Title: Higher Education in the 1960's: The Origins of the University of Massachusetts Boston

Author: Diane D'Arrigo

Primary advisor: Professor Linda Eisenmann

Secondary advisor: Professor Judith Smith

Abstract

In the fall of 1963, colleges and universities in Massachusetts, like much of the rest of the country, were experiencing enormous enrollment increases in the post-war baby boom. The state's higher education system was not prepared for the coming enrollment growth and demand (in 1960, there were 54,745 high school graduates; by 1973, that was expected to increase to 86,575). Responding to this increased demand, John Lederle, President of the University of Massachusetts, testified before the Senate Ways and Means Committee in April 1964 that the University would need to turn away 8,000 qualified applicants due to space constraints.

Against this backdrop of rapidly increasing public enrollments, the Massachusetts legislature passed a bill which called for the immediate creation of a Boston branch of the University of Massachusetts. Even with strong opposition from both public and private colleges, the bill, which included $200,000 in funding, was signed into law in June 1964. Just 15 months later, the University of Massachusetts at Boston (UMass Boston) opened its doors for its first 1200 students and 75 faculty in September 1965.

This paper, using extensive primary sources, including archival materials, interviews and oral histories, explores the founding and early years of UMass Boston, specifically focusing on the impetus for its creation and the development and implementation of its urban mission within the context of the changing landscape of higher education, both nationally and locally.

Who might be interested in reading this work?
Anyone interested in:
" History of public higher education in Massachusetts and education, in general
" Post-WWII American society, especially the 1960's
" Politics of higher education (public and private)
" UMass Boston
" Institutional development of higher education organizations