WORCESTER—As Anna Maria College prepares to wind down academic operations, two local institutions are moving to preserve one of its most critical programs—and keep students on track to graduate.
Assumption University and Anna Maria College announced plans this week to jointly submit a proposal that would transition Anna Maria’s nursing program to Assumption, creating a pathway for current students to continue their studies with minimal disruption.
The proposal, which must be approved by state regulators, comes as Anna Maria works through the logistics of closing after the spring semester, raising urgent questions about how students—particularly those in specialized programs—will complete their degrees.
“Our focus is simple: students who have begun their education should be able to complete it without disruption,” Assumption President Greg Weiner said in a statement announcing the plan. “We are prepared to provide a home for Anna Maria nursing students and to support them in continuing their studies with clarity, stability, and purpose.”
If approved, the agreement would allow Anna Maria nursing students to transfer into Assumption’s program with coordinated advising and a structured transition, an approach both schools say is designed to minimize academic setbacks during an already uncertain time.
Anna Maria President Sean Ryan said the proposal reflects the college’s responsibility to ensure students can move forward.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that our students are able to move forward and complete their education,” Ryan said in the announcement. “Assumption’s nursing program is widely respected for its quality, outcomes, and commitment to students, and we are confident that this proposal provides a strong and stable path forward for our students.”
The plan would also expand Assumption’s nursing program, which officials said has strong outcomes, including a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam, while maintaining its existing standards.
Next up? The proposal gets submitted to the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing for review. Officials said additional details will be shared with students and families as the process moves forward.
The potential transition is part of a broader effort across Central Massachusetts to respond to Anna Maria’s closure, with local colleges and universities stepping in to create transfer pathways and preserve academic programs where possible.
