Mills to Merge with Northeastern University Below is the notice that President Elizabeth L. Hillman emailed to the Mills community on September 14. There will be much more in the winter issue of the Quarterly.
T
oday, the Mills College Board of
Students: Students who complete their
Mills College at Northeastern University
Trustees approved the merger of
studies before June 30, 2022 will gradu-
will continue to foster mutually beneficial
Mills College with Northeastern
ate with a degree from Mills College.
relationships with communities and insti-
University, ensuring that the educa-
Students who complete their studies after
tutions around the Mills campus, includ-
tional mission of Mills and its commit-
June 30, 2022 will graduate with a degree
ing with the City of Oakland.
ment to social justice, gender equity, and
from
Northeastern
A key next step in the transition pro-
cultivating women’s leadership will live
University. Mills and Northeastern will
cess is for Mills and Northeastern faculty
on. The merger is expected to take effect
provide transition counseling and finan-
and staff to work jointly to develop the
on or about July 1, 2022, subject to regu-
cial support to help each student evaluate
undergraduate and graduate degree pro-
latory and other approvals. When com-
options for continuing, and funding their
grams that Northeastern will offer on the
pleted, Mills will become Mills College at
degree work. That support will enable
Oakland campus through Mills College
Northeastern University, and our cam-
currently enrolled students to complete
at Northeastern University and other-
pus will be gender inclusive.
their degrees without increases in antici-
wise. Degree programs will leverage the
pated costs.
strengths of both Mills and Northeastern
The merger with Northeastern offers
Mills
College
at
concrete and meaningful opportuni-
Faculty: Northeastern will honor and
ties for our students, faculty, staff, and
abide by the terms of tenure of Mills
alumnae—opportunities
and will be relevant to both students and the employer community.
Mills
faculty who hold a tenured position or
Also, faculty and staff from both Mills
could not offer on its own. Aligning
a continuous contract and will also offer
and Northeastern will collaborate to fur-
with Northeastern means that Mills
tenure-track faculty and adjunct faculty
ther develop a Mills Institute to carry on
will remain a vibrant center of learning
opportunities for employment.
the Mills legacy of advancing women’s
that
Staff: Staff who are employees of Mills
leadership and empowering BIPOC and
on July 1, 2022, will become employees
first-generation students. Northeastern
At the same time, Mills will be setting
of Northeastern. Mills Employee Services
has committed seed money to launch
off on a new path, different from what
will provide details in the coming weeks
and fund the Institute.
we have known. The moment invites us
regarding employee salary increases and
Until the merger is completed, Mills
to reunite as one Mills community and,
a reinstatement of the employer match
will continue to operate as an accredited
working alongside our Northeastern col-
of the Mills 403(b) retirement program.
degree-granting institution and be led
with deep connections to the broader Oakland community.
sup-
by the current administration. Mills and
legacy of Mills and brings vital elements
port Mills alumnae to engage with their
Northeastern will also work together to
of a Mills education to new audiences
alma mater through reunions and cam-
address Mills’ operating expenses and
here and throughout Northeastern’s
pus events. Northeastern will also con-
financial needs through the completion
global network of campuses. Now is the
tinue to support the Reinhardt Alumnae
of the merger.
time to explore and pursue opportuni-
House. Alumnae of Mills will be eligible
I want to thank every member of the
ties, pushing open doors that we could
for benefits available to Northeastern
Mills community for your engagement
not open on our own.
graduates,
leagues, create a future that honors the
Most immediately, however, I know that many of you have questions about
Alumnae:
Northeastern
will
25-percent
and your passionate support for Mills.
tuition discount on degree programs in
The last 18 months have tested us on
the Northeastern campus network.
multiple levels. It is our singular dedica-
including
a
what this change means for you. In the
Community: Northeastern will oversee
tion to the mission and values of Mills
months ahead, transition teams will
the creation of formal procurement poli-
College that brings us to where we stand
work out the many details that need to
cies at the Mills campus to support local
today and that will provide the strength
be addressed and will provide regular
women- and minority-owned businesses.
and vision to help us shape tomorrow.
updates to the Mills community. The transition process at Mills will be led by Renée Jadushlever, vice president for strategic communications and operations. The following are confirmed agreements at this early point in the merger process, assuming the merger happens
A Word from Boston In Northeastern’s announcement of the Mills merger, President Joseph Aoun had high praise for the College and shared his optimism for the partnership: “Together we have an opportunity to create something truly unique in higher education,” he said. “We aspire to build a comprehensive, bicoastal university that leverages the complementary strengths of Mills and Northeastern for the benefit of students and society.”
on or about July 1, 2022: FA L L 2 0 2 1
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