1.   Although the council had urged UMass and the state colleges to set even higher standards, UMass administrators were concerned about the impact on minority students.

2.   As attorney general, Morales authored the legal opinion that ended affirmative-action policies in state colleges and universities.

3.   At the time, Miller, as a new governor, offered HOPE scholarships, merit awards for students who attended state colleges.

4.   Because of financial pressures on parents, and in some cases expanded state merit scholarships, relatively inexpensive state colleges are increasingly desirable options for top students.

5.   Beyond those incentives, state colleges, community colleges and the Full Employment Council will offer job placement and training help to the company.

6.   Board officials are now seeking seed money from the Legislature to start a pilot laptop program at a few state colleges, as early as this fall.

7.   A businesswoman and an administrator are becoming the first women to hold two key posts overseeing the University of Massachusetts and the state colleges.

8.   According to the Washington newspaper Roll Call, Jeffrey might be thwarted by a state law that prevents state and federal elected officials from teaching at state colleges.

9.   All the UMass campuses and most state colleges already have such programs.

10.   But with the financial stability reflected in most new budgets, the study said, there has been a shift toward increasing funds for state colleges and universities.