Neighbor News
Mount Ida College Receives $8 Million Gift
Mount Ida College receives largest gift in college history
Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts, today, announced a major gift to the College in the amount of $8 million, the largest gift in the College’s 116-year history. The gift was made to the College by an anonymous donor.
The funds will assist the College in support of its mission to provide innovative and cutting-edge programs built upon a foundation of career-focused education in the applied sciences, design, social sciences, the humanities and business, while at the same time maintaining its historic commitment to financial aid and scholarship support.
“We are grateful for this extraordinary gift which confirms our growing success” said President Barry Brown, who was appointed as President in 2012. “A Mount Ida education provides each student with a strong foundation in critical thinking and study in the social sciences and humanities along with a career focus. This generous support will help us to continue on our path to create the programs that lead to productive and growing professions, and maintain our approach which values each student from the moment they join us, throughout their years at the College and ultimately as they succeed throughout their professional lives.”
Over the past three years, the College has grown in both the size of its freshman entering class and in total student enrollment. In September, the College welcomed the largest and most academically accomplished freshman class in the history of the school. This substantial growth at Mount Ida comes at a time of great change in higher education. Since Brown has assumed leadership of the College, and with the support of its faculty and administrators, the expansion has remained true to the College’s mission of inclusion and a strong sense of community.
Find out what's happening in Newtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Just a few of the facts about the College indicate the unique significance of the institution:
• More than 1/3 of Mount Ida students are the first in their family to attend college
• The Mount Ida student body represents 26 states and 19 foreign countries
• 85% of graduates are employed in their degree areas within 11 months of graduation – well above the national average
In addition to the College’s admission success, the physical campus has also evolved. The College has invested more than $25 million to restore and modernize its historic buildings and playing fields, including a new student center, athletic fitness center and teaching laboratories for programs in veterinary technology and dental hygiene. The past two years have also seen the opening of an expanded and innovative School of Design and new biology and chemistry laboratories in the School of Applied Sciences, which supports the College’s growing STEM programs. Approximately half of Mount Ida students major in the sciences programs, where enrollment has increased by 13%.
Find out what's happening in Newtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Many of our students are the first in their families to attend College, and because of Mount Ida they have realized their dreams. Over 97% of our students receive significant financial aid to help them attain this education. This funding, as well as the individualized attention and support they receive, leads to their success” says Chairman of the Board, Michael T. Burns. “This wonderful gift will insure our continued ability to provide these opportunities to future generations of students. We are very grateful.”
