Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium (MHEC) Leveraging the Power of Collaboration for the Institutions of Higher Education in New England

For over thirty years, MHEC has...  represented the select purchasing interests of nearly 100 institutions throughout New England  tabulated and tracked volumes, M/WBE and sustainability figures for all member institutions  qualified, encouraged and contracted with a diverse group of vendors, having specific roots to the New England business community  sought to maintain our position at the cutting edge of group procurement innovation and technology  maintained a business model based upon fiscal prudence and member sensitivity

MHEC contracts are utilized by our member institutions to purchase over $200 million dollars in goods and services each year...but, what is our commitment to assist them during the current financial challenge?  Redefining contract value by concentrating more spend with fewer vendors  Targeted contract management with longer term commitments and more stringent review processes  Focusing efforts on opportunities comprising most repetitively used goods and services  Convening vendor meetings to understand areas of potential collaboration  Committing to a reduction in membership fees, until the current fiscal situation resolves  Limiting operational overhead, while seeking new and more creative membership opportunities

Additionally, MHEC pursues collaborations with the following groups and organizations:  Association of Consortium Leadership (ACL) – including The Boston Consortium, Colleges of the Fenway, Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Five Colleges, Inc., Hartford Consortium, New England Law Library Consortium and other NE and national consortia  National Association of Educational Buyers / New England  EACUBO  NACUBO  New England Board of Higher Education  Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education  SOMBWA  ISM

For questions and communications resulting from this panel presentation, please note the participant’s addresses:  Richard Pattenaude, Chancellor, University of Maine System /  Dick Cannon, Vice President of Finance and Administration, University of New Hampshire /  Claire Ramsbottom, Executive Director, Colleges of the Fenway /  Jim Markel, CEO & Treasurer, Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium /