Mount Ida College

Mount Ida College was a private college located in Newton, Massachusetts, founded in 1899 by George Fenwick, William H. Holcombe, and Franklin B. Dexter. The college was named after Mount Ida (Turkey), a mountain in Turkey that was believed to be the home of the Trojan War's Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. The college's early years were marked by its affiliation with the Universalist Church of America, and it was initially a women's college, with notable alumnae including Emily Greene Balch, a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The college's curriculum was influenced by the Progressive Education movement, which emphasized hands-on learning and John Dewey's principles of experiential education.

● History

The college's history is closely tied to the development of Newton, Massachusetts, where it was founded by a group of Universalist Church of America leaders, including John Murray (Universalist), who sought to create an institution that would provide women with access to higher education. The college's early years were marked by its affiliation with the Tufts University and the Harvard University systems, and it was initially a women's college, with notable alumnae including Ruth Bryan Owen, a United States Ambassador to Denmark and United States Congresswoman. The college's curriculum was influenced by the Progressive Education movement, which emphasized hands-on learning and John Dewey's principles of experiential education, as well as the Montessori method developed by Maria Montessori. The college also had a strong connection to the Boston University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology communities, with many students and faculty members participating in MIT OpenCourseWare and Boston University's Wheelock College of Education & Human Development.

● Campus

The college's campus was located in Newton, Massachusetts, on a 72-acre site that included a mix of modern and historic buildings, such as the Grossman Library and the Holmes Hall. The campus was also home to the Mount Ida College Art Gallery, which featured works by local and international artists, including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Frida Kahlo. The college's athletic teams, the Mount Ida Mustangs, competed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III, with rivalries against teams from Lasell University, Emmanuel College (Massachusetts), and Simmons University. The campus was also close to the Charles River, which offered opportunities for outdoor activities, such as kayaking and rowing, and was accessible by public transportation, including the MBTA's Green Line.

● Academics

The college offered a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including degrees in Business Administration from the School of Business, Nursing from the School of Nursing, and Arts and Sciences from the School of Arts and Sciences. The college was accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and had a strong reputation for its programs in Health Sciences, including Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, which were developed in partnership with Boston University's Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The college also offered online and continuing education programs, including courses and certificates in Cybersecurity and Data Analytics, which were developed in partnership with IBM and Microsoft. The college's faculty included experts in their fields, such as Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, and Cornel West, who taught courses on Linguistics, History, and Philosophy.

● Student Life

The college had a diverse student body, with students from over 20 states and 10 countries, including China, India, and Brazil. The college offered a range of student organizations and clubs, including the Student Government Association, the Diversity and Inclusion Club, and the Environmental Club, which were supported by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and the American College Personnel Association. The college also had a strong commitment to community service, with students participating in volunteer programs, such as Habitat for Humanity and American Red Cross, and service-learning courses, which were developed in partnership with Boston University's Community Service Center and Harvard University's Phillips Brooks House Association. The college's athletic teams, the Mount Ida Mustangs, competed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III, with rivalries against teams from Lasell University, Emmanuel College (Massachusetts), and Simmons University.

● Closure

In 2018, the college announced that it would be closing its doors due to financial difficulties, with the final commencement ceremony taking place on May 19, 2018. The college's closure was met with sadness from the community, including Newton, Massachusetts Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, who praised the college's contributions to the city. The college's assets were acquired by University of Massachusetts Amherst, which established the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst, offering programs in Business, Health Sciences, and Arts and Sciences. The closure of the college also had an impact on the local economy, with many businesses, including Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, feeling the effects of the loss of students and faculty. The college's legacy continues to be felt, with many of its alumni going on to attend institutions such as Harvard University, Boston University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Category:Defunct universities and colleges in Massachusetts