UMass Amherst Concludes Acquisition of Mount Ida Campus

The campus’s purchase of Mount Ida College in Newton was finalized May 17, opening the door to the establishment of a new Boston-area center for student experiential learning and industry collaboration.

Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy announced completion of the strategic real estate transaction in a broadcast email to the campus community, establishing the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst.

“This acquisition provides an outstanding opportunity to enhance career preparation programs for our students and to expand university-industry partnerships” said the chancellor’s message. “The 74-acre Newton campus will serve as a center for student-focused experiential learning and a hub of research-industry collaboration that will benefit both the surrounding Route 128 corridor and the entire Greater Boston region. The programs offered will align our many strengths with the growing demand for talent in areas that drive the Massachusetts economy.”

“This important initiative would not have been realized without the leadership and unstinting advocacy of President Marty Meehan, who recognizes how valuable this acquisition will be to the future of our students and to the advancement of the entire five-campus system. I am deeply grateful for all he has done,” said the chancellor. “I am deeply grateful for all he has done. Many thanks, as well, to Chairman Robert Manning and the entire Board of Trustees, the President’s Office, and all of the Amherst campus faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly to bring this effort to fruition. I also want to express my appreciation for the efforts put forth by my fellow UMass chancellors on behalf of the Mount Ida students who have been offered pathways toward degree completion on their campuses. As we embark upon this new endeavor we will continue to seek out opportunities for collaboration with our colleagues across the UMass system.”

Since the purchase agreement was announced on April 6, Subbaswamy has said that the acquisition of the Mount Ida Campus aligns with the UMass Amherst strategic plan, which calls for the enhancement of career preparation programs, including access to co-ops and internships for students. Drawing on the strength of programs in Amherst, the Mount Ida Campus will help address the growing need for talent in areas that drive the state economy, he said, such as business, computer science, life sciences and other STEM specialties. 

Meanwhile, Subbaswamy said the campus is working to assist Mount Ida students impacted by the private college’s closure by transitioning a veterinary technology program to UMass Amherst management, and other specialty programs to other UMass campuses and partners. More than 600 Mount Ida students have applied for admission to a UMass campus, according to university leaders.