Mount Ida deal hit kids ‘like a ton of bricks’
Students, parents demand answers
Infuriated Mount Ida College students and parents, fearing their futures are left in the lurch, demanded answers yesterday after officials announced the school would close at the end of the spring term.
Weeping students blasted Mount Ida President Barry Brown and the board of trustees at a packed meeting held on campus that was closed to the media, shouting “What am I paying for?” and “Where the (expletive) did my money go?”
Attorney General Maura Healey’s office said it is looking into the Mount Ida closing on behalf of the affected students and is encouraging concerned students to call the AG’s hotline at 888-8306277.
The 74-acre campus of the private college located in Newton will become part of the University of Massachusetts system, according to a deal struck Friday. UMass will take on Mount Ida’s estimated $55 million to $70 million in debt. The school’s 1,450 students will be automatically accepted for fall enrollment at UMass Dartmouth. The deal, which needs approval from the state board of higher education, is leaving 280 of Mount Ida’s faculty and staff without jobs come mid-May.
Many students worried that their credits won’t transfer to other schools and that they won’t be able to find specialty programs like funeral services, veterinary tech and dental hygiene elsewhere.
Maddy Mandeville, poised to be a freshman next fall at Mount Ida, said she hasn’t heard any information about the $300 deposit she gave the college to hold her spot for next year.
“I applied to Mount Ida thinking and expecting it was stable with financials, rooming, scheduling for class and everything that would stress any incoming freshman for college,” Mandeville said. “Nothing about this is OK.”
“The entire situation is just frustrating. I, as well as every other student enrolled, made a commitment to this school. But they didn’t commit to us,” said Courtney Manyak, 19, of Douglas, a sophomore studying education. “It honestly broke my heart.”
“I’m quite frustrated. I’m lost,” said Madeline McClain, 18, of Westampton, N.J., an incoming preveterinarian freshman. “I turned down other offers . ... It offered vet tech. A lot of places don’t offer that. I’m surprised. I’m absolutely shocked.”
Parents of Mount Ida students struggled to understand how the college could drop the news of the closure on them so suddenly. Many families questioned whether legal action would be necessary.
“We can’t mitigate the damage,” said Phil Varlese, McClain’s stepfather. “It’ll put a heavy burden on Madeline, her mother and myself financially. There’s been little transparency from the school in regards to its financial issues . ... We have spoken to some attorneys. I think the school’s finances need to be looked at.”
Lori Jurasik of New Jersey said her daughter would have been a senior next year in the funeral services program.
“This just hit me like a ton of bricks. She had one year left,” Jurasik said. “I don’t understand. This didn’t happen overnight . ... I’m willing to pursue any avenue. One-hundred percent interested in legal actions.”
Mount Ida and UMass are working to find a place for students in the stranded programs to finish their degrees. Some may be absorbed by other local schools, including Becker and Regis colleges and others may be handled
‘I, as well as every other student enrolled, made a commitment to this school. But they didn’t commit to us’ — COURTNEY MANYAK, Mount Ida College sophomore
by UMass. Administrators from both institutions are meeting tomorrow to tackle how to handle the situation for the students.
“I know it is not what any of us wanted,” Brown told students. “These discussions are happening day by day to deal with the issues you are talking about. They are happening very quickly. We are trying to put together pathways for you that make sense . ... By the end of two weeks, you are going to be the most popular college students in Massachusetts.”