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Unlversny of Massachusetts Martin T. Meehan

Amherst Boston - Dartmouth - Loucll - Medical School UMassOnlinc President

 

May 9, 2018
The Faculty Council of the University of Massachusetts Boston
Dear Faculty Council,

I?ve read and considered your statement regarding your opposition to UMass Amherst?s
proposed acquisition of the property and assets of Mount Ida College.

I understand your frustration and know it stems from a place of passion and concern for your
unique and extraordinary campus community.

However, your statement that there was no consultation with the Boston campus during the
decision?making process related to the Mount Ida acquisition is inaccurate. As Chancellor Mills
noted in his message to campus on this subject on April 11, UMass Boston indeed had the
opportunity to participate in the Mount Ida transaction, as did all the UMass campuses.
Chancellor Mills determined that UMass Boston?s time and resources should remain focused on
Columbia Point, which is the best campus location in the UMass system and where a phase of
heavy construction resulting from signi?cant capital investment is coming to a close.

It is also inaccurate to state that UMass Boston has not been part of the discussion to offer
programs or transfer credits to Mount Ida students. I encourage you to engage with Provost
McDennott and/or Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Johnson regarding how UMass
Boston has chosen to approach Mount Ida students displaced by the closure of their college.
UMass Boston enrollment staff have visited Mount Ida College to meet with students several
times. It is my understanding that, to date, more than 80 Mount Ida students have expressed an
interest in continuing their education at UMass Boston.

I agree with you that UMass Boston does valuable and important work and provides a top-notch
education to thousands of deserving students each year. I personally believe that UMass Boston
is the most important institution in Boston and that the University of Massachusetts is the most
important institution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Given those factors, I do not
believe that UMass Amherst?s decision to make a strategic property acquisition for the purpose
of expanding experiential learning opportunities for its students by closing the geographic
distance between its students and the Greater Boston workforce interferes with UMass Boston?s
mission or limits its opportunities in any way.

On the contrary, I see an Opportunity to increase collaboration between the two campuses, which
you suggest is a shared goal. Chancellor Subbaswamy has made clear to me, the Board of
Trustees and his fellow chancellors that he will consider every opportunity for collaboration on
the Mount Ida campus between UMass Amherst and the other UMass campuses for the bene?t
of all UMass students. I remind you that the transaction has not yet been ?nalized. If it is, there
will be ample opportunity for these discussions going forward and I will encourage them.

One Beacon Street 3lst Floor Boston, MA 02108 P: (617) 287-7050 F: (617) 287-7167 

I want to be clear that UMass Amherst is borrowing under its own debt cap to make this
acquisition, which is consistent with its strategic plan, and is using its own revenues to offset that
debt. The funding is not State apprOpriated, not apprOpriated by the President?s Of?ce or the
Board of Trustees, and not otherwise a discretionary resource allocation. The Board and I are
committed to UMass Boston?s progress, but that does not mean that we would or could ever
prevent another campus from achieving its strategic goals. The Board?s governance policy (Doc.
T92-03 l) is explicit on that point:

?The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees recognizes that each campus is
unique. Faculty, staj]: and students, based upon experience and campus mission. are
encouraged to conduct research, education and public service activities in a manner
consistent with the campus academic and institutional objectives. Implementation of this
policy shall not impede the progress of campus objectives. 

Thank you for sharing your concerns with me and allowing me the Opportunity to respond.

Sincerely,



Martin T. Meehan ?78
President