Date: 4/26/2018
Last week I was so concerned about the alleged developments in the MGM Springfield situation that I didn’t mentions something that was equally worrisome.
My Alma Mater, UMass Amherst, made the announcement that it was buying Mount Ida College in Newton. The students would be able to attend UMass Dartmouth and the faculty and staff would be terminated.
Now with two branches of UMass nearby – Dartmouth and Boston – the question is why is the Amherst campus wasting its money? Let’s go the press release:
“‘This is a strategic investment that will expand career opportunities for our students and help drive the Massachusetts economy while strengthening the flagship campus’s position in the competitive national higher education marketplace’,” said UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. “‘The Mount Ida campus’s ideal location will help us grow a much-needed talent pipeline for Massachusetts businesses, especially in high-demand STEM fields. And since the flagship campus educated more Massachusetts residents last year than the top eight private universities in Massachusetts combined, we are keenly aware of our responsibility to keep Massachusetts at the forefront of innovation and discovery.’”
Let’s be clear. The jobs and economic development of which the Chancellor speaks are in the eastern part of the state.
Here is more from that release: “The newly acquired campus, which will be known as the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst, will operate as an extension of the Amherst campus and will not enroll undergraduate students directly. Less than 10 miles from downtown Boston and adjacent to the nearby Newton-Needham Innovation District and the tech-focused Route 128 corridor, the campus will serve as a hub for Greater Boston-area career preparation and experiential learning opportunities for UMass Amherst students. The programs that will be offered at the newly acquired campus will align the strengths of UMass Amherst with the growing demand for talent in areas that drive the Massachusetts economy, including health care, business, computer science and other STEM specialties. Last year, for example, the UMass Amherst awarded 1,700 undergraduate STEM degrees, more than any other college or university in the state. In addition, academic-industry collaborations, which currently account for a growing portion of UMass Amherst’s $220 million annual research and development expenditures, will be initiated at the Mount Ida campus.”
At a time when the economy of Western Massachusetts still lags behind that of the eastern part of the state, I see this move as a slap in the face of the four western counties.
Frankly more should be done to encourage UMass students to remain in this part of the state after graduation. Western Massachusetts has some of the most distinguished colleges and universities in the nation. Students come here to pursue their higher education, but they don’t see opportunities to stay.
Here is another slap. I received this press release on Monday morning: “On April 24, MassINC will host a Policy Forum to release its latest research: The Promise and Potential of Transformative Transit-Oriented Development in Gateway Cites.
“Following the research presentation, the event will feature a conversation with Secretary Stephanie Pollack and Secretary Jay Ash led by The Boston Globe's Dante Ramos. Afterwards, a panel discussion with Mayor Thomas McGee of Lynn, Chrystal Kornegay, Executive Director, MassHousing, Jim Rooney, President and CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and Duane Jackson, Managing Member, Alinea Capital Partners, moderated by CommonWealth magazine's Editor, Bruce Mohl.”
And what’s wrong with this? Is there anyone representing Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee or Westfield, all Gateway Cities, and our mass transportation and economic development needs?
Ah, no.
It’s difficult sometimes to realize that you live in an area of a state that is always the poor relation, especially when you know it has so much talent, beauty, culture and affordability.