Sen. Becca Rausch

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public higher education institutions in Massachusetts to provide free disposable menstrual products, such as tampons and sanitary napkins, in the restrooms of their buildings. The law mandates that these items be made available in a way that does not stigmatize individuals seeking them. It directly affects public universities and colleges by ensuring access to essential hygiene products for menstruating students and staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend Massachusetts law to exempt public colleges and universities from the requirement to produce certain student records during legal proceedings. Specifically, it allows these institutions to refuse to share "education records" and "directory information" as defined by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The change directly affects public higher education institutions in the state and the students they serve by potentially limiting access to their personal data in court cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to allow Massachusetts state universities to offer clinical and professional doctorate degrees. The legislation explicitly authorizes these institutions to grant such degrees while restricting them from offering traditional PhD programs unless they partner with the University of Massachusetts. Additionally, the bill maintains the requirement that state universities prioritize the preparation of teachers and other professional educational staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in Massachusetts to grant college credit for Advanced Placement exam scores of three, four, or five to help students meet degree requirements. Institutions must clearly state on their websites how these credits apply to general education, major, or elective courses and ensure they can be transferred to other schools. While schools can still require higher scores, they must provide specific evidence that a score above three is necessary for success in related courses, and the Department of Higher Education will offer guidance on what counts as valid evidence. Additionally, the state's higher education board must annually review these policies and report its findings to the legislature by July 1 each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Massachusetts state universities to offer clinical and professional doctorate degrees, expanding their current academic offerings beyond traditional research-focused PhD programs. The legislation amends state law to explicitly allow these institutions to grant degrees such as Doctor of Education or Doctor of Physical Therapy, provided they receive approval from the Board of Higher Education. While state universities can now pursue these professional degrees independently, the bill maintains a restriction that they cannot offer PhD programs unless they do so in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts. The primary goal of the change is to increase the capacity of the state university system to train professional educators and other specialized practitioners.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts public records law to exempt public and municipally owned colleges from releasing student records designated as "directory information." Under the current Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act, schools can share details like names and addresses with the public unless students opt out, but this legislation would prevent those records from being produced in response to public records requests. The exemption applies to general public inquiries but does not restrict access by federal, state, or municipal agencies. Consequently, the law would change how student information is publicly accessible while maintaining access for government oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in Massachusetts to accept scores of three, four, or five on Advanced Placement exams to fulfill degree requirements for general education, major, or elective courses. Institutions can only require a higher score than three if their chief academic officer provides evidence that the lower score would not prepare a student for the next course in the sequence, and the state Department of Higher Education will define what counts as valid evidence. Schools must publish these policies on their websites and submit them to the state department for public posting, while the state board will review and report on these policies annually by July 1.