(Bernice Corpuz/WBZ NewsRadio 1030)
NEWTON (WBZ-AM) -- UMass officials could be on the hot seat Wednesday on Beacon Hill as lawmakers want to know more about the sale of Mount Ida College to UMass Amherst.
On Monday, UMass Boston faculty voted no confidence in UMass President Marty Meehan over the sale. Students and staff at UMass Boston are upset that UMass Amherst is buying the school, because they think the money would be better spent on their cash-strapped campus.
Lawmakers were set to grill Meehan about the sale at a State House hearing Wednesday, and State House News reporter Matt Murphy told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens what he thought Meehan would say at that hearing.
"I think you'll see him try to explain to lawmakers why this makes sense for UMass Amherst, and why it won't hurt any of the other campuses," Murphy said.
But Murphy said there isn't much the lawmakers can do.
"UMass Amherst is pursuing this with their own money," Murphy said. "It's not coming out of some broader budget, so it's hard to see where legislators might step in to stop this."
The closure of Mount Ida left students scrambling to figure out what to do to continue their education.
Closure Of Mt. Ida College In Newton Sends Students Scrambling
UMass Dartmouth is acquiring the Newton liberal arts college.
The $75 million sale of the college is expected to go through today, after Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey ruled that UMass Amherst is paying fair value.
Healey's office will continue to investigate whether Mt. Ida officials violated the law by allowing the school to get to the brink of bankruptcy.
UMass Amherst said they want to use the Newton campus of the college for career prep programs.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports