By Lev D. Zilbermints
After 150 years as an independent institution, Bloomfield College will merge with Montclair State University. The merger, which has been approved by the governing boards of both schools, will take effect in June 2023.
An October 27 message from Bloomfield College President Marcheta P. Evans to the Bloomfield College Alumni Association stated in part, “WE confidently chose Montclair State University as our institutional partner. Montclair’s commitment to minority and traditionally underserved student populations, and the breadth of its academic, athletic and arts offerings align with Bloomfield’s long held mission, making the University a particularly good fit for our community, not to mention its close geographic proximity.
In short, we believe the benefits of this merger with Montclair are in the best interest of current and future students, faculty, staff, alumni and our local communities here in Essex County and beyond.”
Once the merger is finalized, Bloomfield will become Bloomfield College of Montclair State University.
The grounds for the merger were laid last fall, when Bloomfield College President Marcheta P. Evans made a public plea for help. Without help from a rich benefactor or assistance from Montclair State, Bloomfield College faced closure. A decline in enrollment and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic had a devastating effect on Bloomfield College. Black and Hispanic communities, which make up the majority of Bloomfield’s students, struggled with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last March, Montclair State University provided financial assistance to Bloomfield College. This in turn, led to the merger.
According to Bloomfield College’s website, in 2012, 2,044 students were enrolled. A decade later, only 1,153 students were enrolled during fall 2022 semester.
“Local Talk” heard from credible sources that the previous president, Richard Levao, and his former director of marketing made the decision to focus on enrolling minority students at Bloomfield College. The downside of this strategy was that recruitment became too dependent on minority students for college enrollment. When these sources would no longer yield enough students, enrollment suffered. The same credible sources said that it would have been wiser to recruit not only in Essex County, but other counties of the state. This way, recruitment among Asian, Native American and white students would have helped increase enrollment numbers.
According to Inside Higher Education, President Evans said, “We know that in the Northeast that we’re not alone, that a lot of small private institutions are struggling with enrollment. But if you go back and look at the demographic of the students that I serve… the pandemic disproportionately impacted us. In one semester I had 200 to 300 students that did not show back in the fall, when we were actually expecting an increase in enrollment, because of our efforts of going out and being in the community, working with the counselors and working with the churches. That’s what we were expecting. Then March 2020 hit.”
After enrollment dwindled, Bloomfield College officials made the decision to go public with a plea for help. It was felt that going public would get the widest response possible from other institutions.
According to President Evans, “I did not want to be one of those institutions that is open one day and closed the next.”
After the appeal for help went public, Bloomfield received responses from 30+ institutions, Inside Higher Education wrote in its October 27 article. Of the eight that submitted formal proposals, Montclair State was chosen. According to President Evans, both proximity and similarities in mission were reasons for choosing Montclair State as a partner. According to Inside Higher Education, Evans pointed out that Montclair is a Hispanic – serving institution committed to underserved students.
According to www.montclair.edunewscenter/2022/10/26/montclair-state-university-and-bloomfield-college-announce-merger-plans, Montclair State University President Jonathan GS Koppell, the University intends for the College to offer a transformative education with an emphasis on first-generation students from a diversity of backgrounds, empowering them to attain academic, personal, and professional excellence in a multicultural and global society.
“Student enrolled at Bloomfield College will benefit from a distinctive educational environment offering a supportive, small college experience enhanced by the resources of a comprehensive public research university,” Koppell said. “This partnership could serve as a new national model for how institutions with similar missions can innovate through integration, and become partners in ensuring student success instead of competitors.”
Hardest Part Ahead
Both the governing boards of Montclair State University and Bloomfield College approved the merger. However, according to MSU President Koppell, the biggest challenges are still ahead. What will happen to Bloomfield faculty and staff? As reported by Inside Higher Education, both presidents said that they want to keep as many people employed as possible. Bloomfield employees may migrate to similar positions at Montclair State, both presidents said.
Another question is how to merge two institutions into one. This is something that officials at both Bloomfield College and Montclair State University are trying to accomplish before June 2023.
Meanwhile, Bloomfield College students will continue to operate independently, but in close collaboration with Montclair State University, the two schools said on their respective websites. Bloomfield students enrolled at the time of the merger will be able to continue their education without interruption and without additional costs, Montclair State reported on its website. Also, Montclair State University will make every effort to provide employment opportunities for Bloomfield College’s current employees.
Last Independent Graduation
Before becoming part of Montclair State University, Bloomfield College will have one last graduation in May 2023. It will be the final graduation at the 155-year-old Bloomfield College. The next graduation may well be under the auspices of Bloomfield College at Montclair State University in June 2024.
Full Disclosure: Lev D. Zilbermints graduated from Bloomfield College in May 1996 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. While at BC, Mr. Zilbermints was President of the Day Student Government and a reporter for the Collective Voice, the student newspaper.
