Massachusetts Board Of Higher Education Wants To Increase Oversight Of Small Colleges

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education want to increase oversight of private colleges in the state. The change comes after 17 closures or mergers of small colleges over the past five years. Hampshire College was the most recent to announce its plan to seek a merger.

The proposal would allow the board to screen private colleges every year to determine whether they can teach all students into the next academic year. If a college can't, it would be required to notify both accepted and current students.

The state would still have to pass a law before these changes could be finalized.

David Chard, dean ad interim of Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and the former President of Wheelock College, which merged with Boston University last year. He tweets @davidjchard.