By Bob Katzen

Another measure before the Higher Education Committee would establish a pilot reimbursement program for Massachusetts public higher education institutions providing tuition and fee waivers to senior citizens above the age of 60.

The program would apply, subject to availability and a maximum of four courses per academic years, to qualifying seniors who are enrolled in undergraduate programs, summer sessions, evening classes or any specific higher education courses between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

“The state’s public higher education institutions currently offer waivers for qualifying seniors, but the program is poorly utilized,” said sponsor GOP House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This bill creates a mechanism for reimbursing these institutions and establishes a stable baseline funding level for future budget cycles. The goal is to encourage more seniors to take classes while also ensuring that the state’s colleges and universities are properly compensated for lost revenues.”