WORCESTER—Quinsigamond Community College President Dr. Luis Pedraja said he is actively advocating for increased salaries for faculty and staff at Massachusetts community colleges, calling it a shared priority among college presidents and union leadership alike.
In a message to the QCC community on Monday, Pedraja said he has been meeting directly with top state lawmakers, including the chairs of the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees and the senate president, to push for long-overdue changes to salary parameters, which are set by the state.
“Raising compensation is one of our top priorities,” Pedraja wrote, noting that some faculty are forced to take second jobs just to make ends meet. He credited collaboration with other community college leaders and the QCC faculty senate in making the issue a legislative focus.
Pedraja said he invited QCC Faculty Senate President Jennifer Arner Welsh, a psychology professor, to speak on wage inequality at a recent legislative breakfast, adding that the advocacy helped secure funding in the senate’s budget for a formal compensation study—a key step toward changing state-set salary structures.
The message also highlighted Pedraja’s broader work in shaping higher education policy. He recently completed a term as chair of the Massachusetts Community College Council of Presidents, where he helped support the launch of equity-focused programs such as MassReconnect and MassEducate. Both initiatives provide tuition-free community college access for thousands of residents.
Pedraja also serves as a commissioner on the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the accrediting body for colleges in the region. In June, he participated in a NECHE retreat to address sector-wide challenges including funding gaps and evolving technology.
“Being at the table as a representative for QCC… helps give our college a voice in decision-making,” he wrote.
Pedraja’s message concluded with a promise to keep the campus community informed about his ongoing advocacy through regular monthly updates.
“This work is about sustaining and strengthening our institution,” he said, “and building a stronger, more connected college community.”
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