WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Massachusetts is awarding $14 million in funding to state universities, which will go directly to student resources to increase graduation rates. This funding comes a year after Massachusetts started offering free community college to eligible adults, and is part of a larger push to make the state's renowned education system more accessible. The need for this funding is clear--currently more than 30% of state university students do not earn a degree within 6 years of enrolling, and that number increases to more than 40% for Black and Latino students. Similar grants at Massachusetts community colleges contributed to a 10% increase in student retention from fall 2022 to fall 2023. These grants, called the SUCCESS program, are meant to enable state schools to create spaces to support students of color, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, low-income, and first generation students. The Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education explained the need for spaces to support these students. "To close equity gaps in higher education, we must support the whole student...we cannot wait to lift barriers that keep many students from realizing the socio-economic upward mobility that comes from earning a college degree," said Commissioner Noe Ortega. Award amounts are based on student need, and in western Massachusetts, Westfield State University will receive $1.5 million dollars. In addition to the funding for the SUCCESS program, the state dedicated almost $15 million dollars for community colleges, bringing the total investment in higher education to over $30 million dollars. Local News Headlines Shoppers make final grocery runs to grab last-minute holiday food items Last-minute shoppers rush for holiday groceries Springfield delays trash pickup for holidays Safely get rid of snow this holiday season WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.