Daily News

AMHERST — Citing financial strain, Hampshire College on Tuesday outlined its desire to merge with another educational institution. The school is also evaluating whether to admit a freshman class for the fall. The news came in an e-mail from President Miriam Nelson.

“I’m announcing today our intent to find a long-term partner that can help us achieve a thriving and sustainable future for Hampshire,” she wrote. “With the guidance and passion of Hampshire’s trustees we’ve begun a process to seek a strategic partnership to address the challenges we’ve faced as an underendowed institution, really from our very first days. As we approach our 50th anniversary, and as Hampshire continues to have an impact on students and society, the trustees and I are absolutely determined to find the best way forward.

“As we embark on this process,” she continued, “we’re also carefully considering whether to enroll an incoming class this fall, and will work with the trustees to make that decision before the February 1 admissions notification date. This decision has significant ethical implications, and must take into account the welfare of our prospective students and community as a whole.”

She noted that Hampshire has a balanced budget, its $52 million endowment has performed well, and the success of its unconventional educational model has been confirmed by various data, including ranking among the top 3% of institutions whose students go on to earn a research doctorate. Two-thirds of its graduates earn advanced degrees.

“We’re convinced that seeking a strategic partnership is the right and responsible thing to do,” Nelson said. “And now is the time to do it. We have great resources in our people, in our pedagogy that has had outsize influence on higher education, and in our reputation for imaginative and forward thinking. By moving ahead so forthrightly now, we also have perhaps the most important resource of all — time. We have the time to undertake the awesome, exhilarating responsibility of evolving education at Hampshire.”

Daily News

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank (MSB) announced the promotions of Carolyn Balicki to branch manager/retail banking officer, Rob Chateauneuf to first vice president commercial loan officer, and Dina Merwin to first vice president compliance and BSA officer.

Balicki joined the MSB team in 2009 as a CSA in Monson. She was promoted to CSA supervisor in 2010, assistant branch manager in 2011, and branch manager in 2014. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at UMass Amherst and is a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies.

Chateauneuf joined MSB in 2012 as an assistant vice president commercial loan officer. He was promoted to vice president in 2014 and took on the added responsibility of assistant department manager of the Commercial Loan department in 2015. He has close to 20 years of commercial and retail banking experience and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management at UMass Amherst.

Merwin came on board in December 2012 as a temporary BSA analyst to assist during an employee leave of absence. In June 2013, she was hired as compliance officer. In 2014, she was promoted to AVP compliance and BSA officer, and she earned the vice president title in 2016. She has 25 years of community banking experience and is a graduate of the National School of Banking and the Massachusetts School for Financial Studies.

“We are extremely pleased to announce these well-deserved promotions,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “Carolyn, Rob, and Dina are important contributors to our success.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will host two information sessions on Saturday, Jan. 19 in the Admissions Office, DAR building, on the college campus located at 1000 State St. in Springfield.

The graduate information session begins at 9 a.m. and will provide insight into the application process, providing perspective students with an opportunity to meet with admissions staff members, program directors, and current students. 

The Low Residency Program information session, which begins at 11 a.m., will provide an indepth review of the master of arts program in counseling psychology and higher education and doctor of education programs, in addition to a meet and greet with staff members, program directors, and current students. Lunch will be served during this session.

To learn more about graduate degree programs at American International College,  visit www.aic.edu or call Director of Graduate Admissions Hannah Hartzsch at (413) 205-3700.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELDBusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for the 40 Under Forty class of 2019. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 15.

Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be detailed in nature, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online by visiting www.businesswest.com, clicking on ‘Our Events,’ and then ‘40 Under Forty.’

Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges. The selected individuals will be profiled in the April 29 issue of BusinessWest and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala on June 20 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.