Higher ed news: Wellesley College freezes hiring; Babson builds; MassBay accepts Rotary gift
The latest from Wellesley’s institutions of higher education:
Wellesley College freezes hiring
Wellesley College has announced a six-month hiring freeze for faculty and staff as it faces a “structural deficit” for its FY26 budget.
“As we shared in a recent memo, Wellesley is facing a significant and ongoing structural deficit as we head into fiscal year 2026. This means our revenues are growing at a slower rate than our expenses,” College higher-ups wrote in a memo dated April 11 and titled “Temporary Hiring Pause.”
“We are also exploring other actions to address the FY26 deficit and longer-term spending, including reviewing discretionary and non-salary spending across academic and administrative departments,” the memo stated.
Regarding its structural deficit, the College cited a handful of factors, including lack of revenue from students receiving lots of financial aid, a newish endowment tax, and the need to invest in older buildings.
Meanwhile, Wellesley College’s non-tenured faculty members have been on strike since late March.
Babson builds
Babson College has announced plans to transform the current executive center and Herring Family Entrepreneurial Leadership Village (HELV), through a major capital program.
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Under the new capital plan, Phase 2 of the HELV development provides:
- 128 new student beds
- A 275-plus seat dining venue
- 13 classrooms and learning spaces
- Opportunity to address long-standing deferred maintenance
The plan for the 77,600-square foot Executive Lodge and Conference Center includes:
- 70-plus modern guest rooms
- Classrooms in an executive event space for immersive learning experiences
- Large banquet space for executive, corporate, and community events
- Full-service restaurant and bar
- Rooftop terrace
- Dedicated fitness area
The Wellesley Planning Board will be holding a public hearing related to this project on May 5.
MassBay accepts Rotary Club of Wellesley gift
The Rotary Club of Wellesley has donated $36,000 to MassBay Community College to support student scholarships. Wellesley Rotary raised $26,000 for MassBay’s Student Hunger Relief Fund and $10,000 for MassBay’s Balance Scholarship Fund. Since 2020, the Rotary Club of Wellesley has contributed nearly $135,000 toward student scholarships at MassBay.
The Rotary Club of Wellesley raises funds for MassBay and other local initiatives through events, such as its Taste of Wellesley, which showcases local restaurants. This year’s Taste of Wellesley will take place on May 21 at The Wellesley Country Club.