No Merger For Two Newton Colleges After Pushback

NEWTON, MA — Lasell College and Mount Ida College, two colleges that have been around since the 1800s and are situated within a few miles of each other in Newton, announced last month they were looking at the prospect of merging. It spurred an outpouring of complaints from alumni and parents, a petition and even a Facebook group against the prospect.

"As of today, the two Colleges have ended these discussions and will not move forward with a merger," the colleges announced in a joint statement.

A joint committee of representatives from both schools, along with both schools’ Boards of Trustees, spent the last several weeks looking critically at the possibility of the Colleges merging, considering all elements of a deal. It was a challenging and complicated process for all involved, the statement said.

"After careful consideration, Lasell College and Mount Ida College have mutually decided that they are unable to reach an agreement that they feel will be beneficial to their constituents," according to officials.

The Colleges will continue to operate and collaborate in a variety of areas as they have in the past. Shared initiatives and resources, such as campus safety, will continue uninterrupted the statement said.

Earlier today the president of Lasell College an email to the Lasell Community, announcing the decision to end discussions on the exploration of a merger and an attempt to assure the community that the school was not in dire straights but would still need to find ways to lower costs for students, which was one of the reasons officials said they were considering the merge in the first place.

"With more than 2,000 students, operating surpluses for over 15 years, a record endowment, and a dedicated and caring faculty and staff, Lasell College is as strong and vital as it has ever been in its history. As we go forward, we will continue to find innovative ways to contribute to the intellectual and personal development of our students; and we are determined to discover ways to lower the cost to students and their families while delivering a high quality independent college experience," said Michael B. Alexander in the email.

Supporters took to social media to cheer the decision.

Previously on Patch: Two Newton Colleges Consider Merger

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch