day’s office said the bill also includes several local investments: $200,000 to offset out-of-district special education costs in West Boylston, $75,000 for the Teen Torch Program in Worcester, $20,000 for roadway safety improvements in West Boylston and $165,000 for vocational programming at Dismas House in Worcester.
The Fair Share Amendment, approved by Massachusetts voters in 2022, adds a 4 percent surtax on the portion of annual income above $1 million and dedicates the revenue to education and transportation, according to the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
“Without Fair Share revenue, many of these investments simply would not be possible,” O’Day said. “The voters decided to allocate this funding, and today we are seeing those dollars translated into support for students, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and working families.”
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