BROOKLINE, MA (WBZ-AM) — Newbury College says it is shutting down at the end of this academic year. The Brookline, MA Based liberal-arts school cites "changes in demographics and severe financial constraints in the higher education landscape" for the closing. There are 625 students are currently enrolled.
In a letter posted on its website Friday, Newbury College President Joseph Chillo says it's working to formalize agreements with colleges and universities nearby to "ensure students have the opportunity to continue their studies and earn their college education."
According to The Boston Globe, the College had been on probation with accreditors since the summer because of financial issues. The school has suffered for several years from declining enrollment.
Read Full Letter From Joseph J. Chillo, President of Newbury College
"It is with a heavy heart that I announce our intention to commence the closing of Newbury College, this institution we love so dearly. Newbury’s top priority is to ensure that our students, our faculty, and our staff remain at the forefront of all we do in the coming weeks and months.
Although no specific closing date has been set, we intend to cease operations after the Spring 2019 semester. We are still exploring potential partnerships that would allow us to remain open, but the Board of Trustees and I have concluded that it is in the best interests of our students, prospective students, faculty and staff to notify them immediately, so they can make the best decisions for their future. Accordingly, we are providing this notice, before we are legally required to do so, because it is the right thing to do. Our people, the dignity of our mission, and the legacy of the institution are our most important concerns of today.
It is no secret that weighty financial challenges are pressing on liberal arts colleges throughout the country. Newbury College is no exception. These financial challenges, the product of major changes in demographics and costs, are the driving factors behind our decision to close at the end of this academic year. The decision was not arrived at lightly because we know how much Newbury College means to so many. Our decision to close comes only after a tireless pursuit of multiple options to remain open and continue serving our students as a beacon of opportunity and hope to achieve the dreams of a college education.
Throughout this process, students have and will remain our top priority. We are working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and we are in the process of formalizing agreements with area colleges and universities to ensure our students have the best opportunities to continue their studies and to earn their college degree. Closing plans will include options to complete comparable programs at other institutions, admissions events for other institutions to come to campus and meet our students, information about credit transfers and student records, question and answer briefings, contact information for transition advisors and counselors, as well as any changes to the academic calendar. We will be publishing more details of our closing plans shortly, and there will be regular updates as we move forward.
I personally want to thank our dedicated faculty and staff who have exhibited great care, dedication, and compassion while making sacrifices to assist students in their dreams of a college education. I also want to thank everyone else who has lent their time, treasure or talents to Newbury College over its 57-year history. The investment has produced remarkable graduates who make our world a better place."
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