A Message from the President of Mills College By Elizabeth L. Hillman
I
’m grateful that the spring has
tinuing Mills students have requested
brought not only trees in bloom, but
information
about
degree
pathways
also a return to in-person classes and
through Northeastern, and Mills and
greater clarity on how Mills College will
Northeastern now have approval from
merge with Northeastern University later
state regulators and accreditors to advise
this year. Our primary focus in this phase
and teach those students here on the
of both COVID-19 recovery and Mills’
Mills campus. Northeastern offers some
transition is supporting our students in
400 different degrees, affording Mills
light of the ongoing burdens and learn-
students a wide array of options, many
ing challenges of the pandemic as well as
of which closely parallel Mills’ own
the changes that accompany the merger.
degree pathways. We will also ensure
In-person classes and campus activities
that Mills students do not incur costs for
that were paused during the pandemic
additional tuition and fees beyond what
have resumed, and Mills now offers reg-
they anticipated for the Mills degrees
ular, free, on-campus testing and boost-
they sought prior to the merger, and
ing to students, faculty, and staff. It’s a
that every successfully completed Mills
delight to witness more people—often
course counts toward a new degree path-
masked and distanced as yet—enjoying
way. This spring, Mills has offered stu-
comply with government regulations and
the campus as athletic and recreational
dents additional support through extra
accreditation requirements.
facilities reopen. We’re also preparing our
institutional financial aid and federal
I’m grateful that the AAMC’s law-
community for the new students who will
COVID relief funds, both of which have
suit was resolved earlier this year, and
arrive on campus in the fall: first-year
helped to mitigate the economic impact
I’m looking forward to welcoming more
Northeastern students who will study at
of the pandemic on our students in need.
input from alums as we start two major
Mills College, learning from our faculty
The changes that accompany our tran-
efforts: 1.) Building new degrees that will
and interacting with continuing Mills
sition toward becoming Mills College at
be offered by Mills College in the future,
students, before moving to Northeastern’s
Northeastern University are difficult to
created by Mills and Northeastern faculty
Boston campus. The first small cohort of
navigate for some students, however, not-
and reflective of both Mills’ strengths
Northeastern students at Mills is already
withstanding the newly expanded degree
and Northeastern’s emphasis on expe-
here, studying and living alongside Mills
options, financial support, and student
riential learning, and 2.) realizing the
students this spring. They have fit right
advising underway. This first phase of the
tremendous potential of the new Mills
in, enjoyed the respite from the Boston
transition involves a relatively fast-paced
Institute to sustain Mills’ historic mission
winter, and proved curious and insightful
turn toward Northeastern programs and
and advance equity and access across
contributors to campus life and classroom
away from what current students antici-
Northeastern’s global network.
discussions from the start.
pated before Mills began planning to
Already, we are integrating into our
Our faculty and staff will continue to
become part of Northeastern. I appreci-
plans the ideas and insight of the seven
support students after Mills College joins
ate the way in which our joint teams
groups of Mills alumnae who convened
Northeastern University on July 1, and
are working together to help students
last late year to discuss Mills’ transition
are working with Northeastern staff and
explore their new options, and to explain
process, future curriculum, preserva-
faculty to map pathways to degrees for
how those options are driven in part by
tion of the campus, and much more. Our
Mills students who will graduate after
the nature of higher education, which
Office of Institutional Advancement is
the merger this summer. Nearly all con-
is a highly regulated industry that must
following the lead of the alumnae who co-facilitated those small group conversations as we plan the next phase of
It’s a question we’ve heard on a regular basis over the past year: What’s going to hap-
engagement with Mills’ graduates in the
pen to the Quarterly? We are delighted to report that the Quarterly will continue to
transition. At the same time, this spring
be published—in print form and online—and mailed to Mills alumnae/i four times a
we’ll launch a global search for the inau-
year, now and into the future. In addition, it will still be called the Mills Quarterly.
gural executive director of the Mills
The Quarterly is for you, and we will continue to endeavor to publish what you
Institute, ready to seize the momentum
want to read. Look for an invitation to provide your feedback on the magazine in
created by the transformation of Mills
the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, you are always welcome to share your
College and elevate our influence here
thoughts at quarterly@mills.edu. –Managing Editor Allison Rost
in Oakland and beyond. SPRING 2022
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