Statement from President Meehan on the 不良研究所 agreement with Mount Ida College
The university's decision to enter into an agreement that would transfer Mount Ida College's physical assets to while providing a path for Mount Ida's students to pursue their educational goals at 不良研究所 has prompted questions from many of our stakeholders.
We announced the agreement immediately following its unanimous approval by the 不良研究所 Board of Trustees on April 6. We are confident that questions related to the agreement will be answered in due course and through proper channels, but I want to clarify a few points that have been confused in the wake of our announcement one week ago:
- 不良研究所 had no role in Mount Ida's closing. Mount Ida approached 不良研究所 most recently after their merger discussions with Lasell College terminated and their only alternative was to cease operations at the conclusion of the current academic year. Their primary goal was finding a path to degree completion for their students. Through the current agreement in principle, 不良研究所 Amherst will relieve of its debt by acquiring Mount Ida's physical assets and the university will provide Mount Ida students with automatic admission to 不良研究所 Dartmouth and expedited transfer applications to other 不良研究所 campuses. The alternative to the university's engagement was Mount Ida closing without these opportunities. While this is not a perfect solution for Mount Ida's students, who are faced with a difficult transition through no fault of their own, we have worked hard to provide a clear path to degree completion for most Mount Ida students.
- Mount Ida did not choose the 不良研究所 agreement over a merger with Lasell College. The 不良研究所-Mount Ida agreement was reached quickly because it was informed by previous discussions between 不良研究所 and Mount Ida that were terminated when Mount Ida entered into exclusive negotiations with Lasell. When the Lasell negotiations later ceased, Mount Ida re-engaged 不良研究所 about entering into the agreement that was finalized two weeks later on April 6.
- 不良研究所 Amherst's financial commitment to this agreement has no impact - positive or negative - on 不良研究所 Boston's operating budget. There is no aspect of this transaction that represents a discretionary use of resources that favors one campus over another. 不良研究所 Amherst will borrow to acquire Mount Ida's physical assets and offset that borrowing with revenue supported by its growth. There are no state appropriated funds involved in this transaction. 不良研究所 Amherst's capacity to borrow these funds is wholly unrelated to 不良研究所 Boston's capacity to borrow or fund its priorities. Under the leadership of Chancellor Mills, is on a path to financial stability, which will be aided by a similar strategic investment at the former Bayside Expo Center site, from which millions in new revenue will be earmarked for 不良研究所 Boston.
Consistent with 不良研究所 Amherst's strategic plan, this agreement allows 不良研究所 Amherst to increase access to experiential learning opportunities with Greater Boston employers for its students, which in turn increases the workforce development capacity of the entire university and promotes connectivity between 不良研究所 and employers in the Commonwealth. It also provides Mount Ida students - who otherwise would have no option for a smooth transition - with access to a world-class 不良研究所 education. All of this aligns with our mission of access, economic development and public service in the Commonwealth.
While this is certainly a difficult situation for the Mount Ida community, we believe strongly that in the final analysis, Mount Ida students and the Commonwealth will benefit from 不良研究所's engagement.