Massachusetts Wants to Regulate Private Colleges That Might Close. Is That a Good Idea?

In an era of more small-college closures, Massachusetts is akin to ground zero. Mount Ida and Newbury Colleges both shut down in the past 18 months. Hampshire College recently made headlines for deciding not to seek a merger after all in response to its bleak financial picture. It’s a growing problem that lawmakers are debating how to resolve.  A new report from the Boston-based Pioneer Institute, “A Risky Proposal for At-Risk Private Colleges: Ten Reasons Why the Board of Higher Education Must Rethink Its Plan,” urges the state not to take on a role it may not be prepared to handle.