The small private Massachusetts institution could not sustain enrollment declines or the COVID-19 pandemic. Clark University is accepting some students and honoring Becker with naming of School of Design and Technology.
After 237 years of operation, Becker College in Worcester, Mass., announced on Monday it would permanently close before the fall semester, becoming the latest victim of enrollment declines and the unforgiving COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials said they exhausted all possibilities to try to keep the small private college alive but sadly could not find a solution, including a potential affiliation partner.
“We pushed ourselves to develop scenarios in which Becker remained open for another year and beyond. However, those scenarios included more debt, selling assets, and further cutting operations,” said Christine Cassidy, chair of Becker’s Board of Trustees. “We concluded that this would be irresponsible and unsustainable over time. As devastating as closing this institution is, we want this closure process to be one that conveys the maximum possible respect and support for everyone whose lives and careers we know it will affect.”