Salem State College is now tantalizingly close to becoming Salem State University.
The Senate yesterday passed a state college name-change bill, 34-2, pushing it past the final major hurdle before reaching Gov. Deval Patrick's desk for approval.
All indications, officials said yesterday, are that Patrick will sign the bill, which would elevate Salem and eight other public colleges to state universities.
"We're confident we'll gain his support, and we'll become Salem State University," college President Patricia Meservey said.
It may seem like a subtle name change, but supporters believe a Salem State University would make both the college and its students more competitive against their counterparts from other states, particularly New Hampshire and Connecticut, which already have similar state university systems.
"All we're doing is giving students a competitive edge to put on their ré©sumé© the fact that they graduated from a university," said Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry, D-Peabody. "I for one don't see many losers here."
Backers have pointed to Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, which saw an application boom the year after it changed their name.
Berry said the name change would also lead to economic development opportunities in the areas hosting the universities.
But critics claim state universities will end up costing students more in the long run. University employees will seek higher salaries — comparable to those at the University of Massachusetts — forcing institutions to pass the increased expenses onto students in the form of higher fees, they argued.
Berry said the college presidents have assured him they won't let that happen but admitted there was no way to guarantee the long-term future.
"They all gave me their word that they wouldn't allow themselves to be bullied by the unions," Berry said. "... But can I see 10 years from now? No, I cannot. I can only speak to the current presidents here today."
Meservey said the college would compare its employee salaries to those of other state universities, but not university systems like the University of Massachusetts and the University of Connecticut.
Opponents also called for the Board of Higher Education to set standards defining a state university and have colleges apply on an individual basis, rather than unilaterally elevate all the state's colleges to university status.
Both Democrats and Republicans supported the bill. State Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, said Salem State has constantly tried to improve the quality of the programs it offers.
"Part of what we're trying to do here is properly recognize what these institutions are," Tarr said during debate on the Senate floor yesterday evening.
Achieving university status has been a priority at Salem State for decades, dating as far back as the 1960s and spanning four presidents, Meservey said.
"It's been a very long time in coming," she said.
Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@gloucestertimes.com.
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