Timeline

January 2003 - CONNECT Partnership is Formed
March 2003 - First Legislative Breakfast held at UMASS-DATMC
April 2003 - Economic Impact Report Published
November 2003 - 2nd Legislative Breakfast held at Bridgewater State College

February 2004 - Distinguished Speaker Series hosted, Lesra Martin
FY 2004 - Joint Facilities Master Planning Project

FY 2005 - Transfer Articulation Project hired 2 new F-T coordinators
FY2005 - Banking Services Project. Saves $100,000/yr
FY2005 - Writing Project brings together 97 faculty from 5 campuses
FY2005 - Leadership Development Program launched
June 2005 - Regional Leaders Summit hosted at Bridgewater State College
September 2005 - CONNECT hires first executive director
September 2005 - CONNECT Vision for Higher Education Published

April 2006 - SE Mass Regional Leaders Breakfast at ATMC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activity Description

In a collaborative effort, CONNECT prepared a banking services bid document. The Request for Proposal received many responses. After careful analysis of all bids, three of the CONNECT schools contracted with Bank North for their banking services. As a result of our joint bid, the three institutions realized approximately $100,000 savings in banking fees from the previous fiscal year. These savings were achieved in a year that has had an increase in transactions based on higher enrollment and more banking services offered to staff and students. The prices received in the bid are locked in for three years, so the savings described above will continue for an additional two years. In the past, bid responses have included annual increases for fees. Bank North, through the CONNECT bid process, has guaranteed the institutions three years' worth of cost savings, while at the same time, increasing the bank services currently being provided by the CONNECT institutions. The effort in developing the joint Request for Proposal is an outstanding display of the colleges in our region working together to save money and improve services.