Two founding members of the EcoLeague, a consortium of environmentally-focused liberal arts colleges, share similar philosophical approaches to higher education. When one planned to close, the other offered to help students complete their studies.
After 185 years, the Board of Trustees of Green Mountain College (GMC) in Poultney, Vermont, voted to close the school after the spring semester. GMC, recognized for its dedication to progressive education and environmental sustainability, also announced a preferred “teach-out” partnership with Prescott College to help Green Mountain students to complete their degree programs.
Prescott College will admit GMC students and create a Green Mountain Center at Prescott College to maintain Green Mountain’s name and legacy. GMC students will continue working with their faculty.
“This is a sad day for everyone associated with Green Mountain College,” said Prescott College President John Flicker. “Our institutions share a common mission, culture, and values. Our primary goal is to help GMC students complete their studies and achieve the educational goals that brought them to GMC.”
Founded in 2003, EcoLeague consists of six member colleges across the country. The other remaining member schools are Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska; College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine; Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin.
Reasons behind the decision to close GMC include declines in college-age population and undergraduate enrollment in Vermont and New England, as well as increased costs in providing quality and unique programs.
“The decision to close Green Mountain College comes only after a tireless pursuit of multiple options to remain open, including the rigorous search for new partnerships and reorganization of our finances,” wrote Robert Allen, GMC president, on the college’s website. “Despite our noteworthy accomplishments related to social and environmental sustainability, we have not been able to assure the economic sustainability of the College.”
Prescott College Provost Dr. Paul Burkhardt said of the partnership, “We will carry on the GMC legacy, not just by helping students to complete their degrees, but by welcoming both students and faculty from GMC to join our learning community. Given the flexible design of our programs, all GMC students will find an existing Prescott College program where they can complete their current program of study with a remarkable alignment of curricular content and title.”
Eight other colleges are participating in teach-out agreements. Prescott College and GMC are a good match as they share a similar mission: to change the world through an experiential, student-centered, and liberal arts focus to address today’s challenges in environmental sustainability.
Prescott College agrees to guarantee admission – with no application fees – and credit transfers, and to match the tuition price.
Representatives from Prescott College will meet with students and faculty on the GMC campus on Wednesday, Feb. 6, to discuss transfer options.
Follow Sue Tone on Twitter @ToneNotes. Reach her at stone@prescottaz.com or 928-445-3333, ext. 2043.
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