If you are planning to attend a state college in Massachusetts this fall, you might be surprised to arrive on campus and discover that your new school has a new name. Just yesterday, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts signed into law a bill that officially recognizes the state colleges as regional teaching universities.

It’s not uncommon for a college to obtain university status based on expanded offerings. However, these Massachusetts colleges have already been acting as universities by offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees; Governor Patrick’s signing of the bill is basically the long-awaited cherry on top.

The new Massachusetts State University system is not to be confused with the University of Massachusetts system, a group of nationally recognized research universities, including UMass Amherst.

The six state colleges in Massachusetts that have now added “university” to their names are Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University, and Worcester State University. The three specialized colleges that are retaining their names but joining the university system are Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

An excerpt from the official announcement on the Westfield State University website states: “We believe strongly that this change will enhance the value of our students’ degrees and help them compete for jobs; help our college compete for private and federal grants and attract the best faculty from national pools of candidates; and benefit our state by keeping more Massachusetts students in state to attend college.”

–Barbara Bellesi