I can see why they close this major. It feels like not enough students enrolled in this major. It made it more sense as a concentration rather than major. However, having it as a major does bring more to the degree with the courses required where just a concentration you’re limited on the number of credits you can take. Sad to see it.
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Who closed this major?
UConn
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Simmons University in Boston has bond rating slashed to “Junk” by Moody’s.
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It’s locked but I believe they’ve had issues these past few years.
Many women’s colleges are mentioned on the CC - you never hear of them. Just noting.
Who never hears of them? Simmons college probably trained more teachers and librarians for the greater Boston Metro than any other college. Its MBA program was preparing women for corporate careers back in the 1970’s when other MBA programs were 90/10 male female, and women were being shunted into the non-operational side of businesses.
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Note I said on the College Confidential.
When people mention women’s colleges, it’s Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Agnes Scott, Hollins, etc.
If I’ve heard Simmons mentioned, it’s very rarely.
Obviously, what they’ve done in the past and what they are doing are two very different things, given the cuts and issues.
It’s the 2020s, not the 1970s or even 2010s.
No doubt they are doing many great things - but I simply noted they have no visibility on this website.
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Plenty of talk here for posters looking at womens colleges Search results for ‘simmons U’ - College Confidential Forums
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Thanks for the gift link. One of my high school friends is an alum of one of the women’s colleges that closed.
I understand that beloved institutions die eventually. But it’s so sad.
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I’ve participated heavily in four different “parents of the class of” forums. They come up.
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Enrolment continues to decline at merged PASSHE campuses: PennWest and Commonwealth.
PennWest plans staff furloughs at California, Clarion campuses. Who is affected?
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Simmons is a small women’s college in the middle of a big city. Single sex colleges in general are in decline unless they are elite.
But Simmons offers exceptional opportunities in a couple of areas. First is nursing and health sciences. They located a few blocks from the Longwood Medical Area, whose 5 hospitals combine to form Harvard Medical School. With those teaching hospitals available for exceptional clinical placements, Simmons’ nursing and other health sciences programs are special. Second, their teacher training is highly respected in the Boston area, making their graduates in demand. For example, one alum whom I know had 6 offers in hand - all from top school districts in the Boston area - upon graduation. It’s worth mentioning that she was also a top student who did her student teaching in a top school district. Credit to Simmons for placing her there.
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I’m going to be shocked if Simmons and Emmanuel don’t merge at some point. The campuses border each other, the undergrad course offerings are similar, and Emmanuel really doesn’t have much going for it beyond location.
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Why would Simmons take on Emmanuel’s debt? Doesn’t seem like a good financial move. Maybe the state would work something out though, who knows?
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Guessing this could be structured creatively if that’s what everyone wanted. Purchase of assets, consideration for absorbing certain ongoing commitments, etc. I’m not familiar enough with the situation to know what that would look like.
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I keep thinking Northeastern or BU will absorb them.
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parent of a Simmons alum…(class of 2024) and I am a former employee (2003-2005). The school has had financial challenges for years. Most recently, they are giving up their residential campus (located about block from the academic quad) and building a single high rise res tower on the academic quad. It is really a shame, it is such a special school, and that res campus was a wonderful quiet haven right in the middle of the city.
I would not be surprised if BU absorbs them eventually. Or if the school will be sold for parts, at least the nursing, SW and library studies programs. They are very well-regarded, at least in the Boston metro area. I don’t see them merging with Emmanuel, which has nothing to offer (except its own financial struggles).
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I appreciate how they’re rolling out this decision. They announced the closure at the beginning of November for a closure at the end of the school year, and they have teach-out and transfer agreements set up with 3 different colleges, 2 of which are in the same state. So although it’s very sad news, they’re giving people enough of a runway to pivot and make alternative plans. This is the way that school closures should be handled.
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University of New Orleans will merge back with LSU system to become LSU New Orleans. Back to its original name..
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