Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

About the Department of Higher Education The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. (DHE) is the staff to the 13-member Board of Higher Education (BHE), responsible for executing the Board's policies and day-to-day operations. The Equity Agenda Recognizing the historic and persistent factors that created and continue to maintain an unequal system of public higher education, racial equity is the top policy and performance priority for the Department of Higher Education. In pursuit of racial equity and justice, the Department commits to intentionally and authentically supporting racially minoritized students harmed by systemic racism in higher education, particularly Black and Latinx students. We seek to dismantle barriers to success and work toward ensuring a just educational experience within which students thrive. The Equity Agenda represents a shift in framing, from a focus on the question of whether students are college-ready, to ensuring that colleges and universities are student-ready. The Department is committed to partnering with public institutions to usher a cultural transformation that creates and sustains a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. OUR VALUES At the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE), we share these interconnected values: Equity Understanding and confronting oppression in all its forms Accountability Answering for the outcomes of decisions and actions Community Showing care and respect toward others Empowerment Facilitating others’ opportunities for growth and contribution, within teams and across DHE Intentionality Acting with purpose and clarity Teamwork Embracing the power of unity, collaboration, and collective insight