MassLive.com reported and Governor Baker confirmed that University of Massachusetts is in talks about acquiring Mt Ida College in Newton.
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MassLive.com reported and Governor Baker confirmed that University of Massachusetts is in talks about acquiring Mt Ida College in Newton.
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
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They should have been more upfront with students they accepted for this fall’s incoming class. Just today, someone I know told me very happily that her daughter would be starting the dental hygienist program this fall. What happens to the students who accepted their offers and turned down other schools? The Globe story says it’s unclear what will happen to them.
When BU aquired Wheelock last year, moving the Wheelock students into BU programs (and granting BU degrees) was part of the deal. I hope they work out something like that here if this deal comes to pass.
They say they will for current students, but unclear for those just admitted.
Just got a press release about this. The newly acquired campus will be known as the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst. More info here.
And it looks like current students at Mt. Ida will transition to UMass Dartmouth.
A “Boston outpost for UMass Amherst”?
Why would UMass Amherst take on this additional expense (not like they have lots of money) of another campus, when they have UMass Boston? A major use for the campus will be housing for UMassAmherst students interning in Boston. Also, academic collaborations.
Why not collaborate with the Boston campus?
@Terry: Here’s what UMass said in its statement
And here’s the Chamber’s take on this.
Collaborate with UMass, Boston? The despised stepchild of the UMass system? Quelle horreur!
Very unfortunate.
Mt Ida had a few degree programs (Veterinary Technology, Dental Hygiene, Funeral Services) which are quite hard to find elsewhere in Massachusetts, so this is a real loss. (Tangentially, there could have been real value to a funeral school in the coming decade or so as the baby boomers start to die off…)
This move also demonstrates just how unbalanced the UMass system is… UMass Amherst gets the “gift” of a new satellite campus, while UMass Dartmouth has to bear the burden of a sudden influx of students. Meanwhile UMass Boston, struggling for relevance, doesn’t get much of anything.
What happens to all the current employees at Mt.Ida? Are they out of jobs now?
And what if a kid who was accepted to Mt.Ida doesn’t want to go to Dartmouth?
It’s too late for many kids to change schools now.
This really is too bad.
Has there been any timeline for UMass’ arrival on campus?
@Jeremy – exactly! It would be one thing if UMass committed to continuing to make these programs available in the Boston area. But what happens to the students who’ve just been admitted to these programs and don’t have anywhere else to go?
What a boondoggle for UMass, Amherst – which already disproportionately dominates the UMass system.
From the FAQs:
Mount Ida and UMass are working with other institutions to provide pathways for our specialized programs, including Veterinary Technology, Dental Hygiene, Funeral Services Education and Interior Design. Most of our other majors are represented at UMass and their academic advisors will work with each student to provide the best match for his or her interests.
Should students not want to attend UMass Dartmouth, they will be welcomed at all campuses across the UMass system. Students will be accepted to UMass Dartmouth but will be offered the opportunity for an expedited transfer application to UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, and UMass Lowell. These applications will be reviewed in accordance with the requirements for transfer applicants at each institution.
Translation: if you’re in one of those programs you’re screwed until we figure out something (if we do).
Translation: if you don’t want to attend UMass, you’d better hope one of our other schools thinks you’re good enough to go there. Otherwise, tough luck.
Translation: Marti sees the glass as half full. Meredith sees it as half empty.
@Greg – that’s because at my dental cleaning yesterday, my hygienist excitedly told me that her daughter had just been accepted to Mt. Ida’s dental hygienist program. I keep thinking of them.
This is huge news, with many possible impacts on Newton. I’d be very interested to know what UMass plans for this site.
Does anyone know if this Makes a difference for Carlson Woods?
Meredith and I may have the same hygienist as I heard the same excited story from mine this morning. I mentioned I had seen a headline that UMass may be acquiring Mt Ida (this was before it became official), and she and her daughter had heard nothing about it.
There are 2-year dental hygienist programs at several MA community colleges, and MCPHS offers a 4-year bachelor’s program. Mt Ida was unique in offering either 2-year or 4-year programs in dental hygiene.
@Bruce – she still didn’t know this morning? It’s absolutely unconscionable for accepted students to learn about this from the news media or someone who knows them, rather than from the school itself. I’m sorry you had to be the one to burst her bubble.
Small liberal arts colleges are suffering for various reason, mostly from lowered enrollment and financial woes. My Ida is just one of them albeit a good one. Mt Ida brought in many students who were the first in their family to attend college and had some unique programs.
As a private college whose endowment is no longer keeping up with its scholarship fund and expenses, it was forced to do something drastic. This must have been a tough decision – certainly considering its present underclassmen, newly accepted students and the 280 teachers, staff and others who will be laid off with a severance package. (Newly accepted students will have their deposits refunded.) UMass will pay off Mt Ida’ debts, reconstructure others with one creditor forgiving a portion of the loan and assume the rest.
My Ida’s tuition is $35,000 annually plus around $14,000 for room and board. Students in good standing (gpa of 2.0 and above) will be offered automatic admission to UMass Dartmouth with instate tuition no higher than $13,000 annually and will be guaranteed housing at standard rates with other Mt Ida students. Certainly this is inconvenient and painful for those involved.
As it pertains to Newton, it could be a boom to draw even more business here as this campus with serve as UMass Amherst’s healthcare, business and STEM campus for graduate, continuing, and professional education programs and will be operated by UMass Amherst faculty and staff.
These are students who could stay in Newton and the surrounding areas to work for present and future industries that are driving our economy.
Boston Globe story: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/04/06/ida-college-close-umass-acquire-newton-campus/18ts5Fh25yneOKBPGRyu4M/story.html
Also from the Boston Globe, a look at the impact on students in the specialized programs
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/04/08/students-scramble-pledges-inquiry-after-mount-ida-announces-closure/0f106XPLgrPgLqxZ6bHnjN/story.html
Apparently, Mt. Ida STILL hasn’t notified admitted students that they’re closing, and they made financial aid offers they knew they didn’t have the money to cover. Kids are turning down offers from other schools, not knowing that they will have no place to go.
https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/mount-ida-closure-leaves-newton-students-parents-scrambling