Nichols College in Dudley, MA, has told Saint Michael’s College in Colchester that it is withdrawing its masters programs that were to have begun at the Colchester campus this fall semester, Vermont Business Magazine learned today. Saint Michael’s said the dean of the program was leaving his position and that the central Massachusetts business school was re-evaluating the program. Nichols College said it will instead focus on another site in Florida.
Nichols Vermont Director of Graduate and Professional Studies, Brian Lewis, sent the following email to the Saint Michael’s administration:
‘It is with a sense of sadness that I must inform the college community that a decision has been made by Nichols College to terminate its effort to establish its graduate business programs in Vermont. The resignation of the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies has created a void in strong leadership and this along with a desire to conserve resources forced this decision.
‘I personally want to thank those who were supportive of the efforts to locate this program on the Saint Michael’s College campus. I am disappointed that I will not be able to avail myself of the many kind offers that were extended.
‘I shall personally be contacting those who have extended very tangible support, encouragement and interest in seeing that Nichols College becomes a reality on the Saint Michael’s College campus. I am disappointed that these mutual efforts will not bear fruit.’
Lewis has been an adjunct professor at Saint Michael’s since 1990.
Saint Michael’s had been promoting and advertising the program this summer.
Thomas Cafaro, Nichols College VP of Enrollment and Marketing, said, ‘We have decided to refocus our assets to an existing site in Palm Beach, Florida.’
Nichols College is undergoing a change in administration, as President Debra Townsley stepped down July 1 to take up the presidency of Peace College in North Carolina. From 1987 until her appointment as academic dean at Nichols in 1997, Townsley was director of undergraduate and graduate management studies at Saint Michael's.
Nichols College announced in April that in the fall it would offer two degrees in Vermont: a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Organizational Leadership (MOL). Classes were to be held on the Saint Michael’s campus with an option to pursue studies online. The Vermont-specific link on the Nichols Web site has since been taken down.
Earlier this year, Nichols received approval from the Vermont Department of Education to offer its graduate programs, which are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.
Source: Vermont Business Magazine. 7.21.2010.