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Following is a letter from the college president sent out on July 16, 2024:

Alumni and Friends of Eastern Nazarene College,

Two weeks ago, the Eastern Nazarene College Board of Trustees announced it has voted to begin the process of closing ENC and ceasing educational operations. Before I share some new information, I first want to acknowledge the deep sense of sadness and loss many in our community are feeling. It is hard to believe that an institution with such a rich legacy would cease to exist, and I deeply regret that the Board and I were not able to avoid this outcome. 

In the midst of this challenging time for the entire ENC community, I want to reiterate our commitment to preserving ENC legacy and make sure you’re aware of some opportunities you will have to celebrate God’s good work through ENC in the months to come.

October 4-5 Legacy Celebration event

Plans are underway for a celebration of ENC that I hope many of our alumni and friends will be able to attend. On October 4 and 5, you will have opportunities to reflect privately, reminisce in small groups and celebrate in larger gatherings the impact ENC has had on our lives. We are grateful for God’s hand upon this institution over many decades, and look forward to greeting you, worshiping with you, breaking bread together, and walking down memory lane. Please saves these dates on your calendar and stay tuned for further details.

Frequently Asked Questions

While the ENC Closure website is the best place to go for up-to-date information about the closure, I wanted to address a few of the most common questions here for your convenience:

 

How can I access transcripts?
       Transcript requests can be directed to the ENC Registrar’s office. Please note that due to the urgency of current students needing assistance in transferring for the fall term, the response for alumni transcripts may be delayed.

 

What will happen to ENC’s records long-term?
       ENC will transfer historical records such as transcripts and archives to Mount Vernon Nazarene University. More information will be provided as it becomes available. In the meantime, please direct requests for transcripts or other records to the ENC Registrar’s office.

 

What kind of new educational enterprise will ENC become?
       The Board anticipates transitioning ENC into a new educational enterprise that will carry on the work of providing a transformational education through annual scholarships for Nazarene students from the Eastern Field to attend another Nazarene IBOE school. This transition is pending the approval of appropriate authorities who oversee non-profit organizations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

 

Finally, one of the most common questions about the closure is Why have we made the decision to close ENC, and why now? The answer is that Eastern Nazarene College, like virtually every small, private, liberal arts colleges, has faced significant financial headwinds in recent years. Demographic and economic trends have led to declining enrollments and increased costs, both of which have hit small liberal arts colleges the hardest.

The decision to close came after extensive efforts to avoid this outcome over the last seven years. During this time, we explored merging with another institution, engaged in aggressive fundraising initiatives, and made innovations to broaden ENC’s student base. While these efforts produced fruit that enabled ENC to continue operating until now, the underlying challenges have only intensified. The Lord answered our prayers for clarity by making it abundantly clear that transitioning to a new educational enterprise is the only viable way to fulfill ENC’s mission of providing transformational educational.

There is of course never a good time to make this decision, but we felt it was important not to wait until the very last minute and risk having to close on much shorter notice after fall term classes were already underway. Making this decision now enabled us to maximize the time available to provide support to students and employees affected by the closure.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude to the many alumni and friends who have reached out with words of support and encouragement, as well as those who have shared stories of ENC’s positive impact on their lives. This is truly a special institution, and the Board and I are committed to caring for the present, as well as honoring the past and ensuring a vibrant future for Eastern Nazarene College and the community it serves. 

 

Sincerely,


Rev. Dr. Colleen R. Derr

President

Eastern Nazarene College  

23 East Elm Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170 

P. 617-745-3702| President@enc.edu