Over the last several years, the Department of Higher Education has overseen the closure of a large number of independent institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. As a result, the Department has developed a protocol for institutional closure which serves to support institutions to meet the challenges of closing and/or merging while at the same time ensuring that students are protected and provided with opportunities to complete their education via a teach-out plan or through transfer to another institution.
Massachusetts law requires an institution that has decided to close to notify the Board of Higher Education of its intention to close as early as possible and well in advance of closure by contacting the Department of Higher Education. The Department also strongly encourages an institution exploring its options, including the possibility of closure, to reach out to the Department prior to any final decision to discuss the closure process and receive answers to any questions. Please contact Kristen Stone, Director for Academic and Veterans Affairs, at kstone@dhe.mass.edu with any inquiries regarding institutional closure.
An institution that has decided to close should review the Department’s Notice of Closure Guidelines and must adhere to them throughout the closure process.
A closing institution must complete a Notice of Closure, available in the Department’s EDvera portal. The development of the Notice of Closure is an iterative process, and a closing institution is encouraged to submit a first draft of the Notice of Closure as early as possible.
As part of the Notice of Closure, a closing institution must establish a plan for the transfer and long-term maintenance of student records, including but not limited to student transcripts. This plan must also indicate where and how such records will be transferred to a custodial institution that will assume the obligations of managing the student records. To ensure institutions comply with the requirements of and expectations for a student records maintenance plan, the Department has developed the following guidelines for preserving student records.
Guidelines for Preservation of Student Records
Below is a compilation of public notifications related to transitions and closures of Massachusetts institutions of higher education. Please note that institutions identified as at risk of imminent closure through the FARM process are listed here.
Bard College at Simon’s Rock: On November 19, 2024, the Bard College Board of Trustees and the Bard College at Simon’s Rock Board of Overseers jointly announced that Simon’s Rock will be relocating from its Great Barrington, MA, campus to a new campus directly adjacent to Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Current students will remain at the Great Barrington campus through the end of the Spring 2025 semester. Those opting to continue their program of study and degree completion at Simon’s Rock and Bard can do so in the new location next fall. Simon’s Rock is also working with partner institutions in Massachusetts on transfer pathways for students who prefer to continue their studies in Massachusetts. For any questions, Department staff can be reached via email to Cynthia Brown, Senior Associate Commissioner, at cbrown@dhe.mass.edu.
Cambridge College: On February 27, 2024, the Boards of Trustees of Cambridge College and Bay Path University announced that Cambridge College would be acquired by Bay Path University later this year, likely in June 2024. Cambridge College is currently anticipated to continue providing academic instruction and support to enrolled and admitted students through at least the summer of 2025. For any questions, please email the Department of Higher Education at CambridgeCollegeInquiries@dhe.mass.edu.
Eastern Nazarene College: On Saturday, June 22, 2024, the Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) Board of Trustees voted to authorize ENC’s president to prepare a plan to take steps toward closure. ENC has further informed DHE that the institution is not accepting a new class for Fall 2024 and is exploring winding down operations by the end of this academic year. Information and resources are posted at Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) Closure. For any questions, Department staff can be reached via email to Chris Grimaldi, Assistant General Counsel, at cgrimaldi@dhe.mass.edu.
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