Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium MHEC Leveraging the Power

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 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 e-mail addresses: ¡ ¡ Richard Pattenaude, Chancellor, University of Maine System / pattenaude@maine. edu Dick Cannon, Vice President of Finance and Administration, University of New Hampshire / dick. cannon@unh. edu Claire Ramsbottom, Executive Director, Colleges of the Fenway / cramsbottom@colleges-fenway. org Jim Markel, CEO & Treasurer, Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium / jimmarkel@mhec. net