On March 18^th the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies approved a redraft of Governor Healey’s DRIVE proposal. Main elements of the new bill are:

• $200 million in bridge funding to support public institutions of higher education to enable them to adapt to “federal funding uncertainty, loss or diminishment of federal research funding”, funding may support -
• - direct and indirect costs of research
• - positions in research and teaching, including graduate, post doctorate and other early career research professionals
• Funds to be distributed by Secretary of Administration and Finance, in consultation with Secretaries of Education, Economic Development, and Labor and Workforce Development
• Secretary of Administration and Finance must file quarterly reports to legislature on expenditures
• Funds must be “made available” through end of FY28 (June 30, 2028)

The new bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing for review. More than 700 members of the UMass Chan Community conveyed their thanks to the Legislature (House letter, Senate letter) and UMass system leadership (UMass letter) for advancing the DRIVE initiative and urged prompt action and final enactment.

Updates on DRIVE may be found on the OCGR SharePoint site.

Hadwen Arboretum Community Cleanup

Tuesday, April 21 - 9am to 12pm

Join us in caring for the Hadwen Arboretum. Once used as a dumping ground, this beautiful natural space has been gradually restored through the dedication of volunteers, students, and community members.

Today it features peaceful walking trails and a remarkable collection of unique tree species. Help us continue the tradition of stewardship by lending a hand to keep this special, volunteer-powered landscape healthy and welcoming!

Tasks include removing an invasive plant species called burning bush.

Register and Obtain Supervisor Approval

by Hallie Leo

"T.H. Chan School of Medicine students in the Class of 2026 celebrated at UMass Chan Medical School on Friday, March 20, after simultaneously tearing open envelopes and discovering where they’ll train as residents. A total of 172 students participated in this year’s National Resident Matching Program at UMass Chan—the largest group ever because of the increased class size—and featured 36 students in couples matches, more than in any other year in the school’s history.

For couples hoping to match together, anxiety is doubled on Match Day. Partnered future physicians waited for their results, hoping to match into residencies in the same region or general vicinity. High school sweethearts Riley Magane and Dylan Leonard hugged after learning they had matched into internal medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

“Dylan and I have been together for over 10 years. With last names starting with L and M, we sat next to each other in most of our classes from middle school until sophomore year at King Philip High School,” said Magane. “From supporting each other through the most intense parts of medical school like exams and clinical rotations, to finding ways to make each other’s lives better, being together made med school easier.”