Home News Mass. Governor Signs College Closure Law – Inside Higher Ed

Mass. Governor Signs College Closure Law – Inside Higher Ed

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Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker signed into law Thursday an act increasing state regulators’ authority to monitor colleges’ and universities’ financial strength and requiring institutions at risk of closing to file contingency plans for students.

Momentum for the new law built after Mount Ida College surprised students by closing on short notice in spring 2018. Afterward, lawmakers closely scrutinized the college’s decisions and what many saw as inadequate plans for students to finish their degrees. Regulators grappled with the best way to make changes for a future in which colleges and universities are expected to be under increasing enrollment and financial pressure.

The new law puts the state Board of Higher Education in charge of creating an annual process for screening colleges and identifying any at risk of soon closing. Leaders have been encouraging the department to work with Massachusetts’ regional accreditor instead of doing the screening on its own.

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